How-to: Unclog pores in 40 minutes or less - At-home facial for the At-home Mom

When your babies have learned to sleep on their own and you can get at least an hour away without them waking up, you know it's time to ease back into the life you once had before they came along.

For myself, I waited until they could sleep through the night (about 1 year for each) to return to my nocturnal activities. This includes pampering my skin with weekly at-home facials. And since my HG facial oil  no longer had any HG effects, my nose was clogging up with blackheads as badly as during my pre-skincare days (aka uni). Yeah, I didn't wash my face until I was 17. Get over it.

Anyhoo, within the last couple of months, I have perfected my routine to the point that I feel it works better the salon facials I have been to. Here's how it goes:

Step 1. Oil Cleansing Method

If you don't know OCM, Google it. It's awesome. To save time, I do it before showering. 10 minutes of massaging the oil firmly into the skin, focusing on the clogged up areas. Do it like you're prepping your chicken for the oven. Within 5 minutes, I can sometimes feel bits of gunk dislodging already.

Cheap and good extra virgin coconut oil

I use coconut oil for this. Now, for OCM to work on your skin, you have to choose the right oil. Because I have dry skin, coconut oil works pretty well. I have tried olive oil previously but it was too drying on my cheeks and broke me out. Mineral oil works ok too, but maybe I'm just biased from all the disreputation it has. Besides, coconut oil is edible, so it's fine if it gets in your mouth from overzealous rubbing.

In case you're wondering, I usually pre-cleanse with a makeup remover if I do have makeup on. I just don't like the idea of rubbing the emulsified makeup back into my pores.

Step 2. Exfoliate

After the massaging is done, I jump into the shower. Since my skin is dry, I don't rinse the oil off immediately, but that's just me. Instead, I exfoliate with a good scrub.

Expensive stuff, probably wouldn't buy it again

 I like to use a manual exfoliator, so it also works to cleanse off some of the oil from the massage. I suppose if you prefer chemical exfoliators, you would do this step after showering.

Now, because not all exfoliators work as cleansers, I find that quite abit of oil will still remain on the face. So it is important to wipe off the oil with a hot (or warm) towel until there are no traces of oil left on the skin, as per the original OCM. This has made a huge difference in how many blackheads accummulate on my nose during the week. This is a must especially if you don't plan to cleanse or use a manual exfoliator.

Step 3. Extract

After softening oil clogs and opening pores, it is time to extract. It has always been the case that I take great pleasure in digging out/removing stuff from various orifices and surfaces. Thus, it is no surprise that this is my favourite step. There is so much fulfilment and satisfaction in evacuating gunk from places where it should not be and I take great joy in the process.

This cheap tool can be bought for less than $2

To those who say I don't have pores: don't be ridiculous. Everyone has pores. And look what's in it? That's crap that shouldn't be there. With softened skin and opened pores, these babies slide out like maggots from stale bread. Just make sure to get the extractors that have rounded, not flat edges. I have used those before and have torn my skin countless times. Not fun.

Step 4. Clarifying Mask

I know the OCM is supposed to already be deep cleansing, but I needed to use this up anyway. And I found that it probably has helped to lessen my blackheads.

Any regular clay mask should do

  If you find your skin clean enough and you don't think you have excess sebum, you could probably replace with a hydrating sheet mask or something. Either way, it just feels nice to use this as an excuse to go read a book, watch a quarter of a Korean drama episode, or contemplate life in general.

For those with dry skin, prepping with a hydrating mist or rosewater should help reduce the tight afterfeel. Or if you're like me, go for products suitable for sensitive/dry skin. I have heard good things about Kiehl's Rare Earth Deep Pore Cleansing Masque, which I'm dying to try next.

Step 5. Complete your regular skincare routine

For those who didn't do the hydrating mask in Step 4, you could do this at the end of your routine, depending on what type of mask you use. But since my routine is pretty intensive, I usually skip this. I would like to note, however, that I apply more of my anti-acne products to counter the agitation I've done to my skin during extraction.

