Radiance

The Blogger

Hey people!

I'm Tracy Wong, a beauty and lifestyle public blogger who has been active in the blogosphere for the past 15 years.

Since the start of my blogging days,
I believe in documenting the ups and downs in my life here. Thus, my blog serves as a repository of my memories and life stories collected over the years.

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I've also had the blessings to work with brands and feature the following:

- Beauty products and services
- Fashion
- Food
- Lifestyle Events
- Wellness products and events
- Fitenss products and events
- Gadgets
- Travel


This blog has been featured in multiple media platforms and was one of the nominees in the Singapore Blog Awards 2015. With the move towards short-form content, I've been collaborating more with brands on my Instagram @gilmangirl and my TikTok at @tracywongcreator.

Nonetheless, I'm still open for collaborations if you'll like a feature of your brand on my blog so hit me up at liyeewong@gmail.com for business opportunities, sponsorships and collaborations.
Radiance

Day Trip to Hong Kong: Victoria Peak, Tsim Sha Tsui & Our Food Journey

Hey everyone!

While we were planning our trip to Macau, we decided that we should also do a day trip to Hong Kong since it's just a short ferry ride away from Macau.

It took some convincing because Hubs doesn't enjoy travelling in Hong Kong in general. He had a bad impression visiting Hong Kong during his student days, but I was sure that things would have improved tremendously over the years. It's been 20 years since I've stepped foot into Hong Kong as well.


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Fortunately, Hubs agreed on the condition that it will just be a day trip so we turbo-jetted to Hong Kong on our 2nd day in Macau.

We were staying near the Outer Harbour Ferry Terminal, which was within walking distance from Harbourview Hotel. It was a 1.5 hours ferry ride to Hong Kong and we alighted at Hong Kong-Macau Ferry Terminal in Sheung Wan.

Brunch at Lin Heung Lau - Address: 160 Wellington Street, Central, Hong Kong


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First order of business: DIM SUM. You can't leave Hong Kong without eating their famous dim sum.

Dim sum places in Hong Kong always look busy, with customers going in and out of the restaurant and staff shouting orders. Thankfully, it wasn't as stressful as 20 years ago when a staff would appear right at your table to ask you what you'll like to order the minute you've sat down (and tsk you if you're slow!). This time, it's self-ordering using a sheet of paper and handing them over to the staff once you're ready. WHEW!

Customer service has also improved significantly. The staff no longer scolds the customers anymore; in fact, I saw a customer scolding the staff instead. HA HA!


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Putting customer service aside, the dim sum was SUMPTUOUS and easily one of the best dim sum I've eaten in my life. My favourites were the Shengjian Bao, the Lotus Leaf Wrapped Rice and the Double Skin Milk in Coconut.

I didn't get to eat Double Skin Milk in Macau so it was nice to have it during my dim sum brunch in Hong Kong. Having it in a coconut was novel and there was even some bird's nest in there. So atas. Luckily the prices weren't 'too atas' for the feast we had.


The Peak Tram - Address: 33 Garden Road, Central, Hong Kong

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After walking out of the dim sum restaurant with our bellies full, we went to visit Victoria Peak. You can technically hike up to the top but no way are we gonna do that, so we decided to take the Peak Tram.

It was SUPER FUN when the tram went up the hill and when you turn back, you'll see a magnificent view of Hong Kong city. It's the kind of scenery that will make people in the tram go 'Wahhhhhhhh'.


Victoria Peak

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Victoria Peak is the tallest hill on Hong Kong Island and it offers a panoramic waterfront view of Hong Kong. Known for its luxury properties, it's home to many wealthy individuals, including Hong Kong celebrities.

While the tram brought us NEAR the top, you could also hike further to get to the pinnacle. Hubs and I went for a 30 minutes hike, reaching a pavilion with a gorgeous view. We weren't at the pinnacle yet and we later found out that the pinnacle was blocked, but it's fine because we were happy with what we've seen thus far. Besides, we needed to burn our dim sum calories too.


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Headed down to Peak Galleria Shopping Centre after our hike to get ourselves a cup of Iced Roselle Tea and we spotted a purple dog.

It looked so adorable, almost like a toy, and then I wondered whether it was considered abuse if the dog's fur was dyed purple by someone?!? I mean, it's not natural to be purple, right? Someone must have dyed it in this colour to make the dog stand out? Hmm. :(

Star Ferry Pier


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We went to Star Ferry Pier after that to take the Star Ferry to Tsim Sha Tsui. It's easy to locate the pier - just look out for the Hong Kong Observation Wheel!

Taking the Star Ferry is inexpensive (around S$1 per pax or less) and to the locals, it's no different than taking the bus or the train using their Octopus Card (something like Singapore's ez-link card). It was quite an experience though because I got to admire the stunning view of the Hong Kong skyline within this 10 minutes ride. The Star Ferry was likely meant for this purpose too (besides transporting passengers from Hong Kong Island to Tsim Sha Tsui and back) because it was travelling at snail pace in the 10 minutes. Some passengers would even book an evening slot to ride the Star Ferry so that they could watch the sunset.


Victoria Harbour and Avenue of Stars

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Once we've alighted at Tsim Sha Tsui, we went to the Victoria Harbour.

It was booming with tourists so it was hard to take photos without getting in the way of other girls taking influencer-style photos. Besides, it was threatening to rain by then so the skies were getting downcast.

We checked out Avenue of Stars, thinking it would be like the Hollywood Walk of Fame. But nope, there were no stars embedding the ground; just celebrity handprints lining the sidewalk. I must be totally out of touch with Hong Kong celebrities because I wasn't excited at all when I saw the handprints of Leon Lai, Aaron Kwok and whoever. Do the younger generation even follow these celebrities anymore? Where are they now? Overall, it was so boring that we left and decided to go shopping.


Streets of Tsim Sha Tsui

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Hong Kong streets looked pretty much the same over the years. The buildings still looked old; the streets were bustling and you know you're in Hong Kong when you see their classic Ding Ding Tram going by.

We went shopping at Lung Fung Mall, where I bought my conditioners and eye creams at a huge discounted price. If you're thinking of buying beauty products from Sasa, I would recommend Lung Fung actually. The products in Lung Fung are authentic and are largely older stock from other retailers resold at a discounted price. Thus, you might find earlier expiry dates on the packaging but nothing too unreasonable. I was running out of conditioner and eye cream, so I didn't mind the earlier expiry dates since I was going to use them soon anyway. Besides beauty products, they sell snacks and household items too.


Gwing Kee Roasted - Address: 13-19A Lock Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong

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Since we skipped lunch, we had an early dinner at Gwing Kee which serves delicious roasted meat.

We were there for their roasted goose which was so tender. Their roasted pork had a 'melts in your mouth' texture too. The noodles were springy and chewy, and even the warm milk tea was comforting to my tummy. Overall, it was a sinful and possibly calories-heavy meal, but it was OH SO GOOD too. I guess it was a cheat day that night? :)


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For dessert, I satisfied my craving for Mango Sago while Hubs had some glutinous sesame dessert. I can't remember the name of the dessert place, but it's okay because it's best that you don't visit them.

While the desserts were generally good, we were not pleased with the inflexible customer service. They wanted us to order two desserts instead of sharing one because it was apparently stated so in extremely fine print. They only notified us when we were sharing the Mango Sago (cannot tell us earlier ah?!), so Hubs had to order another dessert. When it came to payment, they didn't accept credit card, insisting only on cash. I've never seen an eatery in Hong Kong (that looks like they serve tourists) that doesn't accept credit card. Even the old-school ones accept credit card now.

Overall, our day trip to Hong Kong had some hits and misses, but overall, it was still a generally good experience for me. This might be my last time going to Hong Kong, or perhaps it would be another 20 years later when I visit (LOL!!). Nonetheless, thank you Hong Kong for the memories!

I'll be travelling again in July so I'll be back with another travelogue. No promises though - I might be too busy with my Masters' Semester 2. Wait and see!


Disclaimer: This is a personal post and reviews are based on personal experiences.
Radiance

Exploring Macau: The Las Vegas of Asia

Hey everyone!

Last month, YX and I went for our Macau X Hong Kong short trip and it was a splendid getaway. I never thought I would visit many places, try good food and haul big time within 4 days.

We dedicated 3 days to exploring Macau (inclusive of flight days) and 1 day for a day trip into Hong Kong. Macau's not big so you don't need more than 2 days to visit its main attractions. In this blog post, I'll share about the places we've been to; where we stayed and what we ate. I'll write about Hong Kong in the next blog post!

