[Advertorial/Sponsored] Review - The New ESSENTIAL

Introducing The NEW Essential

Essential is a popular haircare brand from Japan. Understanding the needs of Singaporean ladies and their hair woes, Essential has a wide range of products to help repair and care for our hair.

Essential offers products ranging from basic care like Shampoo & Conditioner to more intensive treatments like Hair Masks and Leave-on Serums.

Previously, Essential has three hair care ranges - Nuance Airy (Pink), Rich Premier (Orange) and Purely Smooth (Light Yellow). This October, Essential relaunches with brand new packaging, improved formula and a new variant ! 

The new Essential contains Microfine All Smooth Essence which replenishes lost nutrients in damaged hair, smoothens and repairs damaged cuticles for healthier hair from root to tip. With the new, improved formula and technology, Essential is now available in 4 variants to suit all hair needs and types:

1. Nourishing Breakage Defense (Orange) – for weak & damaged hair
2. Moisturizing Frizz Free (Pink) – for dull & rough hair
3. Light Finish Volumizing (Yellow) – for flat and limp hair
4. Deep Cleansing Care (Blue) – for oily scalp & dry ends (NEW)

Nourishing Breakage Defense (Orange) & Moisturizing Frizz-Free (Pink)

 *suitable for combination hair*

Light Finish Volumizing (Yellow) and Deep Cleansing Care (Blue; NEW!)

 

Out of these 4 variants, the new Essential Light Finish Volumizing (Yellow) and Deep Cleansing Care (Blue) variants are specially catered to combination hair. Both variants have the optimum combination of Smart Cuticle Care & Sebum Cleansing Technology to target combination hair. As a result, you will experience the best of both worlds with one product – airy light roots and moisturized ends.

So, what is "Combination Hair"?
 

Concept

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. 

Consumers are not familiar with the term 'Combination Hair' and no other haircare brand has talked about it. Essential wants to take this chance to educate consumers about this concept and bring to their attention that they may have this condition and new Essential is the solution to their problem.

Problems

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 moisturizing product to care for their dry ends usually ends up having too much product buildup 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 two problems solved, or they have to rotate between using a rich moisturizing product and a light clarifying product to archive a balance.

Essential's Solution

New Essential Light Finish Volumizing (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 moisturizing ends.

Here's the matrix form of the survey questions that will help you to choose the correct variant for your hair type:

My answers to Question 1 & 2 are:

'Yes, a little' oily hair roots/scalp and 'Yes, very' dry/damaged ends.

So according to my answers, I was sent the Essential Light Volumizing Shampoo & Conditioner (Yellow) as well as their Nourishing Breakage Defense Hair Mask and Treatment (Orange).

Without further ado, I will just jump into the reviews, starting from the shampoo followed by the conditioner, hair mask & treatment.

 

Light Finish Volumizing Variant:

Description:

✔  Leaves flat, limp hair airy light at the roots yet moisturized at the ends 

✔ Contains Microfine All Smooth Essence replenishes lost nutrients in damaged hair.

✔ Smoothens and repairs damaged cuticles for healthier hair

✔ Optimum combination of Smart Cuticle Care & Sebum Cleansing Technology for airy light roots and moisturized ends
 

 

 

Light Finish Volumizing Shampoo

Usage:

Massage onto wet hair to lather. Rinse off completely. Suitable for daily use. For optimum results, use with Essential Light Finishing Volumizing Conditioner.

Likes: 

✔ Light formula
✔ Lathers up easily

✔ Cleanses well 
✔ Easy to rinse off
✔ Controls and balances sebum on the scalp yet moisturizes the hair ends
✔ Suitable for combination hair
✔ The scent

Light Finish Volumizing Conditioner

Usage:
After shampoo, gently massage conditioner onto hair. Rinse off completely. Suitable for daily use. For optimum results, use with Essential Light Finishing Volumizing Shampoo.

Likes:
✔ Light formula
✔ Easy to apply evenly to hair strand
✔ Moisturized the hair ends well without being too oily
✔ Easy to rinse off
✔ Leaves hair smoother and tangle-free; manageable
✔ Suitable for combination hair
✔ The scent

Verdict on the Light Volumizing Variant:
This lightweight shampoo lathers extremely well, like a little goes a long way! With Smart Cuticle Care and Sebum Cleansing Technology, the shampoo effectively removes excess oil and product buildup from the scalp/roots at the same time; it repairs and smoothens damaged cuticles evenly from root to tip. Whilst the conditioner moisturizes the hair ends without being too rich or oily. In general, this Light Volumizing variant kills two birds with one stone – it keeps my hair clean and airy light, maintaining a refreshed, breathable hair scalp/roots and a moisturized hair ends! Absolutely perfect for combination hair!