Atorrege AD+ Cool Lotion

I use this with the Atorrege AD+ Acne Spots over my T-zone to protect against probable breakouts. Works well for me. I don't usually have any residual redness by the next day.

So there you go, your easy at-home facial in under an hour. Would love to know if it works for you too!

Review: Botaneco Garden Body Wash

I just love me some new organic stuff to try! Ok this one's way overdue. My bottle is half-finished haha. Let me bore you with history behind the purchase of this product...

Some of you may have come across my Sukin review. This is the bodywash I stock up on. But I was looking for a handsoap that didn't cost an arm and a leg, since E1 loves to pump soap like it's free whenever he washes his hands (and boys being boys, I make sure he washes his hands a lot). I don't think he's turning into a clean freak so much as he finds pumping and lathering soap a novelty. Which was why when I was looking for a cleansing agent, I decided to go big and get a shower gel/bodywash. After all, what's so special in handsoap that you have to use it exclusively for your hands? As far as I'm concerned, bodywash washes equally well and gets rid of oil and grime.

Anyhoo, I chanced upon this bodywash during my endeavour. The first thing that attracted me to it was, of course, that it is touted as organic.

Ah ha, but if you read the label properly, it specifies that it is merely enriched with ECO-certified Inca Inchi Oil and aloe vera. Meaning the other ingredients are probably not organic.

And true enough, there's still other stuff in there that I can't pronounce, and it contains parfum. The good stuff seems pretty low on the list. But at least there's no added silicones, parabens and colorants. Just in case you're wondering, Inca inchi oil, plukenetia volubilis, is also known as mountain peanut (how is that not cute) and is native to South America.

The gel itself is colourless and smells wonderful. It's something of a clean, fresh floral scent that shouts "atas bathroom". At least 2 people have passed compliments on the scent.

After my initial infatuation with this product, I went out to inspect the other products in this range. This one is Orchard (Grape Seed and Bergamot), but they also have Garden (Macadamia and Ylang Ylang) and Forest (Sunflower and Rosemary). I ended up purchasing more Garden and Orchard - just personal preference. The Forest one smells too herbally. I was even hugely tempted to try the haircare range but decided against it after studying the ingredient list.

The biggest test of this product for me is in whether it would cause any problems for delicate skin. So far, both E1 (eczema) and E2 (under 2yrs) have used it with no reactions so it's safe to say - this one's a keeper.

Verdict: Rave
If I didn't like this so much, I wouldn't stock up on it hey? This makes a good handwash that I don't fuss too much about if E1 pumps it all over the countertop. The best part of this? The price. Even at the regular retail price, it's $9.95 for 620ml. That's not too bad for an organic product. But when Guardian has its 3-for-2 sale, that's $6.66 per bottle, which in my opinion, is an awesome deal.

Review: Badger Balm Rose Damascus Rose Face Oil

Wow it's been almost 2 months since my last post. Well that's what happens when life gets in the way. In a fashion, it's also good - you may infer that I haven't been spending money. Nor have I received any gifts, aww.

But there comes a time when I come across something that sounds and looks too enticing to pass up. I decided to purchase a bottle of Badger Balm Rose Face Oil when my Jurlique one was (finally) finishing up. For the uninitiated, Badger Balm is a US brand that first made its mark with their all-natural, super moisturising body balms. These come in beautiful vintage tins a la "Zambuk" style, but prettier. I have yet to try any, but the chest rub and sleep balms look lovely, and everytime I walk into the shop, E1 starts sniffing all of them because they "smells goooood". They also have a delicious-looking range of lip balms (lavender & orange, it's you I'm eyeing).

Anyway let's not get distracted. Look how pretty the packaging is. Yet this is a no-frills bottle of face oil. As you may know, rose oil is bloody expensive. But this is probably the cheapest face oil I've ever invested in. More on that later.