Where We Went

Ruins of Saint Paul's - Address: Calcada de Sao Paulo, Macao


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Macau is a special administrative region of China and operates under the principle of 'one country, two systems'. Thus, they have a high degree of autonomy in their governance and uses their own currency, i.e. the Macanese Pataca instead of the Chinese Yuan. In terms of communication, the locals speak Mandarin, Cantonese and English.

Once a Portuguese colony, you can expect to see Chinese-European influences in their building designs and cuisines. Take the historical landmark, Ruins of Saint Paul's, for example. The remnants of a 17th century Catholic religious complex is a classic icon of Macau and is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It reminded me so much of the ruins I've seen in Europe.

There were massive loads of tour groups during our visit so we had to take a photo afar, regardless of the photobombs behind. There was also a small museum behind the top of the staircase which we checked out as well.


Senado Square - Address: Largo do Senado, Macao

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In Italy, there are piazzas with water fountains or statues in the middle of it. In Macau, there's a Senado Square that looked similar to the piazzas I've seen in Italy.

This paved town square is where the shops and restaurants are located and is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We were there before the shops were opened, but it didn't matter because we were strolling through Senado Square to get to the ruins anyway.


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After visiting the ruins, we went back to Senado Square just in time to check out Macau's famous Koi Kei Bakery. This bakery is the best place to get Macau snacks. I've tasted some of their snacks and they were so good that I wished I could buy the whole shop. The prices were reasonable and the snacks were packaged well for gifting.

I had my biggest haul from there since we wanted to get snacks for my parents, my siblings' families, my in-laws and ourselves. I highly recommend their variety of cookies (almond, walnut, cashew and chocolate were all yummy!), egg rolls and Portuguese nougats.


Fisherman's Wharf - Address: Av. Dr Sun Yat Sen, Macao

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We didn't intentionally visit the Fisherman's Wharf because it was right next to our hotel, and we had to walk through it to get to the Outer Harbour Ferry Terminal. I just thought it was amusing to find a mini Colosseum there with a roman amphitheatre, which I believe is used for concerts.

For the two days that we were in the vicinity, there wasn't any activity at all so I'm not exactly sure what it does as a commercial district. Maybe just go there for photos? :P


The Parisian Macao - Address: Lote 3, Strip, SAR, P.R. China, Estr. do Istmo, Macao

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Macau is known as the Las Vegas of Asia. Like the Las Vegas Strip, Macau's got their Cotai Strip lined with lavish hotels, iconic landmarks and casinos.

I may not be interested in gambling but I do enjoy hotel-hopping to check out the architecture of the hotels and their free attractions. That's what I do during my student exchange days when I visited The Strip in Las Vegas and went around taking photos of the various hotels.

In my opinion, the Parisian is the grandest hotel on the Cotai Strip, especially with that magnificent Eiffel Tower. I wanted a photo of it from every angle. In one of our hotel stays, we were so fortunate to have a view of the Parisian and the Eiffel Tower. It made me want to sit by the window just to look at them.

If you want to get closer to the Eiffel Tower, head up to Level 5 of The Parisian so that you can access this balcony area for free to get better photos. There is an observation deck at Level 37 too but you've got to pay a fee to access it.


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From 6.15pm till midnight, the Eiffel Tower illuminates in an explosion of colours at 15 minute intervals and it's GORGEOUS.

The night scene along the Cotai Strip gives off a different vibe so if you can afford the time, walk along the Cotai Strip at night to admire the lights too. I like to enter the hotels to check out its amenities as well, like this beautiful water fountain in the lobby of The Parisian. I would have missed it if I've just admired the building from its exterior!


The Venetian Macao - Address: S/N Estrada da Baia de Nossa Senhora da Esperanca, Macao

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We visited The Venetian Macao next, and you can get there via a connecting route inside The Parisian. YAY, no need to walk under the sun to hotel hop!

Each hotel is humongous though, so be prepared to walk A LOT even if you're walking within the hotel. You might as well get ready your fitness tracker and make your steps count.

The Venetian Macao was the least impressive hotel along the Cotai Strip, but it's just my personal opinion. I've been to Venice already so seeing a canal within the shopping mall doesn't amaze me. Besides, we have something similar (and might I say, prettier?) in Marina Bay Sands too. In terms of the architecture, I was stunned that The Venetian Macao looked rather plain from the exterior. I was expecting it to have the same grandeur as The Parisian or the Londoner.

There were no free attractions in this hotel, but if you're willing to pay, you can book yourself a gondola ride down the canal.


Galaxy Macao - Address: Galaxy Macau Integrated Resort, Cotai, Macau

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It's hard to miss Galaxy Macao when it looked so golden and royal. I could spot the buildings from afar.

Galaxy Macao was quite a distance from The Venetian Macao and the lack of a connecting path within the hotels meant that I had to walk outside the hotel to get there.


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There were some free shows offered by The Galaxy Macao. If you're there at night, you can catch their laser show at every 30 minute intervals starting from 7.45pm.

I was there in the day and was hoping to catch the Crystal Lobby Show (see left picture) which occurs at 30 minute intervals starting from 12.15pm. ALAS, it was undergoing renovations and had ceased operations. What a pity!

Thankfully, I managed to catch The Diamond Show (see right picture) at their Diamond Lobby instead. Similarly, the show happens at 30 minute intervals from 12pm onwards and it was such a dazzling work of art! I was spellbound as I watched a gigantic diamond emerge from the waters. The audience went 'wahhhh!' at the same time as I did. We were totally in awe.


Wynn Palace - Address: 4HXC+2FG, Av. da Nave Desportiva, Macao

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At night, we visited Wynn Palace, where you could enjoy a dancing fountain show at their Performance Lake.

I thought it was so damn cool that they also have a dragon-themed cable car called the SkyCab, which you could ride for 10 minutes around the fountain. Watching the show from a bird's eye view hits differently. I felt thrilled to be on the cable car and wished I could go for many more rounds. :P

Since it's a free attraction, do expect long queues. Fortunately, the queues move fast. YX and I ended up sharing a cable car with a Korean family of 3 pax. We discovered that if you're in a group of 2 pax, you have an advantage over larger families of 4 pax in getting a seat on the SkyCab.


The Londoner Macao - Address: Estrada da Baia de Nossa Senhora da Esperanca, Macao

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That night, we walked past The Londoner Macao but we didn't get to explore it properly. Thus, I requested to visit it again the next day.

It was a wonderful decision because I now have a favourite photo of myself with the Big Ben. There were also London's iconic red telephone booths around the hotel and a vintage double decker bus. SO COOL.


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As I visited The Londoner Macao on Tues morning and would have flown back to Singapore by evening, I had to miss the Changing of the Guard Performance.

This is a free performance offered by the hotel and it looked super exciting! Unfortunately, it only happens at 7.30pm and 9.30pm from Tues to Thurs, and 4.00pm, 7.30pm and 9.30pm from Fri to Sun. Sigh. Timing's not great. If you've the chance to watch this performance, do enjoy it for me.


Where We Stayed

Harbourview Hotel - Address: Av. Dr. Sun Yat-Sen, Macao

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We stayed at Harbourview Hotel for 2 nights. It's a 4-star Baroque-themed hotel with spacious rooms overlooking the harbour.

We chose it largely because of its strategic location near the Outer Harbour Ferry Terminal, which allowed us to walk over and board our ferry to Hong Kong in time.

I don't have a photo of the room because it was so difficult to take one at night. It was a dimly lit room (even after I have switched on all lights) and it only looked much brighter in the day when there was natural sunlight streaming in. Other than that, it's better than I expected with comfy beds, atas shower amenities and even a variety of specialised pillows to choose from.

W Macao Studio City - Address: Av. de Cotai, Macao

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Nonetheless, our best experience was staying in W Macao - Studio City.

Hubs and I like to treat ourselves to a 5-star hotel experience on our last day of our trip so that we could slow down, rest and enjoy the facilities within the hotel.

We were lucky to receive a complimentary room upgrade, and was stunned when we opened the door to a luxurious room with a direct view of The Parisian and its Eiffel Tower. Even the bathroom screams 'bougie' with a sleek black bathtub as well as individual rooms for the shower area and the toilet.


