Office Essential
Looking good at work. Dominique Rowe tests some office supplies.
Face
1. The Organic Pharmacy Rose Facial Spray, $450
Scent: Delicate rose, not too feminine or old-fashioned
Texture: Light. Good for all skins, especially sensitive and irritable.
2. Clarins Energizing Morning Aqua Essence
Scent: Mildly fruity, comforting.
Texture: This mineral-packed spray is really meant for mornings, but it’s a treat for tired and undernourished (read hungover and dehydrated) skin.
3. Body Shop Vitamin Face Mist
Scent: Practical, like baby products or clean laundry.
Texture: Felt light and moisturizing.
Lips
4. Body Shop Passion Fruit Lip Butter, $59
Scent: Good if you like passion fruit.
Texture: Thin and underwhelming – just like butter.
5. Aesop Ginger lip balm, $100
Scent: No-nonsense, mild ginger.
Texture: Like many lip products that don't contain quick-fix petroleum (which reportedly discourages lips from producing their own moisture), this would be better at preventing than curing chapped lips.
6. Clarins Moisture Replenishing Lip Balm
Scent: Subtle, pleasant.
Texture: Thick, long-lasting. Great for cracked lips.
Stress
7. Aesop Ginger Flight Therapy, $180
Unanimously loved by all, the scent was simultaneously refreshing and calming, containing ginger, lavender and geranium.
8. Aveda Blue Oil Balancing Concentrate
Yuck. Nobody liked this one - smelled like mint chewing gum.
9. BEROCCA, around $40
Effectiveness: Contains 1,000mg of vitamin C, and a host of other minerals - and a touch of nicotine, of all things. Apparently, this is to “help people cope with work or chronic stress in a natural way.”
10. The Organic Pharmacy Organic Mouthwash, $190
O.P. products are all-natural - one tester liked it so much he drank it.
11. The Organic Pharmacy Insect Repellent, $150
Scent: Strong citronella and lemon.
With no mosquitoes to ask for feedback, we asked a few pesky colleagues: “Hmm. Not unpleasant. Smells a bit lemony.” It might work for mozzies, but it won’t keep the boss off.
Hands
12. Organic Pharmacy Vanilla Hand and Body Cream, $590
Scent: Unique. Our testers' esponses ranged from pipe tobacco to spicy pudding to Play-doh.
Texture: Unusual. Beware: a little goes a long way (which makes it a good investment).
13. Clarins Jeunesse des mains, $170
Scent: Elegant, Calming And Classic.
Texture: Easily absorbed.
14. Resurrection Aromatique Hand Balm, $225
Scent: Billed as an Aesop Classic, the smell went down a treat.
Texture: Felt a little greasy. Slippery keyboards ahoy – better for overnight use.
15. The Organic Pharmacy Organic Comfrey and Marigold Hand Cream, $350
Scent: Mild, unobtrusive, and organic.
Texture: Thin, absorbed in around a minute.
16. Aveda Hand Relief, $190
Scent: aims for exotic, but we found it Sickly and childish
Texture: Felt moisturizing and was absorbed quickly.
Office ergonomics:
Top tips from Alexander Technique Therapist Peter Schneider
1. First and foremost, a good-quality, tilting chair with adjustable height and back. Make sure you know how to adjust it for your body type. Feet flat on the floor, and knees lower than your hips. Seat back shouldn’t slope backwards.
2. Wrists should be lower than the elbows – angle through the wrist should be as neutral, or flat, as possible – (i.e. don’t drop them, or hold them too high) That’s why keyboard trays are useful. But, like driving, always set up your sitting position first.
3. Distance to the screen. Laptops are a no go – the screen should be at least an arms length away from where you are sitting – so you’re not drooping over the keyboard looking at the screen.
4. Don’t work in a fixed position for too long. Stand up and move around at least once an hour. Get some water, or talk to colleagues face to face rather than via email.
For private appointments and consultations, contact Schneider at Balance Asia 2530-3315.