Look at those ingredients. You could slap on a brand name and sell it for 10 times the price. In fact, if you do a quick search, a well-known brand does have a rose facial oil, and they don't even declare the full list of ingredients. The carrier oil for this is jojoba, which is better than most branded non-natural oils out there (many use mineral oil). On top of that, there's baobab, pomegranate, lavender, rosehip and chamomile oils. Can you feel how excited I was just looking at this?? I will say though, that rose oil is potent (and like I said, expensive) and only a small amount is needed, hence its position in this list.

What sold me was their commitment to genuine, quality products. How could you not want roses handpicked at dawn and steam distilled the very same day?

However, the first thing I noticed, and dislike, about this, is that it's a pump bottle. I've always bought face oils that come with a dropper. For one, it's difficult to control the dispensed amount with a pump. Another albeit frivolous reason is, it's much more luxurious and pampering to drip something precious for your equally precious face, don't you think? Just adds more indulgence to the whole experience.

That aside, the second thing I noticed was the smell. If you are hoping to get a blast of rosy fragrance like Jurlique's range (I was), then you will be sorely disappointed in this oil (I was). This has a very herbal scent distinctive of raw oils. I once made my own blend of jojoba, lavender and some other oils - smelled almost exactly like this. I don't dislike it, but it takes some getting used to. And if you're really good with your nose, you can actually sift out the lavender and rose somewhere in there.

Beware, this is a very greasy oil. It is, after all, meant for dry skin. A 3/4 pump is enough for my entire face and neck (don't want the jowls of a bulldog now, do we) and takes a relatively long time to absorb. It was slightly off-putting at first, but I realised my skin needs this. And after I layer on my serum and heavy-duty moisturiser, the smell isn't obvious. I would dare say, interestingly, it actually enhances the fragrance of my Jurlique moisturiser.

But of course, the biggest question is, does this product work? One word: Impressively.

After 1 week of using this, my dry patches at the jawline have disappeared and my cheeks feel softer and smoother than it was before, which I didn't think was possible. The bumpy bits around my chin have evened out and -get this- it held my skin up even in the wake of my first period in 1.5 years. I'm particularly prone to hormonal breakouts that I now know is probably associated with extra-dryness. I had a few spots threatening to develop into full-blown pimples but this oil kept that under control (before this, I had one pimple on the chin).

I'm completely sold.

Verdict: I've found my HG oil!

This is definitely a keeper, for so many reasons. Besides giving me smooth, glowing skin, it doesn't break the bank like the other branded ones. It can be yours for a princely sum of S$27.90. Yes you read that right. Like I said, it's the cheapest face oil I've ever bought, and costs 1/3 the price of Jurlique's. How could I not love this?

I was bummed that ironically I couldn't find this in the States when I was there a month ago. I'm dying to try out the cleansing oil, which isn't stocked at the Unity below my house. They also have a limited range here, but for those with less dry skin, you may want to check out the Argan oil range. Some other products I'm keen to try are the sunscreens and the rose body oil (for stretch marks). The good thing is if you order more than $100 worth of products, they do cash on delivery, so I may not have to scour each shop for the products I'm interested in. At this rate, I may actually hit the price mark!

Check out their range here.

Review and compare: MooGoo Eczema and Psoriasis Cream

My trip to Oz resulted in the discovery of this cream that was recommended by the pharmacist. Before I begin, some background...

Those of you who have been following this blog (thank you!) know that I'm always on the lookout for new products since E1 suffers from bad eczema, triggered by sensitive airways, ie every time he gets some allergic respiratory symptoms, he also gets eczema. But, unfortunately,  I too had a brush with the weirdest and one of the most severe cases of eczema ever experienced for myself. Before our trip, my finger pads and some bits of the fingers broke out in horrible dry patches, worst on the left hand. I deduced it was stress-related since I had been rushing 2 assignments prior to leaving and was chewing my brains out over 2 more that were due at the end of the trip. Later on, the dry patches started peeling off, turning leathery, sometimes bark-like, and reducing my sensation by half. I also developed a small fissure on my right index finger (meaning the skin split, yes ouch).

Anyway, this was my hand at the beginning. The skin was dry, peeling off, and it hurt. In a hypersensitive way, kind of like when you scald yourself.