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When the sky turns dark, the Eiffel Tower illuminates in a myriad of colours and it just looks so breathtakingly beautiful. You know that feeling when you're so awestruck by a beautiful something that you just want to stand there and admire it forever? I had to drag myself out of my hotel room for dinner.

The next morning, as part of using the hotel's facilities, we went for a swim in their indoor pool. Well, it was more of Hubs swimming laps while I chilled at the jacuzzi to massage my back and legs with the powerful water pressure.

Since it's a 5-star experience, we had staff laying out our towels; bringing us bottled water and we could even help ourselves to fruit-infused detox water after our swim too.
SUCH IS LIFE.

Where We Ate

Breakfast: Seng Kei Congee - Edificio Oriental Garden, R. dos Cules, Macao

Lunch: Ma Pou Mei Sek - 352-362 Av. do Gov. Jaime Silverio Marques, Macao

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On one of the days, we went to Seng Kei Congee to have a hearty porridge breakfast, best eaten with you tiao (i.e. fried dough sticks). Their soy bean milk was also rich and tasty, a delicious complement to the porridge.

As for Ma Pou Mei Sek, we walked into this Hong Kong-style Cha Chaan Teng on our first night in Macau with little expectations but was immediately blown away by the food. We had gone into this eatery unplanned because the restaurant that we had intended to visit was quite far away and we were starting to have a late dinner already.

Their beef stir-fried noodles had a strong wok hei while their wanton noodles came with a pretty addictive broth. Their egg noodles were springy and there was a generous amount of wantons in the soup. We also shared a pork chop bun which was crispy at the right places and was absolutely yummy. Best of all, the prices were similar to that of SG hawker food.


Lord Stow's Bakery - outlets everywhere!

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You can't leave Macau without trying their Portuguese egg tarts, and I highly recommend getting them from Lord Stow's Bakery. They have outlets everywhere and you'll see people walking on the streets with their yellow paper bag too (which means that there's an outlet nearby). While Lord Stow's Bakery are largely takeaway outlets, some of them are also cafes with dine-in options.

We got our egg tarts from their outlet at The Venetian Macao, and they were to die for! Brought them back to enjoy in the hotel while having tea prepared by Hubs. Hubs loved the egg tarts so much that he got himself another one when we were at Taipa Food Street so that he could bring it to the airport to savour it. Besides egg tarts, I like their Angel Cake and Orange Pound Cake. I even bought them for breakfast.


Taipa Food Street - R. do Cunha, Macao

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Right before heading to the airport, we took the Light Rapid Transit (LRT) to Taipa Food Street for lunch.

If you don't want to eat overpriced meals near the Macau luxury hotels, this is a great place to visit for cheaper and good food! Desserts aplenty too!


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At the Food Street, we went to Cafe Tai Lei Loi Kei to have pork chop buns for lunch. I was craving for a pineapple bun (aka polo bun) and a pork chop bun at the same time so it was interesting that they had a Polo Pork Chop Bun combination. It was DELICIOUS MAX and a must-try there!

This cafe usually does takeaways, but we chanced upon a tiny cafe and there happened to be a seat for us. What amazing luck!

Hubs also brought me to Celeste Artisan to try a unique Creme Brulee Portuguese Ice Cream Tart. It's high quality gelato in an egg tart shell, nicely torched and caramelised on its surface. Super duper delicious but a mess to eat and will definitely leave you with sticky fingers. As the cafe only does takeaway for their ice cream tarts, we had to find a place outside the cafe to sit and eat. They gave us a cardboard 'plate' to hold the tart and I thought it was pretty useless. Knowing that the tart crumbles easily when the gelato melts, I wished they could have given us a bowl instead. 10/10 for the taste; 4/10 for the ease of eating it. Hubs ended up eating 3/4 of the tart because it was too messy to pass it over for me to eat.


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Since I didn't get to enjoy much of the tart, I went for a Blueberry Yogurt gelato instead. It was perfect to eat under hot weather.

Hubs got himself an Iced Milk Tea which had a strong and rich tea taste. Overall, we were beyond satisfied with what we've tried at Taipa Food Street so far.

That's all I have for Macau! In my next blog post, I'll write about my day trip to Hong Kong. Look out for it!


Disclaimer: This is a personal post and reviews are based on personal experiences.
Radiance

iROO Eco-Friendly Outlet Store launches in IMM Singapore!

Hey everyone!

In late April, I visited iROO at Great World City and featured the iROO Spring/Summer 2025 Collection on my blog.

This Taiwanese fashion label sells a myriad of stylish outfits for the modern lady, ranging from timeless staples to seasonal collections. With outlets in Great World City, Raffles City, One Raffles Place and Takashimaya, iROO's collections of chic apparels have definitely won the hearts of Singaporeans ladies.


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In May, iROO arrived in the West, launching their first outlet store in IMM Singapore.

You can expect to see apparel that is priced at 30% to 50% lower than their original price. What great bargains for high quality clothing! Every week, they'll stock their shop with new outfits so Westies, you have greater reasons to shop at iROO IMM now. :P


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Photos credit to iROO x AT Marketing Consultancy.

Besides the awesome deals, the highlight of the outlet store is its empasis on environmental sustainability. iROO is the first retailer to collaborate with Wynist in advocating for eco-friendly business practices, turning environmental waste into useful products through an automated production system. Fabric waste and coffee grounds are transformed into store fixtures and hangers, giving these 'seemingly useless' residual waste a new lease of life. Thumbs up to iROO for supporting a zero waste future.

Just like in Japan, the Taiwanese are champions of sustainability. The concept of 'reduce, reuse and recycle' are deeply rooted in their children's education system and permeated throughout their culture. Since the fashion industry has always been associated with waste due to fast fashion, it's heartening to see a fashion retail brand taking an active step to protect the environment. I hope it motivates other brands to follow suit.


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Similarly to iROO Great World City, the outfits in iROO IMM Outlet are categorised according to 3 distinct styles. This section features the City Feminine outfits which are largely in girly pinks and happy pastels.

The clothes are priced at a huge discount because they are from past collections. Nonetheless, that does not suggest that they will be less fashionable. I was still able to find many pretty pieces to try!


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If you see striped outfits, you'll know that we have reached the French Urban Chic collection. In this section, you will notice denims, nautical designs and the splashes of bright yellows and vibrant reds.

Yellows and reds might be too loud on me, but I managed to get a coral knitted tee, a striped peach knitted tee and an orange pair of casual shorts from this collection. Kudos to me for expanding the colours in my wardrobe.


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For the corporate ladies, there's the Timeless Black & White collection with outfits suitable for the office!

While the outfits looked largely formal, I managed to get my hands on a number of cute skirts from this collection which could be styled differently for more casual occasions. I even picked a light, flowy and translucent cardigan from this collection.

Generally, I was most interested in the skirts and shorts in the outlet store. I tried on everything I picked just to be sure of my size because the sizing seems to run differently in this store. For example, I was a standard size 36 for my outfits in iROO Great World but I was a mix of size 36 and size 38 for my outfits in the outlet store, depending on the cutting. As always, sizes are limited in iROO and the brand does not restock its pieces once they run out.


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I tried on SO MANY clothes that I made at least 4 trips to the fitting room.

I was prepared to carry all the clothes I've picked, but the boutique assistants would never let me do that. They would rush forward to carry the clothes for me and would patiently pick out my sizes for each clothing. I felt so pampered by this personalised service.

My slight gripe was that the fitting rooms do not have mirrors, which also meant that I had to use the common mirror outside the fitting rooms to look at myself. When I was in the fitting room, there was a group of tai tais who were also trying on clothes, and they were semi-hoarding the mirror to look at themselves. I felt super shy sharing the mirror with them as I could sense their glances through the reflection. HAHA!


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Went home with a MASSIVE haul, which I styled with my previous picks from iROO Great World City.

One of my best picks was the pair of shorts above, which I got in two colours - pink and black. I call it my 'tulip shorts' because the edges of the shorts reminded me of tulip petals. Interestingly, the shorts were also waist-cinching, giving an illusion of a smaller waist. I paired the pink shorts with my iROO knitted tank from my previous haul, while I matched my coral top with these black shorts. I love the coral top very much because I never knew that I would look good in that colour.


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I felt like a ballerina when I wore my floral mini skirt with my iROO sleeveless knit top. If the top was akin to a ballet leotard, then the skirt was akin to a ballet skirt. The skirt's made of 100% polyester, but it's so light that you'll think it's made of chiffon.

