Saturday 25 October 2014

032 - NEW! Essential Light Finish Volumizing Shampoo and Conditioner

Most of us have heard of combination skin types, but have you heard of combination hair types?

In fact, I have not heard of such term until last week! Most of the off-the-shelf shampoos and conditioners I've seen usually only label normal/ dry/ oily hair type but never combination hair type!

So what is combination hair type?

The concept of ‘combination hair’ is similar to that of ‘combination skin’, where hair condition from the same person is not uniform from root to tip. People with combination hair usually have oily roots and dry ends. 

People with combination hair currently do not have one haircare product which they can use to solve both problems of oily roots and dry ends. Using a rich moisturising product to care for their dry ends usually ends up having too much product build-up on their scalp, resulting in a heavy, oily scalp. Using a light, clarifying product to care for their oily scalp will then cause their ends to be even drier. As a result, people with combination hair will either have only one out of the two problems solved, or they have to rotate between using a rich moisturising product and a light clarifying product to achieve a balance.

I am sure many of you, like me, have no idea what is combination hair until now because no haircare brands have talked about it. But hey, now there's one who does!




Essential haircare range has relaunched with new, improved formula and technology. 
Now, Essential is available in 4 variants to suit all hair needs and types:
- Nourishing Breakage Defense (orange) – for weak & damaged hair
- Moisturising Frizz Free (pink) – for dull & rough hair
- Light Finish Volumising (yellow) – for flat and limp hair
- Deep Cleansing Care (blue) – for oily scalp & dry ends (new)



Out of these 4 variants, the yellow and blue variants have technology that caters to people with combination hair – oily scalp/roots yet dry ends.

New Essential Light Finish Volumising (yellow) and Deep Cleansing Care (blue) variants have the optimum combination of Smart Cuticle Care & Sebum Cleansing Technology to target both problems of roots and hair ends. As a result, consumers experience the best of both worlds with one product - airy light roots and moisturised ends!

New Essential also has Microfine All Smooth Essence which delivers nutrients to repair damaged hair surface from root to tip. Conventional technology concentrates mainly at the roots only.Hair feels surprisingly smooth when you finger comb through whether wet or dry. With the absence of tangles, water does not get trapped between the tangles hence blow-drying your hair is also faster!

So here comes your next question.

How do you choose the most suitable variant for your hair type?

No fret! Essential has all of these covered for you! Simply ask yourself these 2 questions:

1. Do you have oily hair roots/ scalp?
2. Do you have dry/ damaged hair ends?

Match your answers to the matrix below and there you have what's best for you!



Deep Cleansing Care (blue) variant has the lightest formula and is suitable for people 
with very oily roots, followed by Light Finish Volumising (yellow) variant. People with very dry/damaged hair should use the richest formula Nourishing Breakage Defense (orange) variant for treatment and mask while the rest can use the Moisturising Frizz Free (pink) variant which is comparatively lighter!



I have been given the Nourishing Breakage Defense (orange) shampoo and conditioner because I don't really have an oily scalp but I do have dry hair ends. Used together with the Moisturising Frizz Free (pink) treatment and mask, my hair now looks much more tamed and manageable after a week! My hair is now more moisturised and is much softer and smoother to the touch! There's significantly less tangles in my hair (especially obvious when I comb through my wet hair!) and not forgetting to mention how the great the smell is too!


My favourite product of all! The improved treatment now works its magic on the hair in just 30 seconds! Perfect for busy and lazy days! Oh do take note that treatment or mask SHOULD NOT be applied on the scalp. They should be applied to hair ends only! :)



Me now has nice flowy hair!

You too now can try out the new Essential hair range products by redeeming free samples here! Also, Like Essential on their Facebook page and follow them on Instagram @essentialsingapore for more information!






Wednesday 15 October 2014

031 - ClearSK Lazer Whiten Facial

Since young, I've always had very dark and tanned skin which I have no idea why because I don't do sports and I don't stand under the sun all day but yet I look like this..