This was painful, literally

So in addition to looking for my next HG cream for E1 (we ran out of Physiogel and didn't bother restocking), I needed something for my poor fingers.

I had initially bought a tub of John Plunkett's Eczema Cream. It was a weird little concoction with fish oil and therefore smelled godawful, but I had to return it after I realised it was expired. The chemist recommended MooGoo, but unfortunately, they were out of stock.

Now, I took that as a good sign of it's popularity and efficacy, and I wasn't put off looking for more stockists since we coincidentally were tasked to bring back some MooGoo Moisturising Cream for a friend (she wanted 4 bottles and everywhere we went, we only managed to get 1 or 2 bottles).

Anyhoo, I eventually found the cream (scroll down for specific locations) and tried it on myself, religiously applying it 2-3 times a day.

I thought it was a good cream, but the smell was slightly off-putting. So I went out and bought another tube, but this time in the old formula. So, these are the hauls:

Left - Old formula; Right - New formula

Ingredient-wise, they are quite different. Where the old formula has sage oil and chamomile, the new formula has elderberry, marshmallow, calendula and coconut oil. Both feature aloe vera, almond oil, olive oil and Vitamin E as the excipient ingredients.

Both have yummy ingredients

As mentioned, it was the smell that distinguished them for me. Where the old formula smells herbal, which I suspect is the sage, the new formula smells like a mishmash of ingredients and while not unpleasant, is not what could be described as pleasant. It reminds me of stale bread. If you can stand the first 5 min of it, it does dissipate after a while.

The new version (right) looks like coffee cream..mmm....not

The feel of each formula is different as well. Both, however, have medium consistency and is easy to spread. The new formula is greasier and takes longer to absorb, but it did feel more moisturising after the 5 min mark.

And that's probably what helped make a difference in my fingers. This is what it's like now, 2 weeks after the initial onset:

Almost normal

but still peeling

Note: I was using the new formula when I was still in Aus. Of course, this is actually not a fair comparison because I did not control for factors such as temperature, humidity and activity level (I was washing alot more dishes there, yes while on holiday - don't ask me why). But I did think that it helped to control the symptoms and prevented further peeling.

What sold me was when I touched E1's skin and it was remarkably softer and smoother, almost like E2's, who has been blessed with silky smooth toufu skin - obviously my genes. Even GY commented that E1's skin has been much better, even though it was only apparent when we returned to Sg.

Verdict: Ravenous Raving
This is the cream that I will stock up on and ask every friend who is coming back from Oz to get for E1. Since the moisturising effects of the new version appear more lasting than the old one, I will save the new version for him and keep the old one for my own use. He has developed a sweaty-boy-smell anyway and I don't think the odour of this cream is noticeable on him. For extremely dry areas, though, I would still use the new formula.

I got these creams from major chemists like Go Vita and Amcal, ranging 18-19 AUD for a 120g tube. If you live there, you could also easily get it online direct from the company for a good price.

For locals, MooGoo ships internationally with a shipping fee of 10 AUD. Stockists can also be found here. Take note that this is marketed here as Irritable Skin Balm. But if you are after this particular product, be sure to phone ahead as not all outlets may sell the full range. The price is also approximately 1.5 times that of Aus, after adjusting for exchange rate.

Review: Lip Ice Sheer Colour Lip Moisturiser

Recently, I got to lamenting over my bunch of lip products that I've been hoarding for quite a long time (as in years, yes I know: eew). Part of it is GY's fault. Men don't like to kiss product-laden lips and my guy in particular hates anything on anywhere. The other part is my own fault. I'm too lazy to apply lippy when I know it's going to come off in a few hours and I'll have to reapply it after my meal (because I live for food right). So I'd rather spend more effort on doing my eye makeup than putting on lip conditioner, lip liner and lipstick.

