Cforcassan - Food, Fashion and Beauty

With the every day stresses in life, it's no doubt that our scalps and stresses will also start to feel the cumulative traces of it, and also start to show signs that they are in need of some TLC. My scalp, for example, has always been an issue for me as it is usually pretty dry and sensitive, which makes it prone to itch and dandruffs especially after the long hours of the day.

Did you know that additional stress can actually amp up production of certain hormones and release pro-inflammatory chemicals that can compromise your scalp’s barrier function?

I have always given treating my hair concerns a miss because I thought that it was a problem that could go away on its own with the right shampoo and hair care, but little did I know that this wasn't the case until I visited Beijing101's Funan outlet a while back!

Since 1974, 101 has been dedicated to treating common hair issues such as scalp concerns, hair loss, oily scalp, greying hair, premature or excessive white hair and various patterns of hair loss, in more than 60 countries worldwide. All their treatments use premium-grade Chinese herbs that help to solve hair problems in an integrative and harmonious way, which is in line with TCM practices.

Using premium-grade Chinese herbs, the treatments administered by their certified hair therapist and TCM Physicians work in line with TCM principles to treat not just the symptoms of hair and scalp issues, but also the very root of the problem.

Scalp Analysis

Before the process began, I was also given a consultation form to fill out that narrowed down to my hair concerns and also for 101's hair consultant to customise the right hair treatment for me.

As I went through my analysis done using a microscopic camera, I found out that I did have sensitive scalp with a wee bit of redness. There were also minimal hair loss issues. One of the main reasons why I was facing this was also due to the lack of sleep (TBH there are days where I only sleep 5-6 hours a day - it's really bad for my body, I know!!!) and these bad sleeping habits also affected my scalp and its ability to product new strands of hair.

These issues would have never been spotted by the naked eye!

Treatment Process

After the scalp analysis, I went to their treatment area where I would begin the Intensive Scalp Cleansing Treatment. This treatment helps to cleanse my scalp by removing oil clogs.

101 treatments use premium-grade natural herbs such as He Shou Wu (何首乌), Ling Zhi (灵芝), Ginseng (人参) and Dang Gui (当归) in their treatment products to treat the symptoms of hair and scalp issues, as well as the root of the problems.

The mask is so cooling!

Scalp Massage

During the treatment, I was also given a form to fill in the type of massage treatment I wanted which I experienced after the hair wash!

I chose the Tension option as I was really experiencing problems with stiff neck and also shoulder aches :(

101 identified the top 4 concerns in Singapore, namely: Tension (stiff neck, muscle ache, shoulder aches and pains), Stress (migraines, headaches, anxiety), Sleeping Disorder (insomnia, poor concentration, poor sleep quality) and Overall Well Being (Traditional Meridian Herbal Treatment).

The massage was sooooo extremely comfortable, and it got my blood circulating right away. My consultant targeted the main acupuncture points that was something I really needed after a long day at work.

Alpha Hair Beam Treatment

My consultant then applied hair tonic to my scalp to help regulate oil production and hair growth.

This Alpha Hair Beam Treatment helps to increase collagen production on the scalp for an anti-ageing effect and helps to nourish the hair.

During this process, all you have to do it sit back, and enjoy the hair treatment! I guess that's what makes people return for their treatments even after a long day at work.

Plus point? You'd also be give tea, snacks and more importantly, high-speed wifi!

This treatment lasted for another 15-20 mins before my consultant blew my hair dry for me to conclude the session.

Freshly blown tresses! My scalp was feeling very refreshed after the cleaning session!

I was then given another scalp analysis to witness the before and after differences, which you can clearly see in the images before! My pores were no longer clogged, and there were also lesser dead skin on my scalp. The consultant even mentioned that this difference was pretty commendable with just one session!

Walked out 101 with healthier looking hair and I must say that I was extremely impressed! The experience that I had was vastly different from the other Japanese / Korean hair treatments I've experienced - in a good way due to the use of herbs - and my hair certainly felt more nourished!

Unlike the other salons, the treatments here are carefully planned and curated for your needs, so, it also saves us the trouble of having to go through the entire decision-making/thought process. I also love the parts with all the massages that really helped me to do away with lots of tension!

If you'd like to experience this session for yourself, you can purchase Beijing 101 Trial Intensive Scalp Cleansing Treatment at $40 only from Sample Store . On top of the treatment, you get to bring home a Hair Care Kit and a pair of movie tickets (total worth: $616).

Love,

Cassan

Ever since I started on my journey to achieve better skin, I've been applying (or I try to) apply sheet mask every single night because it really does help hydrate my skin a lot better (since my skin is dry beyond help).