Love that the skirt came with inner shorts and even an elastic band at the waist. I don't have to worry about exposing myself and the skirt will still fit comfortably even if I were to gain weight. :P

I also picked a bodycon long skirt which looked perfect with my sleeveless top (from another brand). I looked taller and more slender than I actually am in this pairing. Wore this skirt to iROO IMM's launch recently and will continue to wear it for occasions such as my Masters presentations or work.


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Some casual pieces I've picked from iROO were this cactus tee and this striped peach knitted tee. The cutting of the cactus tee was flattering on me and the graphics were quite cute actually.

As for the striped peach knitted tee, I adore the soft knit material though I had to intentionally pick a larger size (Size 40) so that it doesn't look too tight on me. I chose a pair of shorts in two different colours, orange and blue to go along with the tees as well as to replace my worn-to-death shorts back at home.


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Another pair of casual shorts I picked was the printed one above, which I paired with my own green crop top. It is a comfy, versatile pair and I like to wear them when I'm out running errands or when I'm visiting my parents and in-laws.

Lastly, I picked a flowy translucent grey cardigan which goes remarkably well with my sleeveless top + short skirt/shorts combination. I don't normally wear long sleeves because Singapore's too warm for it, but I'll definitely save this for rainy days or other moments when I feel cold.

iROO's outfits are machine-washable. To prolong their usage, you can place the outfits inside out in a laundry net before washing them in the machine. Once done, simply hang up your outfits to air dry. They'll usually be dry by the next day and you can wear them again. :)


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Like the styles you see? Check out their wide variety of apparel on iROO website and don't forget to follow them on Facebook and Instagram too!

I hope you'll snag some great outfits and wonderful deals like I did! :)

iROO IMM Outlet

2 Jurong East Street 21
#01-112, IMM Outlet
Singapore 609601


Disclaimer: This post is done in collaboration with iROO and AT Marketing Consultancy. Reviews are based on personal experiences.
Radiance

iROO Spring/Summer 2025 Collection: Chic, Feminine & Classic!

Hey people!

I'm enjoying semester break now and one of the things on my 'holiday to-do list' is to shop for clothes and reward myself with some retail therapy. How timely it is when I had the chance to shop at iROO for their latest Spring/Summer 2025 collection!


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iROO is a leading Taiwanese fashion label founded in 1999, and you might have noticed its outlets at Great World City, Raffles City Shopping Centre, One Raffles Place and Takashimaya. They offer a range of trendy wardrobe staples as well as stylish seasonal collections for modern ladies like you and me.

Their outfits strike a perfect balance between office-appropriate and playful, making it easy to transit from work to after-hours fun. Besides, they are known for launching weekly collections so you'll never get bored of their outfits!


I was a little bummed that I had to miss out on the launch of iROO at Great World City months back. Seeing my fellow content creators looking so fashionable in their outfits made me so envious! I wanna look this good too. :D

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Two weeks ago, I visited iROO at Great World City to check out their Spring/Summer 2025 Collection and I was beyond thrilled. Their new collection has 3 distinct styles, all of which appealed to me differently.

I spent a good 2 hours in the boutique shop trying on SO MANY outfits that I lost count. The shop assistants were so sweet to pick out more outfits that they deemed suitable for me so that I could try them as well. Let me introduce the styles within this collection to you.

French Urban Chic


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The French Urban Chic range features denim ensembles and prints like polka dots, stripes and nautical designs. I even spotted a sailor top!

This range is tres chic and looks wonderful on
many women. After all, you can't go very wrong with denim. While you can find navy blue jeans and dresses in this range, expect bold splashes of orange and red tops to bring a vibrant pop of colour to your everyday wardrobe too.

City Feminine

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Here's my favourite range. It's everything I love - girly, floral and cheerful colours.

I spent ages browsing through every single piece, completely smittened by the pretty skirts, frilly blouses and pastel tweed jackets. If you're a fan of pinks, purples and sunny yellows, this range of outfits is for you!

While I hardly wear jackets and the frilly blouses ended up looking too loud on me, I fell absolutely in love with their skirts. I knew I had to get one skirt as a statement piece to match with my dark-coloured tops!


Timeless Black & White

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For ladies looking for office-friendly outfits, the Timeless Black & White range has classic designs that exude sharpness and confidence.

Think lace-edged tops, smart cardigans and elegant frilled blouses, which are great for making a polished impression. Some pieces even scream GIRL BOSS in the best way possible.

Since I work in a casual environment where jeans and tees pass as office wear, I don't actually need to dress like a corporate queen. I would definitely be more tempted by the outfits here if I was still working in a formal setting. While I thought I wouldn't be able to find something more casual in this range, I was pleasantly surprised to see black shorts and skorts that were versatile enough for laidback weekend outings.

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Time to try on all the outfits I've picked for myself!

I appreciated the thoughtful touches in the dressing room, such as a seat to place your bags and a pair of black heels to provide a visual representation of how your outfit will look with a particular footwear.

The shop assistant was incredibly helpful in bringing out the outfits in my size for me to try on. Speaking of sizes, each clothing in iROO is limited in sizes. This means that once they run out of a particular size, they will not be replenishing stock for it. Thus, I had to give up some of my top picks as they were only available in a bigger size and were too loose on me. Le sigh!

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It was love at first sight when I saw this navy blue top with wavy details (see pic on left), hidden underneath a blazer. I wouldn't have noticed this hidden gem if I didn't scanned through every outfit in the City Feminine range carefully.

The cutting of this top reminded me of a ballet leotard and it looked so flattering on me. I
could imagine myself pairing this with other bottoms in my wardrobe too. Besides, it was in my size so I felt like it was meant for me!

Another top that I picked was a knit tank top with a contrast trim (see pic on right). Despite being bigger than my usual size, it fitted me well. Even though it looked simple, there's something about its cutting that accentuated my appearance. I am usually conscious of big arms and bulging tummies when I wear tank tops like this but this tank top did not highlight my flaws at all. I looked better in this than I thought and it goes well with my pink pants too.

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The pink pleated skirt was my favourite skirt out of all that I've seen. I love its pale pinkish colour and the adorable pouch. Too bad that the skirt was one of the picks that I've had to give up on because it was too big for me - I had to stick out my stomach to hold the skirt in place.

So my alternate pick to my pink skirt was this sky blue skirt with ribbons. I felt cute in this skirt and I think it complemented the dark-coloured tops that I own, including the navy blue tops pictured above. It's officially my first sky blue apparel in my wardrobe too.

iROO's skirts are also lined with inner shorts so you don't have to worry about exposing your underwear even if the skirt is on the shorter side. Thumbs up for that!


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I was also impressed by the quality of their tees in the French Urban Chic and City Feminine range.

Unlike the usual thin cotton, these tees are made from a blend of rayon, polyester and spandex. This gives the tees a thicker and sturdier feel while remaining soft and snug against the skin. I could not resist touching the tees everytime I come across one. I tried on a lot of tees but what stood out most was this tee from the French Urban Chic range. The charming illustration of a French-style building caught my eye because it reminded me of the buildings I see in Italy too.


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I also paired this tee with black shorts from the Timeless Black & White range.

I was most attracted to a pair of black skorts from this range but it was too big, so this pair of shorts was my second choice. With functional pockets and a black-gold chain that served as a detachable decorative belt, the details truly enhanced the design of the shorts. Love that it fits me like a glove too!

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Needless to say, I left the shop feeling immensely satisfied with my large shopping haul. Thank you for the pampering experience, iROO.


Curious about the styles in iROO? Check out their wide variety of apparels of iROO website and don't forget to follow them on Facebook and Instagram too!

iROO Singapore @ Great World City

1 Kim Seng Promenade,
#01-159/159A, Singapore 237994


Disclaimer: This post is done in collaboration with iROO and AT Marketing Consultancy. Reviews are based on personal experiences.
Radiance

My Cozy Room's BeKind Pro+ Cell Glow 7-Day Skin Revival Treatment Kit Review

Hey everyone!

Last week, I was at My Cozy Room Beauty Spa to experience their BeKind Pro Signature Anti-Aging Facial.

To maintain and enhance my post-facial glow at home, I followed up with the newly launched BeKind Pro+ Cell Glow 7-Day Skin Revival Treatment Kit, which promises deep hydration and skin renewal in just one week. These were the same products used during my facial and I continued applying them diligently every morning and night for the next 7 days as part of my skincare routine. I will now share my review of these new anti-aging products!