Anyhoos, since I'm still battling dehydration, my lips get dry frequently; although not chapped and bleeding like during winter, thank goodness. So I thought it would be a good idea to check out lip balms. To my pleasant surprise, the trending thing recently (ok last year, for you fashionistas) is tinted lip balm. How perfect this sounds for lazy low-maintenance busy mums like myself. Protect your lips while having some colour that belies the sleepless night you just had.

Sure enough, there's tons of products to choose from with a plethora of shades and promises of improved texture, hydration and staying power. So I had to filter products based on the following factors: cheap and accessible (ie drugstore), colour, staying power, ingredients, transfer.

After doing my online research and hovering along the drugstore aisles, I narrowed it down to these 3: Revlon Colorburst Lip Butter, Nivea Soft Rose Lip Balm and Lip Ice Sheer Color Lip Moisturiser. It's obvious which one I went for. In any case, Revlon was too brightly coloured for everyday use; Nivea had pretty bad online reviews. So let's cut to the chase.

This comes in a standard twist-up tube that's slim and compact. What intrigued me is that it is colour-changeable. This is in no way groundbreaking, but I have never tried any such products before and it just sort of appealed to my curiosity. This range comes in 3 variations: fragrance-free, strawberry, and shimmer. I chose the fragrance-free version.

The other reason why I chose this over Nivea is the ingredients. It contains natural emollients -hello shea, macadamia oil and jojoba!- as opposed to Nivea which had mineral oil as the first thing on the list. So while this balm also contains mineral oil, it is listed way further down the line, after the yummiest ingredients.

So here's the exciting bit. As you can see, the product itself is clear.

And here's my lips. Naked and dry. My lips are considered quite nicely pigmented but most of the time I just feel it's blaah.

Before

After

After one swipe, there's a tinge of colour. Being curious about the effect, I decided on one more...

2 layers

Ho what is this sorcery! My lips are now pink! Ok the scientific explanation is that these colour adaptive cosmetics react to the pH level of the skin and hence changes in colour. Cool.

The downside is there is no variety of shades to choose from. I actually abhor this shade of pink as I find it too cutesy-bubblegum-I-love-rainbows-and-hearts. But. It actually looks pretty natural on me since I have pink tones.

Excuse the big nose

The upside of this product is that it is very moisturising and doesn't feel sticky or greasy like the lip balms of last millenium. While the product doesn't stay long on the lips (I think it was just over an hour), the hydrating effects persist so at least I don't actually have to reapply till a few hours later.

My biggest concern really, is transfer, since I love to kiss my kids and snuggle up with them. I don't like to contaminate their skin! So how did this fare?

Kiss test

Wipe test

As you can see, this is not transfer-proof although it does take a firm swipe to get most of the product off. Slightly disappointed in that, but it only confirms my suspicion: there is probably no tinted lip balm in the market that is completely transfer-proof.

Verdict: Rave
For the purposes I had set out to achieve, this product has met each criterion to a decent standard. And for it's price at $6.10 (RRP $7.60 at Watsons), it did exceed some of the expectations I had. If you are more interested in colour though, I would recommend the Revlon Lip Butter as other reviewers have rated it highly in terms of staying power and colour payoff.
As for myself, I would continue to use this product when I go out, and stick to a colourless lip balm at home.

Review: Sukin products

In the blink of an eye, one month has passed since my last post! Been busy with the exam, then mum's surprise birthday bash (which was a partial success), looking for things to write about....which brings me to this. I'd been using some new Sukin products that I am now finally getting around to review - the shampoo, body wash and cream cleanser.

Shampoo

This is a big bottle

As with other organic brands, this one is sulphate-free, so it lathers minimally. I've gotten used to sulphate-free shampoos so the lathering is enough for me and I even find it relatively rich for an organic shampoo. I've even gotten GY to use it, whose reaction to it is the standard "it's ok" response. But I use this every other day (remember, scalp and roots only!) and I don't think my hair has been this healthy for a long time. I also love the scent, which is a citrus and vanilla blend, that is signature to almost all their products. The only problem I have with it is the pump, which I find rather weak (yes as in, bo lat).

The shampoo is a clear, gooey liquid

Body Wash

See how the packaging is exactly the same?

