Hanaka Secret Warm Hair Serum

Name: Hanaka 花戀肌 Secret Warm Hair Serum 艷后密製熱油護髮精華
Price: NT$ 299 for 50 ml
UrCosme rating: 5.4 ★
Made in: Taiwan

Hanaka's Secret Warm Hair Serum is the only item that made it on the blog from the luggage full of products that I heaved back from Taiwan. What is the point in buying so many things when you can't even show them off introduce them? Haha!

I have been battling with dried ends all this while so that I could show you guys a somewhat full bottle *coughs* Fineee, I am kidding! I have other hair products in rotation, although none are half as good.

Secret Warm Hair Serum comes in an oil form. I apply it every day to nourish the ends. I have used it wet and dry and I like it either way. If I want my mane to feel more like hair and less like hay, then this is a must!!

Besides the inexpensive NT$ 299 price tag, I also like this serum for its smell. SO ridiculously good. I don't know if it is because of the Argan Oil content because I don't know how it smells like. If you see someone suspicious snuffling by Josie Maran's stand in Sephora in the near future, it is most likely me.

I gave Josie Maran's incredibly popular 100% Pure Argan Oil a good sniff and Secret Warm Hair Serum smells nothing like it. I am guessing that the other ingredients play a larger part in determining the outcome... either that or fragrance is added in.

I purchased this serum from the 86小舖 store located at 師大夜市, where one is guaranteed to run across unfriendly BAs. They are either too busy stocking up on goods or admiring themselves in the mirror.

Address:
台北市師大路39巷8號1F

Telephone:
02-2367 2253

Hours:
周一至周四 3 PM - 11 PM
周五至周日 2 PM - 11 PM

Website:
https://www.86shop.com.tw/

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/86Shop

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Magi Maxx Jeju Horse Placenta & Oil Cream

Beauty blogging has made me discover all sorts of bizarre ingredients from snail mucus to snake venom and now, horse oil! Boggles the mind but I can safely tell you that exciting times are ahead!

Name: Magi Maxx Cream 마지맥스아크림
Price: ₩ 72,000 for 70 g
Made in: Korea

So, why are horse based products making such a buzz? Apparently the unsaturated fatty acids in horse oil is similar in composition to those found in our bodies; and this is beneficial to us because we can't make them from scratch but must obtain them from food, or in this case, skincare!

Magi Maxx Cream is a wonderful blend of fermented Jeju Horse Placenta and Jeju Horse Oil to revitalise sagging lines and something called Jeju Complex which consists of 8 different plant extracts (Camphor, Dendropanax, Halia Chrysanthemum Zawadskii, Beach Vitex, Jeju Sasa Borealis, Citrus Sudachi, Canola and Peppermint) to brighten skin. A quick Google showed that several are used for TCM purposes!

It is a brilliant concoction that manages to be quite light yet heavy-duty on the skin. The finish is ever so slightly glowy and can feel sticky if too much is applied. That is just my combination skin and humid surroundings talking though... There is a good bit of Sodium Hyaluronate (fifth from the top, in fact!) in the formula, so I imagine it would be able to hydrate the thirstiest of skins.

The balmy cream is incredibly firming, brightening (visible from the first usage!) and even soothes spots that popped up during more hormonal times. Surprisingly (or not) the cream doesn't smell off-putting. I definitely wasn't expecting citrus fruits! It is very pleasant and not at all overpowering. Okay fineee, if you are really sensitive towards fragrances maybe it can err on the heavy side.

The styling is lovely enough that I am of the mind to display the jar on my bedside table once I finish it. Perhaps even fill it up with my hair ties or something equally prone to disappearing, because it is not everyday a glass jar with a wooden cap lands on my doorstep. Unfortunately, it is missing a spatula. We really need to hammer in the importance of hygiene to brands!

At RM 150, this cream is not the cheapest product on my.althea.kr, but it is well worth a look if you fancy the latest fads to come out from Korea.

The full ingredient list for Magi Maxx Cream:
Water, Horse Fat, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Stearic Acid, Cetearyl Alcohol, Niacinamide, Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans, Glyceryl Polyacrylate, Phytosteryl/Decyltetradecyl Myristoyl Methyl Beta-Alanine, Placental Protein, Dimethicone, Benzyl Glycol, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Polysorbate 60, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Trideceth-10, Arginine, Carbomer, Ceramide 3, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Citrate, Cinnamomum Camphora (Camphor) Leaf Extract, Chrysanthemum Zawadskii Extract, Sasa Quelpaertensis Extract, Vitex Trifolia Fruit Extract, Dendropanax Morbifera Extract, Mentha Arvensis Leaf Extract, Brassica Napus Extract, Citrus Sudachi Fruit Extract, Butoxydiglycol, Disodium EDTA, Adenosine, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil, Cananga Odorata Flower Oil, Backhousia Citriodora Leaf Oil, Cymbopogon Citratus Leaf Oil, Salvia Sclarea (Clary) Oil, Mentha Spicata Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Viola Odorata Oil, Rosa Damascena Flower Oil, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Raspberry Ketone.

Disclosure: Press sample.

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Pantene 3 Minute Miracle Conditioner

Pantene's latest 3 Minute Miracle Conditioner is a game changer to the conditioner landscape and claims to maintain moisture balance and more importantly, neutralise the negative charges on hair surfaces, thanks to a combination of Pantene Pro-V Complex, cationic polymer BTMAC and the highest ever levels of TAS.