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My Cozy Room Beauty Spa has developed its own skincare line, BeKind, featuring high-quality, skin-loving ingredients designed to be effective and gentle at the same time. As part of their desire to encourage a beautiful life inside and out, the brand is so named to advocate kindness for oneself as well as others. I had the pleasure of trying their hydrating products a few years ago, and they truly felt like a luxurious treat for my skin. Plus, their elegant princess-like packaging made the user experience even more delightful!

BeKind Pro+ was designed to deliver targeted, results-driven skincare powered by advanced plant-based ingredients. Their products are free from harsh chemicals and parabens, making them gentle enough for all skin types, including sensitive skin like mine! Available as a travel-friendly set, you could even bring their products along on your trips to continue using them overseas. Even though results are expected in 7 days, the travel-size products could definitely last beyond 7 days. I've used them twice a day for more than a week now and I still have at least half a bottle of Miracle Oil left. :P

Cell Glow Cleanser and Miracle Oil


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In total, there are 6 products in this kit. The first step in my routine is the Cell Glow Cleanser, which I use to gently cleanse away dirt and impurities before applying any other products.

Formulated with botanical ingredients and amino acids, this lightweight cleanser lathers quickly and cleans my face gently without leaving behind a dry and tight sensation. Smells wonderful too!

Next, I apply the Cell Glow Miracle Oil, my favourite product out of the kit. It was used during the brush ritual in my facial, and I was amazed at how quickly it calmed my redness. I used to avoid oil-based products in my younger years but this has changed my perception completely. This Cell Glow Miracle Oil from BeKind Pro+ is lightweight, soothing and highly effective.


To apply the Miracle Oil, I will add 5 drops on my palm, rub my palms together and gently press the oil on my face. It wasn't as oily as I thought and it seemed to nourish my skin from deep within, locking moisture in my dermis. There was a lovely glow on my cheeks right after, but not in a way that made me look like a grease ball. This was the key ingredient to strengthening my skin barrier as well as reducing fine lines and wrinkles. I never knew that my dehydrated skin would love this oil so much.

Cell Glow Elixir and Cream

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The next step was to apply the Cell Glow Elixir, an ampoule packed with active and anti-free radical ingredients. With its lightweight, watery texture, this elixir delivers hydration while protecting the skin against premature aging. Its scent is subtle and barely noticeable, making it ideal for those sensitive to fragrance.

Once the Elixir has been absorbed, I followed up with Cell Glow Cream to boost my skin with moisture, rejuvenate aged tissues and reduce the appearance of scars. Although it has a slightly richer texture, I didn't mind it at all. My skin absorbed it very well and it worked effectively for me. Maybe my dehydrated skin craves moisture-rich products now. The cream didn't leave my face sticky or greasy at all. Instead, my skin felt plump with moisture after application.

Cell Glow Booster and Sun Protection

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The Cell Glow Booster contains a small amount of glycolic acid, which helps to remove surface dead skin cells, renewing the skin to give it a youthful glow. It also addresses a wide range of skin concerns, including pigmentation, fine lines, acne scars, clogged pores and age spots.

This product was not used on my skin during the facial because my cheeks were already sensitive and red, but I was able to incorporate the Booster as part of my skincare routine after careful monitoring of my skin condition. I'll use this Booster at night only, mixing 1/2 pump with 2 drops of Miracle Oil before applying on my skin. Though I did not observe visible results in my first two days of using the Booster, I started noticing that my pores were smaller and my skin was looking brighter by the third day.

Glycolic acid can increase skin sensitivity to the sun, so it is best to protect your skin with a sunscreen like the Cell Glow Sun Protection. That's not a problem for me since I never leave my house without sunscreen. I use this product during the day and I love how lightweight it is. With an SPF 50 PA +++ and a natural tint, this sunscreen protects my skin from harmful UV rays and environmental pollutants. It blended seamlessly into my skin without changing its natural tone, feeling almost like a second skin.


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In just 7 days, the results from using BeKind Pro+ Cell Glow 7-Day Revival Treatment Kit truly spoke for themselves. My skin looked noticeably healthier, and I was glowing with confidence. Even friends commented on how radiant I looked (and no, it wasn't just the holiday glow!). Huge thanks to My Cozy Room Beauty Spa for keeping my skin in such an amazing condition.

If you're looking for real results with gentle, effective skincare, this is the glow-up your routine needs.


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Curious about their products? Please check out their Website, Facebook and Instagram for updates and promotions. :)

My Cozy Room Beauty Spa @ Claymore Connect
442 Orchard Road, #02-09
Singapore 238869


Opening hours:
Weekdays - 11.00am to 9.00pm
Weekends and Public Holidays - 10.00am to 8.00pm

Disclaimer: This post is done in collaboration with My Cozy Room Beauty Spa. Reviews are based on personal experiences.
Radiance

Review on Best facial in Singapore featuring My Cozy Room's latest Anti-Aging Facial

Hey people!

It's been months since I've written a post here! I've been intensely busy with my Masters programme and I didn't have much of a life for the past 4 months.

Now that semester break has finally begun, I could now focus on self-care by treating my skin to a facial at My Cozy Room Beauty Spa at Claymore Connect. Kudos to them for shifting to a more convenient location!


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My Cozy Room is an award-winning beauty spa in Singapore, known for their best extraction facial since 2010.

I've always loved the way the spa looks with their gold and white colour concept, which gives off elegant and royal vibes.


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Caught up with lady boss Celine as well, who introduced me to the spa's newly launched Bekind Pro Signature Anti-Aging Facial Treatment. This is a comprehensive 2-hour facial with 24 steps, and it promises to lift, brighten and hydrate my skin.

The Bekind Pro products that will be used during the facial are also newly launched, and I will be introducing the products in my next blog post. Please stay tuned to that!


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This facial treatment was much needed for me considering that I haven't been to a facial for months, and my skin has definitely gone through stress and tensions during my semester. Now that I don't have a reason to be tired anymore, I wanted my skin to look more energised and youthful.

For the next 2 hours, I decided to leave my skin in the good hands of the professionals while I rest and relax in this lovely, comfy room.


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What's interesting about this facial is that it incorporates gua sha tools to massage my scalp, face and chest.

I used to not care about gua sha but now that I'm older, I am starting to see the benefits of gua sha massages in improving detoxification and reducing skin puffiness. As we age, our skin loses elasticity and firmness, making us look puffier than we did in our youth. I guessed that's where facial massages and gua sha come in handy to de-puff our face and restore a more sculpted appearance.


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After removing my makeup, a brass comb was used to stimulate meridian points across my scalp, awakening the flow of energy. It also released built-up tension in my head and neck, stimulating lymphatic drainage and supporting the body's detoxification.

With a clean face, I went through a skin analysis. The beauty therapist shared that my cheeks seemed to be sensitive and red, and it looked dehydrated as well. My skin tone wasn't even too, with some parts looking darker than the rest. Nonetheless, this facial would help to boost hydration in my skin, minimise the redness and improve my skin tone tremendously.


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To exfoliate my skin, a lactic mask was applied to remove dead skin cells from my epidermis.

With the mask on my face, I went through a facial steaming process to open my pores and prepare my skin for easier extraction.


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We took a long time at the extraction because there was quite a build-up of blackheads at my nose and jaw. My beauty therapist was so meticulous, almost as though she was on a mission to extract every single blackhead from my skin.

As someone fearful of extractions, I would typically wince in pain and let out a few yelps. Surprisingly, I did not utter a single sound this time because the pain was minimal and entirely tolerable. No wonder the spa was known for their extraction facial. Their extraction was truly effective and gentle at the same time!

So happy that my brows were trimmed during the process too. I was close to growing a unibrow already. LOL!


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After extraction, my skin was disinfected using a high-frequency device to prevent the growth of bacteria and acne, as well as to shrink enlarged pores. I was a tad nervous when the high-frequency device was in contact with my face because it was emitting zapping sounds that reminded me of electrical currents. Thankfully, there was no stinging sensation so all was good.

I was majorly relieved when I felt a light spray on my face, followed by a refreshing floral scent. The beauty therapist had misted my face with BeKind Hydra Soothing Toner which was formulated with antioxidants and botanical ingredients to soothe and hydrate my skin.


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Next, I went through a brush ritual, where BeKind Pro Cell Glow Miracle Oil was applied on my face using rhythmic brush strokes. Apparently, this ritual works like Botox without the invasive needles, facilitating better absorption of the oil into my skin.