It comes in the same packaging and has the same consistency and scent as the shampoo. In fact, there was a time after my maid swapped the bottles after cleaning the shelves that I, with the visual acuity of a naked mole rat, lathered the body wash into my hair and didn't realise it until I was rinsing it off. When applied to the hair, it rinses off squeaky clean, whereas the shampoo leaves a healthy coat of moisture. Anyway that's not really where it's supposed to go. I use poufs with my bodywashes, so with this, there's an acceptable amount of lather. 1 pump is enough for my whole body, but I usually use 2 for a more indulgent experience.

Even the stuff that comes out looks and smells the same??

Cream Cleanser

I'd been looking for a smallish cream cleanser for use when travelling and/or staying at mum's house and this was perfect. It's surprisingly thick and feels slightly heavy and greasy to apply. But it does wash off easily and doesn't leave that oily film behind. The scent retains the strong vanilla note but with less hints of citrus, making it almost smell like cinnamon. Which is a weird thing to be putting on the face in my opinion. Nevertheless, it's pleasant enough to use and leaves my skin soft and plump.

The cream is pretty heavy and thick

Verdict: Raves
Of the three, the shampoo and body wash are definite keepers. They are half the price for double the amount of the brand I was using previously - Akin. When on offer, both products go for $20+ for each 1ltr bottle, which is a steal considering the purity of the ingredients. But while I won't be replacing my Jurlique cleanser with the Sukin cream cleanser any time soon, it is admittedly a cheap alternative for travel purposes - around $12 for 125ml.
Sukin can be found at selected Unity, Guardian and Watsons outlets, as well as other independent health stores. Check it out here.

The noobie mummy's guide to newborn essentials

I've received another request for some newborn essentials recommendations so, ok, I feel pressured into doing this. Since this is really a vast topic well beyond the scope of a single post, I shall just share what I use, as well as some tips on choosing the right products for you. Here we go.

Diapers
As far as I know, many local hospitals use Huggies. This is probably a marketing ploy on their part, but not without merits. When both the boys were born, Huggies was the hospital's diaper of choice and it did well to minimise any incidences of diaper rash (unlike Petpet - this was the worst). I also like that they now come in a JustBorn size, perfect for premies or extra-little babies.

Look how cute the new Huggies designs are. Each size comes in 2 unique patterns. The L size comes in Energetic Red and Fresh Green. 

As a new mother, it is also extremely helpful for a diaper to have a wetness indicator, until experience grants you the amazing power of being able to tell if a diaper is wet purely by looking at it. The large numbers on the tab indicators is also a minute detail that I am appreciative of. When you have to change baby's diaper under low levels of light -because you don't want to wake her up fully- this is an important feature to help you get non-lopsided diapers. In case you didn't realise, an asymmetrical diaper means higher chance of leaks.

Having said that, my babies also use Merries at night because it seems to hold more pee - especially true for E1. It does have a wetness indicator but sometimes it doesn't turn colour like it should. It's generally more expensive too.

Merries diaper. I have trouble getting the tabs symmetrical when I change E2's diaper at night.

For those who haven't done their research/gone for antenatal class, here's a nifty guide on how to change diapers. I will also put in my 2 cents' worth on leaky diapers - often this can be corrected by choosing the right size and adjusting the tabs accordingly. If the diaper doesn't seem to hug baby's lower back properly, try angling the tabs to more of a \ / shape so that the back is more snugly covered.

Wet wipes
My current go-to is Bosomi, which I've done reviews for here.

Bathtub
There's a whole array of weird and wonderful bathtubs but I prefer to stick to something more conventional. With a modern improvement. Our bathtub is of a simple design but comes with an insert. When you're not experienced with handling newborns in the water, this is an absolute godsend. It also frees your hands up to grab whatever you forgot to put within arm's reach - washcloth, towel, soap, etc. I got mine from Kiddy Palace. It's big enough that E1 sometimes still uses it.