Hailing from Taiwan, Dr Jou is Dr Morita's latest invention of mask sheets that consist of 100% Hyaluronic Acid in every mask. Its mild and gentle formula is ideal for anyone with sensitive skin, and it provides the moisture boost specially for Asian skin. You'll be surprised to know that the mask is a 5 in 1 all encompassing mask with toner, serum, lotion, facial and eye mask in just one mask sheet.

And, even if you have any excess, you can always apply them on your neck!

Dr. Jou is also the first in the world to release a facial sheet mask containing 6 Hyaluronic Acids namely - Hyaluronate Sodium Hyaluronate (Medium-sized molecules), Sodium Hyaluronate (Macromolecular), Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid ((Micromolecular), Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, C12-13 Alkyl Glyceryl Hydrolyzed Hyaluronate and Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate.

The mask consists of 5 types of DR. JOU Six Essence Hyaluronic Acid mask variants, mainly the

Whitening, luminous, hydra, revitalising, soothing, and brightening series.

One of their best selling masks is the DR. JOU Six Essence Hyaluronic Acid Hydra Mask (properties), which boasts extreme moisturising properties – formulated with 6 types of Hyaluronic Acid to help your skin retain moisture, provide a high level of hydration, and create a radiant and glowing complexion!

Since I wanted to test the efficacy of the masks, I decided to embark on a 7-day mask challenge with DR JOU to find out how effective their masks really are, and also to determine if there were any improvements in my completion after a week of use!

Day 1: DR. JOU Six Essence Hyaluronic Acid Soothing Mask

This mask contains 6 types of hyaluronic acid and regulating active ingredients! So, not only does it provide enriching and moisturising properties, it also contains Witchhazel that can sooth and calm the skin’s discomfort.

Since my skin is still breaking out and experiencing redness, I started off with the soothing mask which can help to visibly improve the skin's texture. Another thing that I love about this mask sheet is that it fits my face PERFECTLY, and every inch of my skin is covered and soaked in the hyaluronic acid goodness – no wastage, yay!

Day 2: DR. JOU Six Essence Hyaluronic Acid Revitalising Mask

Other than soothing your skin, it is also equally important to reduce any signs of wrinkles or pigmentation! Other than hyaluronic acid, this mask also contains other anti-aging essences such as Q10, Swiftlet Nest extract and Royal Jelly to improve skin aging process. It can also help reduce fine lines and the appearance of wrinkles!

Day 3: DR. JOU Six Essence Hyaluronic Acid Deep Moisturizing Black Mask

One of the black mask sheet in the series! Formulated with charcoal powder and 6 types of hyaluronic acid, the mask also contains various t extracts of Black soybean, rice, sesame to help soothe the skin and reduce dryness!

This is also coined as the next best mask after their best-selling hydra mask - also my favourite mask in the series because I love how it felt my skin feeling plump and deeply moisturised!

Day 4: DR. JOU Six Essence Hyaluronic Acid Luminous Mask

The last mask I'm trying out in the series before going back to the soothing mask! The Luminous mask contains floral extracts (Daisy and Lily) to provide the concentrated hydration, and to help slow the aging process. It can also help reduce dullness of the skin!

For the rest of the weeks, I then restarted the cycle with the soothing, brightening and deep moisturising mask for the next 3 days, till the 7th day!

The results?

For someone like me who usually experiences flakiness in the middle of the day, the mask really helped to deeply moisturise my skin and calm it down a whole lot. I noticed that my makeup stopped falling apart on my 4th day, and it also maintained a subtle glow throughout the rest of the week which was AMAZING.

Before using the mask:

After:

Really love the natural glow that the mask gave my skin! And once your skin is well hydrated, it's also easier to apply on makeup because that really just sets the baseline for ya. My skin still flakes at the end of the day (guess it really takes time to fully heal) but at least it doesn't happen mid-day anymore!

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DR JOU's range of mask can be found at Watsons or you can also purchase them online at https://www.lazada.sg/shop/dr-jou/ or https://shopee.sg/drjouofficialstore!

Here's to caring for your skin y'alllll x

Love,
Cassan

To be real honest here, my skin hasn't always been the best, but it was something that I could put up with despite the occasional hormonal breakouts I would have on my chin. The cystic bumps were irritating and sometimes affected my confidence, yes, but there wasn't anything concealer couldn't do. It wasn't until the end of last year that my skin started breaking out on areas like my jawline, chin, and even onto my cheeks which was a real bummer. I didn't know what was happening, nor did I expect my skin to ever be so inflamed. It was like my worst nightmare.