Speaking of oil, I used to hate oil-based products in my younger days because I had oily, pimply skin. Now that my older skin is more dehydrated, oil products are a godsend. I could feel my skin drinking the oil up and plumping my skin barrier with moisture. My face was also damn red after extraction but the miracle oil appeared to minimse the redness speedily.

A knife-like gua sha tool was then used to glide along the angles of my face, relieving tensions, smoothing out fine lines and contouring my face. By then, I was already looking more revitalized than I did when I stepped into the spa.


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Thereafter, an elixir was applied over my face while a high-frequency ultrasonic device was used to break down the elixir's active ingredients, promoting deeper absorption into my skin. I much preferred this ultrasonic device because it was cool and comfortable on my face.

Using the same brush technique as the ritual above, a Cell Glow Cream was then applied on my face to hydrate and rejuvenate my skin.


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I went through two rounds of masking in this facial too.

One was an Illuminating Cell Silk Mask which was placed gently over my face while a DermaCool device was used to deliver a -15 degree celsius facial massage. I love anything cold so I was totally relishing it. The cold also helped to calm redness, while enhancing the absorption of active ingredients from the silk mask.

After that, a 24K Gold Lux Mask was applied over my face. With its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, this mask stimulates collagen production, strengthens skin elasticity and reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.


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It takes around 20 minutes for the Gold Mask to harden so I thought that I would be left alone in the room during that time.

Instead, the beauty therapist used the 20 minutes to massage my shoulders with the brass comb, flushing out toxins and fluids from my aching body. By the time she was done, my Gold Mask was ready to be removed. The final step of the facial was to apply toner, serum, moisturiser and sunscreen on my face before I go.


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I loved how radiant I looked after the facial, with a significantly even skin tone. Seeing my 'Before' and 'After' pictures gave me a shock too.

I know my sensitive cheeks would be red after extraction but I never knew it would be THAT RED in the 'Before' picture. I looked like an abuse victim, goodness. The redness made my cheeks looked dry and bumpy too. But my skin in the 'After' picture was clear and glowy, and I could barely see my pores. These pictures were taken around an hour apart during the facial process and it's amazing how quickly my redness subsided within a short span of time.


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My hair was quite a mess after the facial since I've been lying down for hours with my hair all bundled up.

Nevertheless, they have a gorgeous powder room which you could go to freshen up. Combs are provided too! I felt like a Disney princess in this room.


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Thank you My Cozy Room Beauty Spa for pampering my skin with this Anti-Aging Facial. If you're looking to transform your skin condition too, visit them at their address below.

Check out their Website, Facebook and Instagram for updates and promotions too. :)

My Cozy Room Beauty Spa @ Claymore Connect
442 Orchard Road, #02-09
Singapore 238869


Opening hours:
Weekdays - 11.00am to 9.00pm
Weekends and Public Holidays - 10.00am to 8.00pm

Disclaimer: This post is done in collaboration with My Cozy Room Beauty Spa. Reviews are based on personal experiences.
Radiance

Reflections of 2024: My Metamorphosis through Grief

Exactly a year ago, I opened myself to my readers by sharing about my struggle with infertility.

Months later in March 2024, I wrote that I would never be able to have children. Lots of people read that post; some people cried for me and others reached out to show support and encouragement. While I remained childless today, I wanted to share how life has been for me since my IVF failure this year.

Undeniably, I was in the darkest period of my life. Even writing about this incident now brings tears to my eyes. I would have become a mother by this month if my IVF was successful, but God clearly had other plans when he made my journey to conceiving so arduous and impossible to achieve. All the fertility treatments I've gone through the past years (fallopian tube surgery, ovulation pills, IUI and IVF) were futile. I'm not young either so time is not on my side. I will soon hit an age when I will
definitely not be able to have children at all.

While I went through intense pain physically (think 21 injections into my tummy and blood tests every visit) and emotionally, I had to watch friends, colleagues and younger cousins go through smooth pregnancies and celebrate the joys of parenthood. There were at least 3 people who were going through IVF at the same time as me, and all of their treatments were successful. Do you know the emotional turmoil I had to go through, congratulating so many people for the life that I wanted while pushing away my feelings of grief, loss and failure into the abyss of my heart? It is no wonder that I had mild depression, inconsolable crying and occasional nightmares at the start of the year. The more you tuck your feelings away, they'll find a way to emerge out of you in other ways.


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Fortunately, time does heal the pain, and as I forced myself to go through with life, darkness ebbed away while I slowly filled my life with light. I went to a counsellor for the first time. Though I cried like a baby in front of this counsellor, I was thankful that he helped me to unpack my grief and teach me ways to control my emotions. I learnt that I am allowed to be upset and angry, and that the sadness never completely goes away, but I must help myself to move on in life.

As I looked at myself today, I am majorly proud of how much I have grown from grief and how I've managed to fill this year with more happy days than sad days. It is as what I've stated in the title - A Metamorphosis. A butterfly has to go through the pain of transformation before becoming a beauty. Every setback teaches me something, and every door closed is an opportunity for another door to open.

Some of the changes that have happened since my IVF failure were:

1. I started envisioning YX and me as a 'Dual-Income, No Kids' (DINKs) couple.

When it comes to having children, it's 'all or nothing' for me. If I can't have children, YX and I will be DINKs. We do not want to use another woman's eggs, foster children or adopt children just to have a child in our lives.


Mentally preparing myself for a DINKs life meant a few things. I started to think about how I wanted to live my life now that I've exchanged 'no kids' with more time and finances. I became more open-minded to enjoying my wealth since I no longer needed to save for children and I wouldn't have children to pass down my money to in the future.

Don't worry, despite the above, I am sensible enough to still save for my retirement. I wouldn't be splurging every single cent like it's my last day on Earth.


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I also decided that I would like to travel more and see the world before I pass on. That explains my decision to travel to Italy with YX since I have never seen Europe before.

Being childless also forces me to think about how life would likely be when I grow old. Having no children to depend on means I have to focus on being self-sufficient. I also have to find my own ways to fight loneliness in old age, which may include checking myself in to a retirement home to be surrounded by professional help and other people (especially if there are no longer loved ones in my life by then). If I die, I would like to at least die in the presence of other people who can do something about my body instead of dying alone in my home, only to be discovered weeks later because of the stench from my rotting corpse.


I know this talk about old age and death can sound far fetched and deeply uncomfortable for some of you (you might even ask me not to think too much). But my point is, if I could imagine the future that would likely happen to YX and me, I could be at peace with being a DINK.

2. I began investing in health and nutrition for a healthier and better-looking body.

The one body part that I am most insecure of is my tummy. I've had a tummy since I was 23.

An image consultant once told me that I actually looked pretty good overall and would look better if I could lose or conceal the tummy. Admittedly, I didn't actively do much to lose it, especially when I thought that I would be pregnant one day anyway. No thanks to my tummy, some people thought that I was a few months' pregnant.

Having a tummy and being mistaken as a pregnant lady is not funny anymore when you can't conceive. I wasn't only childless; I also felt incredibly unattractive and people thought I was pregnant (when I couldn't be).

At the same time, I knew that I have some responsibility for my infertility as I have led a stressful and unhealthy life during my 20s when I was in highly stressful jobs. When you don't take care of yourself in your younger days, your poor health is manifested in other ways and it comes back to bite you when you're older. Thus, my highly stressed body could have led to my infertility now.


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This year was a stark realization that nothing is more important than health. We're always talking about being rich in wealth, but what about rich in health? I wanted to take care of myself as well as look and feel good again.

I started to turn my focus from grieving to achieving health goals. I stayed away from unhealthy food (e.g. no bubble tea, no soft drinks, ensuring that my fridge is stocked with more fruits and minimal snacks etc) and focused on increasing my protein intake in my meals. I spent more time cooking for myself to control the ingredients I use instead of eating out all the time. I choose healthier food when grocery shopping and when eating out. I also started working out - supplementing home workouts with visiting gyms and studios every weekend.

Over time, I managed to decrease my tummy size and lower my visceral fat level to level 4. I felt infinitely better and attractive now that I have a more defined body. More importantly, I grew to love and enjoy fitness.

3. I poured my heart into my career and it soared!

Friends would know that my feelings of failure and rejection due to my infertility were immense at the start of the year, but my career growth truly made up for them.