Dark, scrawny and sulky, that's me. Totally feeling like an ugly duckling. Probably explains why I always don't smile in photos. =(


And that's me with my loving grandma. Don't think I was unhappy at that time, but I just don't like smiling and posing for photos coz I feel..not pretty. Lol. Girls.

Anyway, I don't know how and when it started, my skin decided to give in to me a little and I started looking more presentable with not-so-tanned skin. At that point of time, I also started to learn more about skincare products and took care of my skin even more after I started putting on make-up. I first started going for facial treatments when I was 19 and continued for a few years until I had a bad breakout a couple of years back and I decided to stop all facial sessions there and then.

Had seen a doc, took medicine and put in extra care in taking care of my skin and finally and thankfully got back to the previous good condition. But nothing is ever quite perfect and of course I was still looking at having even fairer skin! So I was really excited upon receiving the invitation to Sample Store's latest campaign; to try out Clear SK's Lazer Whiten Facial!

The ClearSK Lazer Whiten Facial is a revolutionary clinical facial designed by dermatologists and it uses Light and Heat technology to help achieve acne clearance, skin tightening and rejuvenation, wrinkle reduction and collagen renewal. 

Each treatment session is expected last for about 30 minutes and visible results can be seen after 4 weekly sessions. I had my first treatment session a couple of weeks ago at ClearSK, conveniently located at Velocity.



Before the start of the treatment session, the consultant would assist to help understand our skin better by filling up a questionnaire. The entire session was pretty smooth and quick. The consultant would  first double cleanse the face. This first step is already very comfortable! The consultant was really gentle and made sure that I felt comfortable during the entire process. 

The next step was the start of the treatment and to be frank, I was a little nervous coz I wasn't exactly sure what feeling to expect. The consultant was very assuring though, she asked if I would like to test it out on my hand to get a feel of how it would be like before she started on my face. And so I did. To my surprise, other than a warm sensation on the treated area, there was absolutely no painful or prickly feeling at all! So I safely handed my face to her. Other than the soft heat, there would be some red lights flashing during the treatment, but the eyes are well-covered for protection. =)

After the treatment, a mask was applied for another 15 minutes for hydration. I was feeling so comfortable that I fell asleep during that short 15 minutes. Moisturiser and sunblock were also applied before the session ended. The consultant also advised me to be more hardworking in applying moisturiser, sunblock and hyrating masks so as to make the effect of the treatment more lasting! =) 


This was a photo taken before my first treatment session! No make-up on except eyebrows and concealer to cover the dark eye rings.
These were photos taken right after my second treatment session! I hope I don't look too different without drawing my eyebrows and concealer! >.< I know there's a difference in lighting so we can't really do a direct comparison. But looking at myself in the mirror, I do think that I look a little fairer now without make-up and my skin feels a little bouncier! I hope it's the collagen renewal working! 2 more sessions to go and I can't wait for even tighter skin to reduce fine lines on my face! #forever18please

Overall, I am really pleased with the services provided, the effectiveness of the treatment and even the ambience of the whole place! =)

Tuesday 14 October 2014

030 - Nivea Whitening Happy Shave

In Singapore's hot and humid weather, the best and most comfortable attire would definitely be a tank, a pair of shorts and a pair of slippers. I'm totally in for such attire for lazy weekends, that is if my underarms are cleanly plucked la. >.<

I should count myself lucky coz I'm not those hairy type, at least not in the underarms! But for those who are, and have issues with dark underarms caused by hair removal, fret not! It's the Nivea Whitening Happy Shave to the rescue!


