Beauty Review: Essential CC Oil & Night Care Milk

For me, my hair care does not just stopped after shampooing and conditioning my hair. Leave on hair treatment has become a must after I stepped out from shower.

With the constant blow drying, heat styling and dyeing of hair, I know that my hair is not in the tip-top condition, my hair has been dry and brittle. Some of these everyday habits can put stress on our hair and impact its health and appearance.

Good morning, this was how I looked every morning when I woke up. Argh, I need to get rid of my bedhead caused by pillow friction before I step out of house.

Why does my hair has so much problems?

The hair problems are caused by the above 5 Hair Stress Brothers.

External environmental factors and our own personal habits contributes to stresses to our hair. Aww, I definitely don't want my hair to be as dry and brittle as them.

Let's see the individual cause:

1. Blow drying: Heat damage/friction 

I always like to blow dry my hair after shower because I cannot stand having wet hair, it makes me feel comfortable. Since I have long hair, it takes longer time for my hair to be completely dry. However, blow-drying is unhealthy for our hair because it removes moisture from the hair, leaving hair dry, brittle and susceptible for further damage. 

2. Combing: Friction to the hair cuticles 

Gosh, I am guilty of this because I love combing my hair so that it looked neat. 

Who knows combing wet hair will cause great hair damage as the hair follicle is at is most fragile state and coming through dry hair can form hair knots which makes hair prone to unnecessary breakage?

3. Split Ends: Fraying of hair shaft

The ends of your hair are the oldest and driest parts. When the protective hair cuticle is destroyed at the end of the hair, the hair splits into two or more parts. A problem that I always encounter.

4. Hair Breakage

Besides daily heat styling, blow drying and brushing, other seemingly harmless actions like tying your hair into a tight ponytail or twirling your hair with your fingers exert excessive stress on your hair, resulting in hair breakage.

 5. Dryness: Dry hair that feels rough 

Exposure to the sun, wind or even air-conditioning can result in hair dryness. The hair cuticle that protects the hair is weakened and is unable to retain moisture within the cuticles of the hair. I always focus protection on skin, but totally neglect the fact that our hair need protection too.

The 5 Hair Stress Brothers are telling us that our hair is missing out something essential.

How can I get rid of the 5 hair stresses and pillow friction hair to achieve the neat and tidy look that I want?

Essential CC Oil & Night Care Milk to the rescue.

I have been a loyal user of  Essential haircare, I am currently using Essential Light Finish Volumizing shampoo and conditioner. Now added 2 more Essential hair products to my shelf for daily use. 

Essential CC Oil (60ml)

Retail Price: S$11.90

BB and CC cream have been a common term used in skincare, but how about CC oil?

The ‘CC’ in the new Essential CC Oil stands for Cuticle Care. 

It shares the same ‘multi-functional’ concept of BB or CC Cream in skincare. 1 BB/CC cream has numerous functions, it provides moisturize, cover blemishes, brighten skin and protect our skin from harmful UV rays.

CC Oil shares the same concepts where 1 oil protects your hair from 5 hair stresses.

When apply on hair, CC Oil forms a protective coat around each hair strand and protects our hair from the 5 hair stresses, leaving us with more beautiful, less tangles and manageable hair. It contains Hair Supplement Oil, which is similar to hair’s natural oil. It can be applied on towel-dried or damp hair, and can be reapplied any time of the day. For optimum results, use after Essential shampoo and conditioner

Pump an appropriate amount onto palm

Spread and apply evenly onto hair, concentrating on mid-length to the tip of hair. No need to rinse off.

Tadaa, the result of application vs non-application.

My review:

Sweet fragrance is a plus point to attract me. I love the smell that linger on my hair after application. The CC Oil was fast absorbed into my hair cuticle and leave no greasy behind. It smoothed my frizzy hair end, my hair has become more manageable. It moisturized my hair, making it soft upon touch and giving it a silky finish.

Essential Night Care Milk (100ml)

Retail Price: S$11.90

Hair care treatment for the night.

The Essential Night Care Milk protects the hair from “Pillow Friction” by leaving a protective coat around each hair strand and prevent misaligned cuticles when hair rubs against the pillowcase.

Do you know that when you toss and turn at night, there is friction between your hair and the pillow, causing the cuticles to be misaligned?

This is known as pillow friction. Misaligned cuticles creates frizz, resulting in the fabulous lion’s mane the next morning. We have no choice but to wake up earlier to wash and  blow dry their hair in the morning before going to work.

With Essential Night Care Milk, it intensively repairs and moisturises the hair in the wee hours of the night. Coupled with cuticle coat protection ingredients, its rich yet non- greasy milk formula weightlessly leaves hair smooth and manageable the next morning. It can be applied on damp or dry hair before going to bed. 

Same procedure as Essential CC Oil, pump an appropriate amount onto palm and apply evenly onto hair, concentrating on mid-length to tip of hair.

The light scented Night Care Milk helped to tame my frizzy hair and there was only minimum tangle when comb through my hair the next morning. Just apply Essential CC Oil and I am ready to step out of house.