I am thankful that I love my job enough to want to stay professional despite my grief, and the various exciting projects I had led served as wonderful distractions from sadness. I gamely took up a leadership position this year and watched myself grow as a leader. I supervised staff, guided a whole lot of other colleagues and delivered impactful projects with outcomes that I was very proud of. If I look at all I've achieved this year and obliterate the fact that my IVF failed, I would say that 2024 was LIT. What a phenomenal year of career progression.


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This year, I won a Service Superstar award; got accepted into a Masters programme and achieved a company Scholarship as well. Come Jan 2025, I will be moving on to postgraduate studies and will experience student life again. Took me so long but I've finally found a field that I love and want to deepen my learning for. Being able to move on to something major and life-changing did added some colour into my life.

Work-aside, my social media content creator life has also been a blast. Every year, I am just thankful that I am still relevant in the scene despite being older and there are brands who would still want to collaborate with me. It's amazing how I still enjoy filming media drops and attending media events even though it's been 15 years. I could never get sick of this. And as long as the fire within me continues to burn, I'll keep on creating content and see how far this life will take me. :)

To sum up....

This has been a long ass post so thank you so much for reading all the way till here.

There were people who were stunned that I would share about my infertility on my social media platforms, especially when infertility isn't something to shout about, and it's also a taboo topic. However, I hope you'll respect that this blog is also my personal space and my expressive outlet for the past 15 years. I have an audience on my platforms, silent supporters and people who have been plugged into my life for the longest time. They deserve to know what's happening to me.

Infertility is a lonely journey and people who are able to conceive easily will never understand how it feels to be in my shoes. The ones closest to understanding me will be people who also suffer from infertility, have gone through IVF failures or experienced miscarriages. I am privileged that I have a platform like this for me to share my thoughts so openly and be unapologetically me. I can give voice to ladies who are experiencing the same issues and raise awareness on something that affects many women out there but is somehow treated like a hush-hush little secret.

How would I like to be supported? I would like people to:

1) Normalise my situation (so that it doesn't look like it's a shame/pity that I can't have children; and please do not chase me for an update on whether I'm having kids year after year.)

2) Pat me on the back for the growth I've made this year (because it is pretty damn amazing to do well in my career and achieve a defined body despite having grief and depression. And yes, I am tooting my own horn but I deserve to.).

3) Be happy for my choices (Congratulate me for moving on to study Masters, and don't say 'huh, then how do you have time to have children?' Please do not turn celebratory moments into moments of unnecessary regret. There is never a right time.)

Does it mean 'I give up already' and will no longer try for children?

Well, no. I haven't given up but I am also not as deeply invested in trying hard for children as I did in the past years. I will leave my fate in God's hands, and if He chooses to grant me a child miraculously along the way, I will see it as a sign from Him to bless me at the best and most suitable time in my life.

Wishing everyone a Happy New Year! May 2025 continue to be a year of discovery and growth!

Disclaimer: This is a personal post and views are based on personal experiences.
Radiance

Italy Travelogue: Visiting Rome - Italy's Eternal City

And... we're in Rome!

We spent our last 4 nights in Rome - the city of beautiful ruins, preserved from its past civilizations.

4 nights might be a tad long for Rome but we wanted to slow down our travel pace and allocate more time for shopping.


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We spent the first 3 nights staying in an Airbnb that was around 10 to 15 minutes walk from Roma Termini Station. The accommodations near the station were expensive even for 3-star hotels, so we had to make do with a slightly inconvenient location at a comfy Airbnb that was within our budget.

We travelled around Rome via their Metro, which looked like an older version compared to Milan's trains. Thankfully, the train maps were still relatively easy to understand. We had to take the trains because the attractions were either right beside the stations or a 10 minute walk away.

The Colosseum


Rome's famous attraction was The Colosseum, situated right outside the 'Colosseo' station.

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My jaw dropped the moment I exited the station and saw the gigantic roman amphitheatre right before my eyes. WHOA!!

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I thought Verona's The Arena was majestic until I saw The Colosseum and was awestruck by its unmatchable grandeur.

I had such a great time walking around The Colosseum, admiring the gorgeous views of the ruins from different angles.


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We bought the most basic and cheapest tickets here at $18 euros each. If you're willing to pay more, you could have access to exclusive parts of the Colosseum, e.g. the arena or the underground areas.

I heard that queuing for The Colosseum could go up to 3 hours but I was fortunate enough not to queue much. Maybe it's a good thing to visit it slightly after its opening hours after all.

Roman Forum and the Palatine Hill


Our tickets included a visit to the Roman Forum and the Palatine Hill. However, we were shocked to see a long snaking queue to the side attractions after exiting from The Colosseum.

It happened to be a hot day (yes, seemed like autumn has not reached Rome yet) so we didn't want to queue for hours under the hot sun. Thus, we left and started looking for potential places to have lunch.


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As though it's fated, we chanced upon a back entrance into Roman Forum and the Palatine Hill with barely a queue so we showed our tickets and got in a jiffy. That's how I got to walk around longer to explore more beautiful ruins!

Spanish Steps, The Pantheon and Trevi Fountain

On another day, we visited free Rome attractions, such as the Spanish Steps, The Pantheon and the Trevi Fountain. These attractions were around 10 minutes walk from one another.

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They were quite 'meh' to be honest and I don't get why they were so popular. Besides, each attraction was full of tourists wanting a photo. The Spanish Steps were really just steps to me, while I couldn't see the appeal of The Pantheon.

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I thought I would love Trevi Fountain since I adore water elements but I didn't know that the Fountain was undergoing cleaning works so there was NO WATER.

I was quite amused that while the staff were doing cleaning works, tourists were still throwing coins into the empty fountain for photos' sake. Hello, thanks for the donation but people are cleaning!

Vatican City


Another place that YX and I felt was skippable was the Vatican City. Gotta admit that it was my idea to go there. Opps.

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Vatican City is an independent country ruled by the Pope, despite its location within Rome. You don't need to bring your passport to access the city. We got to the Vatican City via train but it wasn't situated right beside the train station. It was still a good 15 minutes walk away and there was construction around so it felt like you had to walk a great deal to reach the entrance. I swear that by the time I reached Vatican City, my legs were aching.

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I was impressed when I stepped foot into the Vatican City because St Peter's Basilica was enchanting and I love the intricate statues lining the roofs of the buildings. But it so happened to be a VERY HOT day (I needed to bring my umbrella out to shield my skin from the sun), so it ruined (ah ha, see what I did there?) our experience.

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We had tickets to Vatican Museums which I regretted because I wished I had bought tickets to enter St Peter's Basilica instead. I had thought that Vatican Museums was the best attraction in the Vatican City so I bought tickets even though YX and I aren't exactly museum enthusiasts.

As it turned out, it was boring AF and too arty for our liking. The only part of the museum that was mildly interesting was the ceiling and wall art. Then, we lost interest when we were made to go through rooms after rooms of similar art.


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It wasn't fun squeezing in the museum with guided tour groups on a ONE-ROUTE ONLY passageway.

Because we had to go through every single room before we could exit the Vatican Museums, it felt like we were walking for hours indoors. Each time we saw the 'USCITA' (i.e. exit) sign, we'll go 'There's the exit!' only to realise that damn, there's still some rooms to go before the exit door. Cheat our feelings.


Trastevere

On our last night in Rome, we visited Trastevere, which was off-the-beaten track. I heard that it was a lovely neighbourhood with nice cobbled streets, so we went to check it out.

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Trastevere translates to 'beyond the Tiber', which was extremely apt because we really had to cross the River Tiber to get to Trastevere. I had to take a photo at River Tiber because, look at the congregation of clouds!

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It was truly a quiet neighbourhood without much buzz, and it allowed me to have a glimpse of their residential life. There were plenty of restaurants as well so we decided to find a good restaurant to celebrate our 5th wedding anniversary in advance.

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We dined at Corsetti 1921 which felt very exclusive because we were the only ones in the restaurant.

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I enjoyed a mouthwatering Sea Bass fillet topped with addictive slices of baked potato.It was hilarious because when my dish arrived, I stared at it wondering when I had ordered a plate of potato chips for dinner.

We also tried the restaurant's signature Tiramisu which turned out to be even better than what we had in Monterosso, Cinque Terre. What a fulfilling meal. :)


Hotel Diana Roof Garden

YX and I switched to a 4-star Hotel Diana Roof Garden as our last accommodation of our trip. We wanted to stay near Roma Termini for convenient commuting to the airport since our luggages were at their heaviest.