Removable insert makes this a good bathtub from newborn till whenever your kid outgrows it

Toiletries
I use everything from Gaia, which is an organic brand from Oz. It's the most affordable and widely available organic baby product and smells lovely, thanks to the lavender and sweet orange oils in most of their concoctions. Of course if your baby is blessed with healthy skin and you're not buying into the whole "everything has carcinogens" movement, most baby products on the market are fine. Johnson's, despite all the controversies, actually has nice products that aren't too drying or smell too overwhelming.

Gaia travel pack: (L to R) body wash, shampoo, lotion, nappy cream, massage oil

Breastfeeding/Feeding
Big topic, so let's break it up.

Pumps
Ok this one is not really a domain I've concerned myself with since I don't pump primarily. I do have a single electric pump from Avent which I used when I was still working but didn't endeavor with for very long. Most mothers I know use Medela. But it seems now that the competition is fierce in the form of Spectra, a revolutionary Korean pump. Based on a quick search online, the benefit of this brand is that it's quieter, lighter, better at emptying the breast and is compatible with wide-neck bottles like Avent (jumping the gun here). Since I've never tried any of these brands, the most I can say is that if you are planning to pump often, consider these 2 brands (personally it sounds like Spectra would be a good option for me - see next subtopic).

Bottles
The ubiquitous brand is Philips Avent. I use the Natural range bottles, which I find pretty good at minimising air swallow, hence reducing reflux. I really don't bother with trying other brands.

Well-loved bottle

Nursing bras
This is a very personal choice. But I found a brand on qoo10 that I absolutely like and it's so affordable that I must share it. It is sold under the brand Autumnz. There are a few types but I love the padded ones. These are non-crush cups that fully drop down and come in both sensual and funky designs, even lacy ones. If you're gonna be a cow, at least be a sexy one right? I also love the night nursing bras that are so easy to use and so comfortable that I could wear them all day. They retain their shape well and I will probably still use them after I stop breastfeeding. These bras sell for about $16-18 each, which is a steal given the quality of the bras.

I have yet to find another lacy nursing bra that doesn't cost more than $20 

One of my many night nursing bras. The padded ones are easier to wear and give a nice shape.

Breast pads
Currently using Pigeon, which is nice and affordable. If you don't mind spending on something more luxurious, you could try Philips Avent nursing pads.



Car seat
I can't stress enough how important this is, if you do have a car. In other parts of the world, you aren't even allowed to bring your baby home without a car seat. Judging from some horrific reports recently, perhaps Sg should be stricter in our car seat laws too. This site has quite comprehensive and updated information on car seat safety. We use Combi seats as they are all convertible and are quite compact. The only downside to this is that upon actual impact, they may not absorb as much damage as other seats. We also have a Joie and a Britax in grandparents' car, but these are more bulky. Consider the following when choosing a car seat:

• For the thrifty ones, choose a seat that "grows" with your child. Many manufacturers have models that accommodate newborn to 7yrs. If you think you won't be able to keep it in a good enough condition to last that long, seats for newborn to 4yrs are also common.
• For busy or jetsetting parents, consider a travel system. If your little angel is born with the wonderful ability to sleep in moving vehicles, this is a good option for maximising their sleep. Bear in mind that this option can be pricey and generally used only for up to 6 months before you need to change some component.
• Make sure you understand how the car seat needs to be installed before you buy it. Some imported seats come with anchor straps that may not be compatible with your car. Most seats are able to be fixed using just standard seatbelts.
• Check that the safety rating is from a reputable rating body
• Avoid buying secondhand or from dubious sources (ie online). Getting it for cheap is not worth your kid's life.

Where possible, put car seats in the centre to reduce the chance of injury during impact. There is a chance of having a Final Destination scenario but statistically it's less likely to happen.