My personal skincare habits weren't helping either. I was so impatient, I wanted an out to the point that I kept experimenting with new skincare products that obviously made the situation worse. I wouldn't attribute it to the products but rather I wasn't allowing my skin to breathe and heal on its own.

It's like you're already down with an illness but you are feeding yourself a handful of medication not knowing which one actually worked and was expecting a miracle from it.

I wasn't going for facial for a while now, and I haven't been, so I decided to pull my ass together and visit Caringskin, whom I've heard so many amazing reviews about. Lots of other influencers go there, and they've seen a huge improvement in their skin conditions, so I was really psyched to try it out and leave it to the hands of the professionals to help my skin recover.

There you have it, my VISIA report that gave me a good assessment of all the skin concerns that I was currently facing and how I could deal with them. I had a good suncare routine so that was settled, but I was experiencing redness on my face and also tightness (due to dehydration like what's new) so I could also know what other areas of my skin I should focus on.

The pictures aren't a good indication of my acne because I was still getting moderate flares back then and my hormones haven't started going crazy yet.

So one good thing about Caringskin's facials is that they use only plant-based products so it's perfect for those who have sensitive skin like myself. Their beauticians are also extremely experienced in what they're doing and also reassuring - they'll always let you know the next step of the facial and make sure you're feeling as comfortable as possible! And if you're afraid of extractions, they won't force it on you if you don't want to do it too.

'Before and after' of my skin after the first facial with them. HAHA please ignore the gaping mouth because I had fallen asleep and didn't know I was being photographed then. But you can really tell that they really restored the glow to my skin!

Apart from the few acne scars I had, I really loved how 'clean' and refreshed my skin felt. It's been so long since I've had a facial done and I forgot how much I've missed it.

So there were days that my hormonal acne got really bad and red, but heading back to Caring Skin once every month and having it deeply cleansed really helped my skin heal a lot faster. On days like that, my beautician would recommend the SensiVital Plus treatment to help increase my skin resistance against environmental stress by reconstructing the natural protective shield!

This treatment uses high contents of Essential Fatty Acids and also a combination of plant extracts that activates micro-circulation of the skin to increase cellular oxygenation and enhance nutrients absorption.

Throughout the past 6 months, I've always rotated between the SensiVital Plus Treatment and the SHR Facial that targets pigmentation and reduces acne-causing behaviour.

Other than their facial treatments, I've also switched up my skincare to some of their products which have also become my holy grail.

The entire range of Caringskin products that the team gave me to try! As these products are made from plant-based extracts and do not contain any form of preservatives, they're perfect for the most sensitive skin and to target the skin issues that anyone is currently facing.

Since my skin was still rather acne prone and very sensitive/dehydrated, I was given key products like the Sensitive Skin Cleansing Milk, Acne Clear Hydrating Cleanser, Moisture Rich Soothing Toner, Skin Renewal Essence and the Power Hydrator 2% Hyaluronic Acid Serum.

My favourites?

1. The Sensitive Skin Cleansing Milk!

Since my skin is already so dry and dehydrated, it's crucial for me to use the right cleansing product that both deeply cleanses and not leave my skin squeaky clean. I've to stay away from foam cleansers at all cost because that is extremely drying, so I was given a milk cleanser instead that can help achieve the same outcome and still let my skin stay hydrated. I'd use this twice every day - once in the morning and the other time at night with the Acne Clear Hydrating Cleanser.

2. Power Hydrator 2% Hyaluronic Acid Serum

This, I absolutely love. I'm no stranger to hyaluronic acid because I do purchase them from another skincare brand and use it almost every night. But what makes the serum here different would be the consistency and the application. It takes like 5-10 seconds for it to be fully absorbed into my skin, and my skin always feel real plumped up and moisturised after applying this! If you've acne-prone skin like I do, it's recommended that you use this every day.

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If you're interested in purchasing any of these products, you can quote <CSXCAS> when you check out to receive 10% off entire order - with a minimum purchase of 2 items!

Promo code is valid until 30th June 2019!

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For those who are interested in their plant-based treatments, you can find out more via their website : http://www.caringskin.com.sg

You can also check out https://trial.caringskin.com.sg to try out their facials for only $98 on your First Trial! (U.P. $298)

Even after 6-months, I'm still batting hormonal acne issues, but at a pace that I'm able to have more control of it and also leave lesser pigmentations on my face after the breakouts. There's no one-solution to cure such hormonal acne because even things like sleep and diet take into play, but at least if you've one end settled, all you need to do is to concentrate on taking really good care of your well-being from then on.