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This hotel was the best one we've stayed in because it was luxurious and their beds were as comfy as my firm bed at home! They also seemed to have given us a complimentary upgrade to a family room because we were stunned to see two bedrooms and two bathrooms!

YX and I didn't have to wait for each other to use the bathroom anymore - we had one to ourselves. I had such a restful sleep too. I highly recommend this hotel if you're looking to stay near Roma Termini!


That's all for Rome and my final blog entry for Italy. If you like this post, check out my other Italy travelogues under the 'Italy' tag!

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Disclaimer: This is a personal, non-sponsored post. Reviews are based on personal experiences.
Radiance

Italy Travelogue: Visiting Florence - Italy's City of Art and Culture

By the time we got to Florence, I was all ready to shop!

It's funny that we were in the City of Art and Culture but we had no intentions to visit museums and cathedrals. Florence is full of them, but they just do not interest YX and me. I much prefer to admire the architecture of the buildings from the outside.


Sightseeing at Florence

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We might not have bought tickets to any attractions in Florence but we did went around to sightsee and check out some of the key attractions.

On Scammers

We saw the Duomo (+ a horde of tourists!), the Basilica of Santa Maria Novella and lots of scammers walking around preying on tourists. I'm extremely vigilant when it comes to protecting myself from scammers. Prior to visiting Italy, I've watched youtube videos to keep myself familiarised with the variety of scams there.

It's very common to see people walking around offering roses and friendship bracelets to tourists as though it's free, and then ask for money in return once you've taken them. Beware of 'surveyors' asking you to sign their forms; or people asking you if you want to buy their paintings (which are just photocopies of photos from online sites). YX and I got approached very frequently since we're Asians and obviously tourists, but we always ignore them or say 'no'. There was even a group of little boys who took turns to approach us in the grocery store 'for help', but they got nothing out of us since we completely ignored their presence. I continued to browse while the little boy stood next to me, looking up with puppy eyes.


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Florence reminded me of Milan at some point where we would walk into bougie streets with high fashion labels. What was slightly different in Florence was that they have museums dedicated to brands such as the Salvatore Ferragamo museum.

There were also sculptures and fountains around, typical of Italian streets. I went over to specially take a photo of the Fountain of Neptune, which YX thought it looked like a guy who was peeing.


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Oh yes, Florence was surprisingly sunny that it looked like the autumn weather has not hit this city yet. For the first time, I could walk around without my jacket in the day!

It was also exciting to see horses strutting the streets of Florence occasionally. My favourite was definitely this handsome white horse!


Officina Profumo - Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella

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One of my must-visit places in Florence was the Officina Profumo - Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella. It's the oldest pharmacy selling Santa Maria Novella scents.

I fell in love with Santa Maria Novella products during a media event at Isetan years back, when I got to try various perfumes, body lotions and shower gels from the brand. I learnt that this brand hailed from Florence since 1221 and if I had the chance to visit Florence, I should check the brand out at its oldest pharmacy.


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Would you believe that a pharmacy looked like this? I felt like I was stepping into a luxury store. Could this be the LV of perfumes?

Everything was so exquisite. The products were very pretty that I felt like owning them all. Best of all, they smelled so fabulous that I was practically swooning over the scents. The prices of the products were definitely not cheap, though they were around 20% cheaper than what's sold in Singapore. As a gauge, perfumes were in the $200+ euro range, while candles like the one below are around $75 euros.


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We bought shower gels for my sister-in-law and ourselves at $35 euros each and got a 15% tax refund as we exceeded a minimum purchase of $70 euros. The refund has to be processed at the airport before you depart from Italy.

We were also incredibly lucky to walk into this pharmacy/retail store immediately upon reaching, only to find out that there was a long queue at the entrance when we left. It seemed that throughout our trip in Italy, we've been blessed to visit places of interest at the right timing and we didn't have to queue much at all. :)


Mercato Nuovo and San Lorenzo Leather Market

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Florence is known for their leather, so it's common to see leather markets and boutique stores selling leather jackets, bags, wallets and belts. I wanted to get myself a leather crossbody bag, and I ended up buying two bags during my trip! HA HA!

If you're buying your products from boutique stores, the prices are largely fixed, but if you're buying from San Lorenzo Leather Market or Mercato Nuovo, be prepared to haggle.

One thing to note about buying from markets is that the leather might not be authentic even though the sellers would try to convince you that their leather is the most authentic in the world. Even if authentic leather was used, there might be some mixing with synthentic leather. Our theory is that if the bags were truly made with real expensive leather, would you display them out in the open where it would be susceptible to rain and dust?

I eventually bought my leather bag at $70 euros at I Medici Leather's boutique store after doing some research. I could smell the leather the moment I stepped into the store. The store owner was very patient as I tried on different bags like I'm doing a fashion parade, and she would also teach me how to maintain my bag using a leather cleaner.

I also bought a cheaper bag at the San Lorenzo Leather Market largely because I was attracted to its design (never mind the quality) but I didn't want to pay too much for a bag that might be made largely with synthetic leather. So I haggled and got my bag at a 45% discount.


Tavernetta Della Signoria Ristorante -  Via de Neri, 57, 50122, Firenze FI, Italy

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On to food!

We chanced upon this restaurant when the restaurant we originally wanted to go to was sold out on lunch sets. Lady luck was on our side again as it turned out to be a wonderful meal!

We tried Pici Pasta made with fresh Tuscan noodles, a signature dish in Florence. It was SO GOOD! Even the sea bass and its variety of vegetables were delicious to the max. Ambience was cosy; food portions were just nice for us and prices were reasonable, so we were happy! :)


Trattoria Guelfa Firenze - Via Guelfa, 103R, 50129, Firenze FI, Italy

Florence is also known for their steaks, with the most famous one being the Florentine Steak.

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Florentine Steak is usually served as a 1kg steak and cooked till medium rare.

YX and I didn't try it because it was huge and we could barely even finish a 500g steak. Besides, I didn't like medium rare bloody meats. But if you don't mind and have enough people to share the steak with you, by all means, try it!


YX had regular sirloin steaks over his two nights in Florence while I went for beef stew. Food was pretty good, except that I had a stomachache while I was in the restaurant and couldn't enjoy myself properly.

Gelateria Della Passera - Via Toscanella, 15/red, 50125 Firenze FI, Italy

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YX brought me to try 'Michelin-star' gelato which unsurprisingly, had a queue.

Well, this gelato store might not have won a Michelin-star per se but it had multiple accolades and other awards plastered on their door, so you know they're good.

We also intentionally chose this gelato store because their gelato was stored in metal tins. Good quality gelato with fresh ingredients is made without preservatives and other additives, so they have to be kept in metal tins to minimise exposure to air. The gelatos that you typically see with all the fancy instaworthy colours usually have a bunch of nasties added to them and are certainly less fresh. Unfortunately, that's the gelato that's sold everywhere.

We had a pistachio gelato that was 'small' and priced at $2.50 euros. Very affordable and despite its small size, it was substantial for me already. It felt more like a 'medium'. So refreshing and just what I needed after walking around in sunny weather!

Since gelato was so addictive and affordably priced, I could understand why my friends would eat it daily, and some even twice a day! I personally don't like to overeat so we kept our gelato consumption to a minimum, but we still eventually ate a total of 3 gelato in our 15-day trip!


Venchi

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The last place we had gelato in was Venchi, a boutique store commonly found in Milan, Florence and Rome. We only visited because we were waiting for our train ride from Florence to Rome, and we had to stand for a good 30 mins doing nothing, so we might as well enjoy our time at Venchi.

The gelato in Venchi was also stored in metal tins, assuring me that they're good quality, so we tried their chocolate gelato and their mango gelato. It was cute that they added a piece of Venchi chocolate to each gelato as a finishing touch too.

Venchi in Italy was pretty affordable. A Venchi gelato in Singapore costs S$8 but it was around S$3 euro there. YX loved that this Venchi sells various types of coffee such as espresso, affogato etc. so he had his fix. Besides coffee and gelato, we also bought some chocolate bars and individual pieces of artisan chocolate for family, friends and colleagues. We hauled greatly from Venchi, heh!

That's all for Florence!
Click on the 'Italy' tag below to read my other Italy travelogues! In my last leg of my Italy trip, we go to Rome!

Disclaimer: This is a personal, non-sponsored post. Reviews are based on personal experiences.