STI: Xinyi says

March 13, 2009

Xinyi says

 

Q: In 2007, I placed a piece of baked salmon in my mother's frightfully expensive leather clutch (it was my breakfast and I was running late). The fish oil leaked and now there is a stain on the 30-year-old bag, which was a gift from my father when they were dating. The guy at the leather shop told me to dye the bag black but my Mum will flay me if I do that. How can I get the stain out?

 

A: Your predicament provokes many questions. For starters, why are you carrying your leak-prone breakfast in a 'frightfully expensive' leather clutch?

 

Also, where does your mother think her clutch has been since 2007? Have you been making one frantic excuse after another to explain away the mystery of the missing purse?

 

In any case, here is what I propose you do.

 

If the clutch is the product of a high-end designer label that has a boutique in Singapore, take the purse there for expert assessment. Most such boutiques will be able to recommend the best course of action, be it sending the clutch to a quality leather cleaning service or replacing the affected lining or handle (charges vary depending on the brand and the type of repair needed), even if the item was bought 30 years ago.

 

If you prefer to take matters into your own hands, take the bag to the cleaning experts at Le Shine (02-75 Far East Plaza, tel: 6735-5266).

 

Regional manager Kanny Chan assures me that even an oil stain of more than a year can be removed by the special in-house solution (the ingredients are top secret, naturally). The catch: The removal process may take up to half a year and prices start from $150.

 

If the stain cannot be removed, I suggest you just come clean with Mummy dearest and buy her a new clutch.

 

Mulberry's latest Bayswater Clutch (left, $1,299, from Mulberry boutiques at 01-01 Hilton Hotel and 02-15 Changi Airport Terminal 3) and Dior's Cannage patent leather clutch (right, $1,720, from the Dior boutique at 01-07 Takashimaya Shopping Centre) are both very nice options.

 

If you do bag her a new clutch, remember: Do not use it as a lunchbox.

 

Q: I still get dark spots even though I apply sunblock regularly, especially when I am stressed. Am I imagining things or can spots be caused by stress too?

 

A: According to Karin Boo, technical manager of Leonard Drake Skincare & Health Spa (see www.leonarddrake.com.sg for locations), you are not imagining things.

 

One of the ways the body responds to stress is by producing more melanin, which is what causes the dark pigmentation of blemishes, she says.

 

As the largest organ with the primary function of protecting the body, skin responds to stress by either thickening itself (as a callous, if constant pressure is applied) or by producing melanin (which could be anywhere or on specific areas) to prevent further assault by UV radiation.

 

Stress-related hyper-pigmentation tends to appear on the periphery of your face and affect those in their 20s to 50s, says Boo.

 

The obvious way to remedy the situation is by reducing the stress level in your life, although heaven knows that can be hard to pull off these days.

 

The good news: Your excellent habit of applying sunblock will definitely help control your skin's melanin production.

 

You can try a favourite product of mine, Alchimie Forever's Brightening Moisture Mask ($117, from Sephora at B1-05 Takashimaya Shopping Centre), which you apply once a week.

 

Its ingredients of blueberries, grapes and oats are rich in antioxidants. It also moisturises and brightens wonderfully and smells delicious to boot. Over-the-counter topical products, however, may not work as fast and lighten spots as thoroughly as salon treatments or medication prescribed by doctors.

 

So you may want to consider seeking advice from a dermatologist or treatments such as Leonard Drake's Advanced Skin Lightening Treatment ($230), which uses technology such as ultrasound waves to lighten spots and improve skin texture.