I've also started seeing a dermatologist not long ago, so hopefully, that also puts me on the faster track back to recovery!

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Love,

Cassan

As I grow older and my face continues to experience the occasional (ok maybe regular) acne issues, hyperpigmentation is one of the most troubling skin issues for me. I've a tendency to pick my pimples, and that often results in deep scarring which turns into pigmented marks - which is not a pretty sight without my holy grail concealers or makeup.

I've been trying to add Vitamin C serums and products into my skincare regime religiously, but that often takes quite a while for me for results to show. SO, when the invitation came for me to witness DR WU's latest Glutalight Whitening series, I was thrilled. Back story: I've been a huge fan of DR WU's skincare products ever since trying the mandelic acid, and I'm also currently incorporating the hydrating range to my routine which has worked wonders for my extremely dry skin.

I was freakin' excited when they announced this new Glutalight whitening skincare range because I knew I could depend on it to save my skin once again - it's so powerful that it can even replace whitening injections - a procedure commonly done in Taiwan/China to help ladies achieve fairer skin!

The DR WU's Glutalight whitening system consists of a key ingredient - Glutathione which is amazing for curing hyperpigmentation problems. Most people usually get their shot of glutathione through whitening injections done over the span of a few months, but with this new system, you do not have to go under the needle and still achieve the same results.

In an independent study done with 24 participants, it was noted that results started to show as soon as 2 weeks! This, of course, still depends on your skin types and usage but for someone who's as afraid of needles as I am, this triumphs over whitening injections any day.

During the trip to Taiwan, we were also brought to DR WU's HQ where we learnt more about the different range of products they carried as well as the Glutalight Whitening range. Unlike other whitening skincare products that may leave your skin with a "tight" feeling (means it's making your skin dry!!), the whitening range adds moisture to the skin which helps make it smoother and can also suppress fine lines/wrinkles.

The products are suitable for use in both day and night as they only use acid-free ingredients that do not react negatively to sunlight! I also couple it with other DR WU's products from the hydration line (DR WU's hydrating serum!!!) because I have reaaaaally dry skin - so this really helps to keep both hyperpigmentation and dryness at bay!

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The launch of DR WU's Glutalight™

Whitening System

The launch event saw us at a press conference with Dr Wu himself, who gave us a thorough introduction to the brand and how they managed to formulate the products.

Not only do they not add any forms of acid to the whitening system, but they also adopt an anti-oxidant technology formula that serves as a multi-pronged approach to effectively target melanin in our skin. Plus, they are also the first to add the Japanese patented "Glutathione" which includes vitamin B3, B5, B6, silymarin and hyaluronic acid to help skin develop a "defence mechanism" that helps to prevent pigmentation from forming and improving the skin's clarity in the process.

It's so important for your skin to fight it's "own battles", and the Glutalight whitening serum provides a shield for your skin during that process!

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Review + products in DR WU's Glutalight™

Whitening System

1. Intensive Glutalight™ Whitening Essence Toner

As we all know, using a toner is one of the most important steps in any skincare routine as it helps to remove excess dirt, traces of oil and makeup, and can also correct and balance the pH of your skin. Simply apply it on a cotton pad after cleansing your face, and lightly spread it over your face and neck.

Like the previous DR WU toners I've used, this was also really easy to absorb into the skin without making it tacky.

2. Intensive Glutalight™ Whitening Serum

After the Whitening Essence Toner, we then apply the whitening serum which includes Butyrospermum Parkii Butter Extract that can deeply moisturize the skin. I usually apply this with the hydrating serum to make sure my skin is well-hydrated, but if you don't have dry skin like I do, you can just apply the serum on it's own!

This serum also includes Vitamin C that will have ultra-whitening effects on your skin!

3. Intensive Glutalight™ Whitening Lotion

Next up, whitening lotion! This is also my favourite product from the Glutlight whitening system as it's so lightweight and easy to absorb! The whitening lotion is also formulated with RonaFlair skin softener to improve the skin's tone and radiance.

4. Intensive Glutalight™ Whitening Eye Serum

Last but not least, the whitening eye serum! Using Haloxyl™, this product is known to brighten the eyes while tightening and firming the skin around them - also perfect for use during the day and night because it's acid-free! I usually use this as the final step of my skincare routine!

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For those who are interested in purchasing the range of DR WU's skincare products, you can find them in most major Watsons outlets in Singapore!

You can also view snippets of my trip to Taiwan with DR WU Skincare here.

Website:

https://dr-wu.sg/

Instagram:

@drwu.sg

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/drwusg/

Love,

Cassan