The Essential CC Oil and Essential Night Care Milk promise gorgeous, healthy and manageable hair all day long, even as we sleep peacefully at night. Totally in love with them. You can purchase them from Cold Storage, Giant, Guardian, Isetan Supermarket, Meidi-ya Supermarket, NTUC, Sheng Siong and Watsons.

Something to share with all of you. 

Essential Singapore is giving out weekly prizes for the top scorer of Essential’s Mane Hero Facebook game. You will stand a chance to win Mane-Friendly hamper.

Click here to play the game: https://apps.facebook.com/essentialmanehero/

You duty is to combat the 5 evil Hair Stress Brothers and Pesky Pillow King. Imagine you are Mane Hero, move the Essential basket left and right to catch the powerful hair treatments to gain points. If you catch 5 evil Hair Stress Brothers and Pesky Pillow King in the basket, you will lose points.

Have fun playing and hope you win the prizes.

Beauty Review: DJ Carboxy Therapy Face Mask and Pure Vitamin C Serum

Not only has Korean Wave dominate the world, Korean skincare is also high in demand in Singapore because we want to achieve the flawless and dewy skin of the Korean.

Today I will be sharing with you 2 very popular products in Korea, highly recommended by Get It Beauty, a famous Korean show that talks about all of the hottest trends in Korea from fashion, to makeup, to nail care, to diet.

DJ Carboxy Therapy Face Mask and Pure Vitamin C Serum.

DJ Carboxy Therapy Face Mask ($80.00) 

The mask pack comes in a pack of five. Each pack contains a syringe and a sheet mask.

Carboxy Face Masks deliver amazing results in a 30 minute non-invasive treatment that works on all skins and without needles.

This innovative therapy generates activating bubbles that contain a proprietary formula which stimulates skin to restore beauty, energy and health. Activating bubbles are absorbed into the skin to increase oxygen and the skins ability to assimilate necessary nutrients and eliminate destructive toxins. 

Carboxy treatments have no down time and results are cumulative and apparent from the first treatment!

Carboxy Face Mask works to:

- Restores skin health 

- Detoxify skin surface 

- Maintain oil/ moisture balance 

- Enhance skin elasticity and suppleness 

- Provide smooth youthful facial contours 

- Reduce pigmentation, freckles, age spots 

- Improve and even skin color, whitens skin

- Provide hydration and moisture 

- Reduce redness and sensitivity, anti-inflammation 

- Reinforce skin tone and strength 

- Reduce stored bulky fat pockets 

- Minimize wrinkles and fine lines 

- Clear acne and post-acne marks 

- Tighten and refine pores

- Improves blood circulation

Singapore has been heavily affected by haze recently. The haze not only affect our respiratory problems, it also affect our skin as well. It causes premature skin ageing, rashes or even breakouts. Hence, during my weekly masks during these days makes me feels good because my skin is moisturised and hydrated.

I was very sua ku. When I first opened up the products and saw these hypodermic needles with syringes, I got a shocked myself. I was like "oh man, I thought this is a safe treatment without needles. Why suddenly got these needles in it, even Vitamin C Serum too?"

Not to worry about it. Inside the syringe is actually Carboxy CO2 Gel.

The formulated gel together with the special sheet mask activate CO2, and transfers it to the skin cells. When the skin absorbs CO2, it starts physiological reactions that enhance the skin condition. After one treatment you will see immediate results in skin tone, smoothing of fine wrinkles and extremely soft silky skin.

Pure Vitamin C Serum ($60.00)

Alongside with the mask, I received Pure Vitamin C Serum that also comes in a pack of 5 syringes. It can be combined with the Carboxy treatment Mask for use.

The two ingredients, Viamin C and Hyaluronic Acid, are kept in separate chambers of a needle-free syringe. When ready to use, push and pull the syringe to get the ingredients mixed. 

The 3 ml of serum is more than enough for a full face treatment or can be used for multiple applications.

I can't wait to try out the mask.

Here's a video to illustrate the use of carboxy face mask.

After washing and cleansing my face, I took out one of the serum syringes. Pull-and-push it several times to mix the Vitamin C powder and Hyaluronic acid. Do not open the exterior cap until it is ready.

After mixing, apply the Vitamin C Serum in the container syringe evenly over the skin. Be careful when you open the cap, the serum will ooze out  after constant push and pull of syringe.

The serum was fast absorbed into skin, leaving my skin feeling moisturised and hydrated. No sticky feeling

After applying the serum, time to prepare for the mask.

Use 1 whole tube every time on skin; do not save for later use.

Apply the CO₂ gel in the container syringe evenly over the skin. 

I must say one syringe has lots of CO₂ gel, I have a hard time finish using. However you can't keep for next use because one syringe only comes with one sheet mask. The gel is really thick does not have a nice scent too.

Put on the sheet mask and let it soaked with the gel by tapping with fingers. It has a cooling sensation when put on. Remember to keep the mask contacted to skin by tapping while CO₂ gas is generated. When tapping, you can hear the sizzling sound and experience a little discomfort. I could feel the stinging sensation when CO2 penetrated into skin. Keep tapping until the bubbles are gone.

Leave the mask on and remove it after 20-25 minutes, no more than 40 minutes.