Skin at the underarms tend to appear dark, dull and rough because regular shaving leads to skin damage and irritation, as well as symptoms such as redness, itchiness, and burning sensations. To combat this, the Nivea Whitening Happy Shave contains provitamin B5 and vitamin C which:

- Whitens and smoothens skin
- Repair damaged cells
- Reduce skin irritation from shaving
- Support skin regeneration
- Provide 48-hour protection against body odour and sweat


Although I mentioned that I have little hair to get rid of at the underarms, I still have minor issues with the darkened skin and could do with some whitening! I have tried the Nivea Whitening Happy Shave for slightly more than a week now, and I must say I have really seen an improvement on my skin! It really does what it claimed and the light fragrance were so lasting that I felt that I smell good throughout the day! No joke!

The Nivea Whitening Happy Shave is really easy to use too! Just shake the bottle well before use and spray it from about 15cm away from the underarms! Allow the product to dry and you're good to go! =)

Sample Store users can now redeem your free sample of the Nivea Whitening Happy Shave on Sample Store and at the same time receive a brochure which you can use to participate in the Instagram Contest!

To participate in the Nivea Happy Shave Instagram Contest, all you have to do is to pose with the signed brochure which will be sent to you when you redeem for the free sample, and hashtag #NIVEAsg #NIVEADeoSg #HappyShave


There will be a Grand Prize winner who will win shopping vouchers worth $400 and 2 consolation winners who will each win Nivea hampers worth $100! The Grand Prize winner will be awarded based on the Best Instagram Review on what personal situation they can raise their arms with confidence now that they have used Nivea Happy Shave. The Instagram contest will end on 30th October and winners will be announced on 31st October.

Go sign up for a free Sample Store account and redeem the sample if you haven't!

The Nivea Whitening Happy Shave is now sold at S$9.10 (150ml) in all leading personal care stores and supermarkets, including Watsons, Guardian, Cold Storage, NTUC Fairprice outlets and major retailers.

Sunday 5 October 2014

029 - Biore Micellar Cleansing Water

I have always been switching between different brands and types for make-up removers, because I like to use them differently on different occasions! For example, I would use wipes to remove my makeup whenever I'm travelling coz it is really a hassle to have to bring liquids overseas! Another type of makeup remover which I frequently use would be the oil-based kind because I feel that it really lifts off all the makeup that is on my skin. However, I must be cautious to cleanse my face thoroughly after that so that no oil is left on my skin!

I have yet to try out a water-based makeup remover and I was glad that Sample Store decided to send me the Biore Micellar Cleansing Water for review!


The Biore Micellar Cleansing Water is a lightweight and refreshing makeup remover that lifts off more makeup in one wipe! It contains:

  1. Water Micellar Technology that effectively dissolves and lifts off all makeup including mascara and eyeliner
  2. Natural Mineral Water from the Northern Japanese Alps for a gentle and soothing formula
  3. Enriched Collagen and White Tea Extract for a brighter, softer and more supple skin
  4. Anti-bacterial formula that helps prevent pimples and breakouts, and minimises pores for a clearer and more refined complexion
Sounds really cool right? What's even cooler is that no rinsing is required! 


Now let us try to see if it's really as good as it claims!


On my hand (left to right): eyebrow pencil, gel eyeliner, foundation, eye shadow


Step 1: Pump an appropriate amount onto the cotton pad


Step 2: Use the soaked cotton pad to gently wipe off makeup.

My first swipe! Note that the foundation and eye shadow is completely gone! P/s: a small part of my hand was red coz i drew too hard with the eyebrow pencil. >.<


Step 3: For eye makeup, place the soaked cotton pad onto makeup area and hold for 5 seconds before gently wiping off.

Step 4: Repeat all steps until makeup has been completely removed.

And so, I have used the Biore Micellar Cleansing Water for a week now and I must say I quite like it! I love the soft silky feeling that I get on my skin after usage and I love that I can quickly jump in bed now without having to wash off the solution! No more dreading makeup removal! =D


The Biore Micellar Cleansing Water is priced at S$18.90 and is available in all pharmacies, hypermarkets, supermarkets and major departmental stores!