 

Nourishing Breakage Defense Hair Mask

Description:
♥ Contains honey and shea butter; deeply moisturized
♥ Intensively care for severely damaged hair
♥ Strengthens hair and effectively prevents damage
♥ Smart Cuticle Care with Microfine All Smooth Essence replenishes lost nutrients in damaged hair.

♥ Smoothens and repairs damaged cuticles for healthier hair.

Usage:
After shampoo, squeeze out excess water on the hair and apply an appropriate amount of hair mask evenly to the last 15cm of your hair. (Note: DO NOT apply hair mask on your scalp. Apply to hair ends only.) Leave it on for *3 to 10 minutes. *For longer-lasting manageability, leave hair mask on longer  – 3 minutes: up to 3 days or 10 minutes: up to 7 days.

Likes:
✔ Easy to apply evenly to hair strand
✔ Repairs severely damaged hair and prevents damage
✔ S hair; lessen breakage
✔ Prevents and reduces split ends
✔ Leaves hair tangle-free
✔ Instantly leaves hair softer, smoother and more manageable
✔ Results last longer than the Nourishing Breakage Defense Treatment
✔ The scent

Dislikes:
✖ Leave on requires at least 3 minutes

Verdict on the Nourishing Breakage Defense Hair Mask:
I believe you guys have heard a lot of raves about this hair mask before. It intensively repairs severely damaged hair and prevents hair breakage and split ends. It instantly gives damaged hair a deeply moisturized, shiny and silky soft finish. Your hair will become more manageable as well. What's more? With a new, improved formula and technology, the results are more effective and longer-lasting (last 3 to 7 days)! The only thing I dislike about is the amount of leave-on time/waiting time required. Frankly speaking, I skipped the step of hair mask many times because I'm either in a rush or I'm lazy to wait for 3 to 10 minutes.

Have you experienced the same situation when you are feeling lazy or you barely have time to do a hair mask? No worries! Essential has launched a new treatment product which only requires to leave-on for 30 seconds!!

Nourishing Breakage Defense Treatment

 

Description:
♥ Repairs damaged hair and prevents breakage
♥ Highly concentrated formula leaving hair deeply moisturized
♥ Treatment delivers repair ingredients to each hair strand instantly and works effectively in just 30 seconds
♥ Smart Cuticle Care with Microfine All Smooth Essence replenishes lost nutrients in damaged hair. 

♥ Smoothens and repairs damaged cuticles for healthier hair.

Usage:
After shampoo, gently massage treatment to the last 15 cm of your hair. Leave on for 30 seconds. Rinse off completely. (Note: DO NOT apply treatment on your scalp. Apply to hair ends only.)

Likes:
✔ Easy to apply evenly to hair strand
✔ Leave-on requires only 30 seconds!
✔ Repairs damaged hair and prevents damage
✔ Lessen breakage
✔ Tangle-free
✔ Leaves hair deeply nourished
✔ Instantly leaves hair feeling softer, smoother and manageable
✔ The scent

Verdict on the Nourishing Breakage Defense Hair Treatment:
The texture is richer than the Light Volumizing Conditioner but is less richer than the Nourishing Breakage Defense Hair Mask. Anyway, it magically does what it claimed in just 30 seconds, leaving weak hair deeply nourished, silky soft and manageable. For a more intensive treatment, use the hair mask at least once a week. Despite that, this treatment is a perfect choice for lazy days or days when you're in a rush as you only need 30 seconds to achieve a silky soft healthy hair!

Essential is a very promising brand in my opinion. Highly recommend the new Essential to all of you, especially to people who have combination hair condition. As mentioned earlier, the new Essential offers solution for a mix of oily hair scalp/roots and dry ends, which is a perfect solution for combination hair – a solution which is rarely seen in other hair brands. Well, I could go on about how great these products are but you'll have to try it to feel the result personally~

Healthy, manageable hair is just a switch away! Switch to new Essential today! The new Essential is now available at leading supermarkets, hypermarkets, western pharmacies and personal care stores. 

NEW Essential Haircare Range:

Shampoo - $4.50 (200ml) / $11.50 (750ml)

Conditioner - $4.50 (200ml) / $11.50 (750ml) 

 

Get FREE samples of Light Finish Volumizing Shampoo & Conditioner (Yellow Variant) at:

https://www.facebook.com/Essential.SG/app_284477728417032

LIKE Essential on their Facebook Page and
FOLLOW Essential on Instagram @essentialsingapore for their latest updates!
 