After which, wipe away the gel residue and cleanse the face with water. Do not use cleanser.

My bare face before ad after the result.

I apply lots of gel over at my cheeks and lower jaw, I noticed that fats have become thinner and my skin become softer. My skin was moisturised and glowed with radiance. Initially, I was scared that my entire face will become red because of the stinging sensation. Rest assured, it was not result in redness. 

We all want to look at our very best all the time. 

DJ Carboxy Therapy Face Mask and Pure Vitamin C Serum provide a quick fix to glowing skin. Perfect to use if you have an important function that night. No wonder they are the number one best selling in Korea.

Jofiel Beauty is the exclusive distributor in Singapore for DJ Carboxy Therapy Face Mask and Pure Vitamin C Serum. To place your order, pls visit http://jofiel-beauty.com/

Happenings in September - Happy 76th Birthday to Granny + Permanent Galleries at The National Museum of Singapore

Sunday 13/9/15

Celebrating Granny's birthday was like our family gathering where we will come together to celebrate this important occasion. We celebrated it yearly by having an indulgent dinner together. The children will take turn to organize and foot the bill, this year was aunt's turn. 

Instead of going to the usual 8 course dinner style at Chinese restaurant, aunt decided to break the tradition and go for buffet style. We went back to Vienna International Seafood and Teppanyaki Buffet Restaurant for Granny's birthday. We were here this year during Mother's Day celebration.

I had 2 rounds of Chinese, Western and Japanese delights, and 2 rounds of Teppanyaki. Feeling so full by then, I don't really have a big appetite. 

Yam ice-cream.

Ice-cream is my favourite dessert. I can skip the cake portion, but cannot skip the ice-cream portion. Eating ice-cream made me happy.

Vienna International Seafood and Teppanyaki Buffet Restaurant was really nice to sponsor us a green tea cake.

Happy birthday, Granny. 

Stay happy and healthy always.

I have no idea what to buy for her other than tonic, but I know that my cousins will definitely buy her bird nest. So I think that money is still the most practical gift, hence I give her red packet instead.

The green tea cake was one of the cake selection in the buffet. 

I was glad that I did not try any of the cake earlier so there was still room in my stomach for cake.

The long weekend had come to an end. I was really tired, was out practically the whole day on Friday. Rest at home the entire day on Saturday. With the General Election (GE) just over last Friday, half of our table topics were concerning about GE. This was also my first time voting. 

Saturday 19/9/15

Weekend is finally here again, the day that we look forward to. 

Other than the usual gathering with friends over meals, I began to search for places of interest to visit and search of beauty within Singapore. Having interest in history, I always love finding out about the past history of Singapore and understanding how people actually lived in the past.

Knowing that the National Museum of Singapore has re-open its permanent galleries, I was eager to visit the national museum again to take a refreshed look at Singapore’s history in the new galleries.

Visit National Museum on the first day of re-opening of permanent galleries together with my partner in crime, Linda. She loves visiting museums too.

The permanent galleries comprise the Singapore History Gallery, the Life in Singapore: The Past 100 Years galleries and the Goh Seng Choo Gallery.

I felt like I was being transported back to the different periods of our history. Innovative displays and interactive elements make history and the artefacts come to life. 

They are more than 1,700 artefacts being displayed in the new galleries. Taking my time to browse through each of them, discovering more about our history and reconnect with the Singapore story. 

The galleries have tons of collections that could keep us preoccupied for hours.

The telephone used in the older days. 

To dial the number that you want, place your finger into the hole and push all the way to right. This definitely brought back memories of the past.

Gonna try dialing the phone.

Hello!

Yes, speaking. How can I help you?

Guess who we met inside the permanent galleries?

It's our Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong.

It's my first time seeing him in person. Quick, snap one photo of him. Security was very tight, no chance of getting close to him. You see, there was already one security officer standing in front of me.

Reliving the day when Singapore’s independence was declared.

There's a new flag arising, out of the stormy sea. 

Crimson as the blood of all mankind, yet white and pure and free.

Stepping into the HDB flat from the 1970s and 1980s, experiencing the life after the Japanese Occupation.

The very familiar living room set that I once had when I was young.

Into the kitchen.

From kampongs to HDB flats.

We have come to the end of the exhibition. If you are interested in the exhibition too, just come over to National Museum. Admission is free for Singaporeans, Permanent Residents and visitors aged 6 years and below.

My outfit of the day.

I love wearing this t-shirt on my casual day out because it was comfortable to wear and it covered my flaws well. Because of the prints and designs, it looked stylish and definitely one of my favourites.

I don't usually carry backpack out unless I am carrying bulky items. Inside my backpack was book and camera. Going to school for lesson after that, so sad, I had Saturday class at 4pm. Very odd timing right?

My amazing companion. Thanks Linda for making time for me even though it was just a short meetup. I had to part for school while you had a meeting to attend.

Wearing the high cut sneaker that GF bought for me during her Bangkok trip. Thanks for thinking about me when you at overseas.

I love coming back to National Museum. Not only does it have impressive exhibition, the place also has many good spots for taking photos. Definitely will be back again when there is new exhibition.