Cot
This is pretty personal and there are plenty of options out there. I got mine from Spring Maternity, which sells decent sturdy cots for around $200-400. I rigged mine into a modified "open system" that the West dubs as a co-sleeper. I have never let my babies sleep alone and they have never wanted it any other way. But, to each his (her) own. Some things you'd want to consider when choosing a cot:

• Most cots nowadays are height-adjustable. Get one with at least 2 height options and ensure the lowest level is way down low.
• Make sure it's sturdy. Give it a few firm shakes. If it moves more than a few degrees in a horizontal plane, forget it. It won't withstand your baby's weight when she starts using it as a gait aid. The sturdier ones tend to be made of solid wood.
• Consider transformer beds. These tend to take up more space but will convert to a toddler bed when the time comes.
• Built-in teething guards are a good idea, although experience has shown me that baby will bite every single surface of the cot (E2 is now gumming his way across the footboard) so make sure the paint is non-toxic and doesn't chip.
• Some may prefer cots that have a side that can be lowered. This is a good idea if you use the cot often but these tend not to be as sturdy as those that can't be lowered. 

If you do like the idea of sleeping with baby but have heard all about the dangers of SIDS, just get a good mattress/futon and sleep on the floor. Seriously. You'll save money and the headache of when baby starts rolling all over the place.

If you're gonna copy this, make sure the cot is secured to the bed so that baby doesn't fall through

Carrier
This was an important one for me as both my babies hated strollers when they were young. They loved (still do) being carried every where. The two main contenders are usually slings versus front carriers. I shan't go into specifics because there's just too many brands out there and I can't say for sure that there's any best one of the lot.

I use a sling because you can continue to use it right up until toddlerhood and I find it easier to breastfeed with it. The downside is it really places a huge amount of stress on that one shoulder and can leave you aching till the next day. This is where the carrier is more advantageous, although I shied from it due to stories about how it isn't healthy for a baby boy's family jewels.

If you're going to get a sling, look out for extra padding over the shoulder and easy-to-adjust loops. For carriers, make sure the straps are wide to prevent it digging into your skin, and that it straps well over the shoulders, thoracic cage and waist. Easy-care, breathable materials are a must for both.

I use BabySafe slings for the lovely colours and breathable material

Stroller
I don't really consider this an "essential" since ours was very underused. But that's just us. I bought a Capella stroller after a hand-me-down Maclaren annoyed me so much I didn't want to use it. However, getting a stroller is really like buying a car since there's a plethora of options out there to suit your individual needs. Nonetheless, these are some important points when looking for one:

• Should be one-hand operable and easy to use. My stroller folds up once using only one hand, then again so that it stands on its own. This has impressed a few single friends who actually exclaimed: "Wah like Transformers!"
• Consider if you prefer a forward-facing (outwards) or rear-facing (towards you) stroller. Younger babies may become scared when they don't see Mum's face. Babies tend to become curious after 4 mths so they may become less frightful of strange environments. My stroller converts to either direction. 
• Consider overall bulk and weight. The advantage of a light stroller is, of course, it is easy to carry in and out of boots or up and down annoying stairs. The drawback is that people can often bump into them so you can't really use it to mow a path through crowds. Heavier strollers also mean you can pile diaper bags and shopping bags on without it toppling over. Try to anticipate where and how often you will use it to help you decide which type to get.
• Make sure the stroller is designed for the age range that you will use it for. I spent the first few months of E1's life believing that our stroller was only suitable for babies who could sit up, despite it being marketed as suitable for 3mths and older. Then I discovered that it could actually recline to flat. Oh. How silly. 
• Test the brakes and wheels. You may prefer 360 deg revolving wheels or those that have limited direction. If you're really into it, test the brakes on an incline. The last thing you want to do, ever, is chase after a runaway stroller with baby still inside. 
• How much are you willing to spend on it? Despite my love of Combi products, their strollers were too expensive and I knew I wasn't going to use it enough to justify the price. This Capella stroller was a good dupe with similar features. 
• If you had decided on a travel system when looking at car seats, no problem, this section is sorted out for ya.

Was too lazy to bring the stroller out for a picture. This is courtesy of Google.

Convertible direction; Half or full canopy option; Also comes with detachable leg warmers (not pictured)

So, there you have it. Far from being exhaustive, but good to know if you're a first time parent. Hope that helps!