Thanks for reading! ~

XOXO

[Advertorial/Sponsored] Review - Biore Micellar Cleansing Water

Introducing the new Biore Micellar Cleansing Water ~

Thanks to SampleStore once again! They are always sending me great stuffs~

I'm pretty sure most of us understand how oil-based makeup remover leaves an extremely greasy feeling on the face after removing the makeup, or how sticky your skin would feel after using it. Honestly, how I wish removing makeup can be more refreshing. If things are so simple, I would love to wash off all my makeup with just water only!

Thankfully, Biore is out to make the step of removing makeup more easy, comfortable and refreshing with their new Biore Micellar Cleansing Water! Intended to act like water, the Cleansing Water features lightweight and refreshing sensation that removes makeup in one simple wipe.

After removing the makeup with Biore Micellar Cleansing Water, my skin feels clean and refreshed with absolutely 0% of sticky feeling. If fact, rinsing is not required but I still prefer to finish up the regime with some cooling water which makes me feel double refreshing.

Biore is the No.1 Makeup Remover Brand in Japan! So, I was extremely elated when I know that I was given a chance to try their newly launched water-based makeup remover.

Pinkish ~

Micellar Cleansing Water is a wipe-off non-comedogenic, lightweight and refreshing makeup remover that lifts off makeup and dirt effectively in one wipe! After usage, your skin will feels clean and refreshed with no sticky after feel.

 It comes in a transparent pink-color soft plastic bottle with a pink screw-off pump lid.

4-FREE Formula:

1. Alcohol-Free
2. Oil-Free
3. Fragrance-Free
4. Colorant-Free 

*Allegy & Ophthalmologist tested; Clinically proven!

It contains:

• Watery Micellar Technology that effectively dissolves and lifts off all makeup including mascara and eyeliner
• Pure Natural Mineral Water from the Northern Japanese Alps for a gentle and soothing formula
• Enriched Collagen & White Tea Extract for brighter, softer and suppler skin
• Anti-Bacterial Formula helps prevent pimples and breakouts, and minimizes pores for a clearer and more refined complexion

Directions/Usage:

• Remove lock tab/stopper from the pump.
• Pump an appropriate amount onto a cotton pad.
• Use soaked cotton pad to gently wipe off makeup.
• No rinsing required.
• For eye makeup, place soaked cotton pad onto closed eyes and hold for 5 seconds before gently wiping it off.
• Repeat until all makeup is removed.

Net Weight: 300ml

 Moisten the cotton pad with 2-3 pumps of cleansing water.

It has a transparent, watery texture and it's not greasy at all. The skin may feel sticky right after application but once the product gets absorbed, it will not leave any sticky/greasy layer.

(Left - Before & Right - After)

Pros

• Water-based
• 4-Free Formula
• Contains Collagen
• Anti-bacterial formula; prevents acne outbreaks
• Non-comedogenic
• No rinsing required
• Easy to use (Hassle-Free)
• Comes with a pump
• Gentle to all skin types
• No greasy or sticky layer after application
• Remove makeup effectively
• Does not dry up skin
• Leaves skin quenched
• Cleaned & Refreshed

Cons

• It did not disappoint me in any way! It works well!

You can get it in all pharmacies, hypermarkets and supermarkets, and major departmental stores!

Retailing at SGD$18.90

Alternatively, you can TRY BEFORE YOU BUY!

Simply register a SampleStore account (https://www.samplestore.com/r/89441) and redeem a sample of Biore Micellar Cleansing Water via (https://www.samplestore.com/product/details/2896/0/name-biore-micellar-cleansing-water).

Thanks for reading! ~

XOXO

[Advertorial/Sponsored] Review - Nivea Body Intensive Moisture Serum SPF25 PA++

I totally dislike or perhaps disregard for body moisturizers. I simply just hate the feeling of something sitting atop my skin or that oily & sticky feeling I get when it gets all hot and humid outside.

BUT...

(Photo Source: SampleStore)

Nivea Body Intensive Moisture Serum SPF25 PA+++ (SGD$8.90/200ml) which I now ADORE.

As usual, the weather in Singapore is so hot and humid; it’s making my skin really dry and "scaly". And it's so difficult to find a moisturizer that is actually useful nowadays. There are so many moisturizers which makes my skin feels so oily & sticky when it gets all hot and humid outside. There are so many beauty products claiming to give moisture to dry skin on the shelves; the fact is we don't actually know which of these helps.

Thanks to SampleStore for sending me this amazing product!

My time is spent indoors in dry air conditioning and I don’t really use body lotion/moisturizers because I hate the oily & sticky feeling. Most of us moisturize and take good care of our face starting from a very young age but we often neglect the skin on our body because we may not notice the signs of damage and dryness as easily.

Nivea Body Intensive Moisture Serum SPF25, application is fast because my skin absorbs this serum easily. Once it's absorbed, skin feels so hydrated. It feels so fresh, light and supple. There's no sticky residue and no greasy feeling unlike the heavy body butters/creams. It is truly “Extra light and non-sticky serum.” The fragrance is mild but refreshing which lingers on for some time and fades away. Upon application, my skin is noticeably healthier, softer and smoother. I'm impressed with the result. It also has SPF 25PA++ so if I were to go under the sun for the whole day, my skin is protected against the sun damages when I'm outdoors!

The thing that drew my attention to this was the name – it’s a SERUM rather than a Lotion/Milk, which suggests a lighter texture. Lotion/Milk will end up very oily, sticky and messy when we perspire especially in this hot and humid weather. BUT, serum won’t have any of those problems!

The packaging tells you what it does – it hydrates skin, it infuses it with health via Vitamin E and Grape Seed Extract and it also provides a relatively decent 25SPF PA++ protection against sun damages.

“How to tell that my skin is dry and damaged?” – some might ask. You know it when your skin displays the following 10 signs:

1.     Flaky
2.     Itchy
3.     Uneven
4.     Scratched
5.     Rough
6.     Cracked
7.     Stressed
8.     Dull
9.     Peeling
10.     Tight

Pamper the skin of your body with NEW! NIVEA Body Intensive Moisture Serum SPF 25 PA++, the first body serum that not only repairs 10 signs of extra accumulated dry and damaged skin within 24 hours, but also shields if from sun damages.

•     Extremely light serum texture
•     Non-sticky
•     Fast absorption
•     Repairs 10 signs of dry & damaged skin within 24 hours
•     Refreshing fragrance  

NIVEA Body Intensive Moisture Serum is now available at all leading personal care stores and supermarkets, including Watson, Guardian, Cold Storage, NTUC Fair Price and other major retailers.
(SGD 8.90/200ml)

INSTAGRAM CONTEST:
Have a share of this goodness I was able to experience NOW at SampleStore! You will be able to redeem a FREE sample of NIVEA Body Intensive Moisture Serum (https://www.samplestore.com/product/details/2895/0/name-nivea-body-intensive-moisture-serum-spf25) along with an A5 brochure with a magnifying glass cut-out in order to participate in a current Instagram Contest where you hash tag #NIVEAsg #IntensiveMoistureSerum to attractive win prizes. It's FREE ~

- 2 Grand Prize winners to be hand-picked by Sample Store editors, Holly Jean and Trixy respectively based on the submission that is most creative in their opinion (text and/or photo creativity).

- Grand Prize winners each win shopping vouchers worth $200 and NIVEA hampers worth $100.

- Instagram contest will commence from 25th August 2014 - 30th September 2014. Winners to be announced on 1st October 2014.

So what are you waiting for?
Hurry! — Redeem, Try, Participate and WIN!
Have fun and good luck! 

Thanks for reading! ~

XOXO

Unprofessional Media

(Photo for illustration purposes only.)

STOMP is one of those websites which should have been banned from the surface of the internet. The website is filled with rubbish and the writers (Stompers) there made such a big hooha over trivial matters. We all would like to see a marker of standards, especially from a media company. There must have been plenty of gaffes in the past, but it seems only more recently that people are complaining about the missteps of STOMP.  

This site literally stomps on people's privacy. What their writers do not see is that they are hurting all these normal citizens or perhaps innocent victims, mentally and emotionally, with their post online. I assumed, Stomp has harmed more people than we should have know. What if one day you wake up and sees yourself on a Stomp article? Would it be embarrassing and painful for you? It just have to stop.

They are getting extremely ridiculous and absurd; at times, even verging on the edge of atrocious. Half of the stories you see are posted by nosey parkers, not wanting to let others live their own lives. They write things which like rowdy teens, people being intimate in public, elderly (old man) urinating in the lobby, people not giving up sits in public transports, and a lot more. 

I mean, this could not be any more accurate on – how rigid minded and childish we Singaporeans are, choosing to spend our time on useless things like these, and instead turn the whole story one hundred and ninety degrees around and complain about how we do not have enough time.

Be cautious whenever you're in public places, because you might be the next Internet sensation, and it's definitely not for something good.

Obviously, many Stompers are ‘enticed’ by Stomp’s policy of rewarding monetary rewards in the form of vouchers, to writers who can post the most news worthy stories. As greedy as Singaporeans can get, Stompers are probably too desperate for a minimal sum of money, and that resort to making a mountain out of a molehill; of everything and anything they come across. 

Stomp is the perfect place to see the "REAL" side of Singaporeans – Lack of Manners, No Courtesy, Nosey, Rigid Minded & Very Asian. 

What I can advise is, do not take things personally or seriously as what you're see online may not always depict the truth.

I'm ending abruptly here. I don't know what else to say so...
Till then...

 Thanks for reading! ~

XOXO

[Advertorial/Sponsored] Review - Bio Essence Aqua Droplet Sleeping Beauty Mask

(Photo Source: Bio-essence Singapore Facebook Page)

(Photo Source: Bio-essence Singapore Facebook Page)

(Photo Source: Bio-essence Singapore Facebook Page)

(Photo Source: Bio-essence Singapore Facebook Page)

I've seen this ad multiple times via Newspaper, Facebook, Instagram & other Social Networks repeatedly. And it got me kinda curious with these “Aqua Droplets” thingy. I was eager to try the product personally and even planned to buy it during the weekend. But... Fortunately, when I went home that day, I saw a parcel that SampleStore.com had sent me and surprisingly it's Bio-essence Hydra Tri-Action Aqua Droplet Sleeping Beauty Mask (Bio Aqua Crystal Technology). Wee! Now I don’t need to spend a single cent to try out this product!

WHAT GOOD DOES IT DO?

• Enriched with 2 types of Hyaluronic Acid (Power Nano Hyaluronic Acid & Hyaluronic Acid) to replenish and lock-in moisture, providing skin with non-stop hydration
• With Cranberry Extracts to moisturize skin, for a radiant smooth complexion
• Rapidly absorbs into skin, ensuring optimal nutrients being absorbed without any moisture lost and leaves no sticky feeling on skin. Delivers moisture intensively all night to hydrate and repair skin during sleep
• Reveals a revitalized, supple and smooth skin the next morning

To make it more simple, this mask hydrates, nourishes and protects the skin.

IT ALSO COMBAT 4 COMMON SKIN PROBLEMS:

• Brightens Dull & Tired Skin
• Regulates Oil & Moisture Level
• Moisturizes Dry & Rough Skin
• Refines Enlarged Pores

IN 3 SECONDS, BIG AQUA DROPLETS FORMED!

Bio-Essence Aqua Droplet Sleeping Beauty Mask is made with their unique Bio Aqua Crystal Technology. This technology forms a protective shield over the hydrating ingredients to prevent moisture loss before application. Upon application, this shield breaks away and big aqua droplets are formed. This ensures our skin gets hydrated with the freshest and most optimal amount of hydrating activity. The big aqua droplets are made up of superior hydrating ingredients of small molecular sizes which allow moisture and nutrients to be easily delivered to the deepest layers of skin, while the protective emollient film remains on the skin to lock in moisture for non-stop hydration.

That’s what they claimed but I had to personally try the product to believe whether it's true or not.

And here it is, tada!

The packaging is in a beautiful light blue jar, which has a little weight to it. The tub is not entirely shiny, only the lid. I like how they made part of the tub transparent — It looks kinda elegant.

(Photo Credit: Cassandra.Twc)

(Photo Source: Google)

Inside is a watery gel-like mask (not those super creamy & sticky/greasy type). And the mask has this ocean aquatic smell to it that gives off a very calming effect.

Directions of use:
Suitable for all skin types and daily use
Step 1: Massage gently till aqua droplets form.
Step 2: Gently pat till fully absorbed into skin.

Step 3: Apply thin layer over skin as a daily moisturizer. For more treatment, apply a thicker layer to replenish skin's moisture throughout the night as a sleeping mask.

The appearance of the aqua droplets are superb and not to mention unique. I have never seen a product that uses this kind of technology. It’s an effective product. The skin problems I had (oily combination, dry & dull) previously are not a problem anymore (Except for 'refining of the pores'. I don’t know how I can prove that because my pores still looks the same to me). After 8 hours of sleep and deep hydration, I always wake up with a smoother & softer skin.

RTP: $33.90/80g

Reasonable price for a product that serves more than one purpose. It's not too nourishing for my oily combination skin, and it really makes my skin look so soft and rejuvenated the next day.

So try it out and let me know if it works for you too!

WANT TO TRY SOME SAMPLES?

"LIKE" Bio-Essence Singapore Facebook Page to redeem free samples

or

You can get free samples from SampleStore.com

Get yours today from Wastsons, NTUC Fair Price, Cold Storage, Guardian & other drugstores!

Disclaimer: This is an sponsored review. I've written an honest opinions & results based on my experience.

Thanks for reading! ~
XOXO