Name: Pantene 3 Minute Miracle Conditioner
Price: RM 14.90 for 180 ml
Made in: Thailand

The 3 Minute Miracle Conditioner is said to

☐ Improve hair health
☐ Help repair damage
☑ Leave hair smooth
☐ Strengthen hair
☐ Prevent split ends
☑ Provide immediate results

As this is only my first (going on second) week in, I can't vouch for all of those fronts. But I have high hopes for it and I am really excited to see how it would perform over a longer period of time!

None of conditioners from the chemist and also salons that fill the cubby in my bathroom can quite compare to this conditioner. Dare I say that it is seriously the best conditioner that I have ever used? I can't even imagine how happy my hair would be if Pantene comes out with the treatment version!

I found it to be a perfect fit for my fairly frizzy, unruly, has a life of its own when left to its own devices, and normal bordering oily hair. Because of that, I have serious doubts of it being moisturising enough for dry, damaged or coarse hair. Let me know how you fare if you decide to try it out?

Most conditioners tend to be too harsh or too silicone laden, but the experts at Pantene have created a product that is practically weightless and gives softer and silkier hair in just 3 minutes. I am glad that I put it to the test the moment the mailman left my doorstep!

Another plus going for this conditioner is that you can even pick up it up with your groceries! As with all Pantene products, it is priced very affordably at RM 14.90.

The full ingredient list for 3 Minute Miracle Conditioner:
Water, Bis-Aminopropyl Dimethicone, Stearyl Alcohol, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Cetyl Alchohol, Fragrance, Isopropyl Alcohol, Benzyl Alcohol, Disodium EDTA, Butylene Glycol, Histidine, Citric Acid, Panthenol, Panthenyl Ethyl Ether, Silk Extract, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methyisothiazolinone, CI 19140, CI 17200, CI 42090.

Disclosure: Press sample.

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The Saem Fresh Bamboo Soothing Gel 99%

I am seeing bamboo gels springing up like mushrooms after the rain. Most of the road shop brands have come out with their own versions and the one that I am reviewing today is by The Saem - a brand near and dear to my heart because of the oh so delectable endorsement models, SHINee *wipes drool*

Name: The Saem 더샘 Fresh Bamboo Soothing Gel 프레쉬 뱀부 수딩 젤 99%
Price: ₩ 6,000 for 260 ml
Made in: Korea

Bamboo has been used for centuries since the Shang Dynasty (16th - 11th century BC) and played an important role in spreading and developing traditional Chinese culture. Since then, its uses have evolved from being writing mediums to construction material and even as a pharmaceutical intermediate.

(Source: Jeffrey Friedl)

Bamboo extract is a rich source of silica, an essential nutrient to keep the skin, nail and hair healthy. It has natural antioxidant properties to neutralise free radicals and environmental toxins that we encounter on a daily basis. This amazing plant also acts as an anti-irritant to soothe and rejuvenate the skin.

99% of this product is made up of bamboo extract from the bamboo grove at Gangneung, a South Korean city. The other 1% consists of greenery such as American Wintergreen, Gotu Kola, Avocado, Ylang-ylang, Kakadu Plum, Mango, Sea-buckthorn, Camu Camu, Rosehip and Acerola alongside some solvents and emulsifiers.

In my humble opinion, it one ups the famed aloe vera gels due to the convenient nature of squeeze tubes. Squeezing the life out of the plastic tube (albeit one shaped like a bamboo shoot) is way more hygienic than dipping my germ-filled fingers into a pot over and over again.

The gel sinks in almost instantaneously leaving the skin feeling cool and fresh. It is not moisturising enough for my face, so I will apply something heavier on top. On the other hand, my body finds it fine on its own! Now you have heard it all, the same person offering contrasting opinions, haha! I use this bamboo gel in a multitude of ways including

① Soothing inflamed skin
② Lightening stretch marks
③ Aftershave treatment
④ Adding luster to hair
⑤ Treating blisters

It smells very fresh, which is pretty much like the aloe version (also from The Saem!) except that it has grassier undertones. If you are looking for a natural product that you can utilise from head to toe - this would be it!

The full ingredient list for Fresh Bamboo Soothing Gel 99%:
Phyllostachys Nigra Extract (99%), Polysorbate 20, Carbomer, Potassium Hydroxide, Disodium EDTA, Glycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Betaine, Chlorphenesin, Butylene Glycol, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Cananga Odorata Flower Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Madecassoside, Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract, Myrciaria Dubia Fruit Extract, Rosa Canina Fruit Extract, Malpighia Emarginata (Acerola) Fruit Extract, Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Extract, Mangifera Indica (Mango) Fruit Extract, Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Fruit Extract, Gaultheria Procumbens (Wintergreen) Leaf Extract, Fragrance.

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Boss The Scent Eau De Toilette

Hugo Boss believes in a different type of seduction. Slow, steady, tense with anticipation, the Boss way of seduction is an art, which finds a perfect balance between confidence and nonchalance.

The Scent reveals a different aspect of the Boss man. It pays tribute to his personal rather than professional achievements. This is a man whose success has always proved seductive. It is evident in the way he carries himself, the cut of his suit, and his self-assured charisma.

This distinctive statement about seductiveness marks the brand's new major fragrance, taking it into the territory of emotional rather than intellectual intelligence.

"I'm honored to be representing Boss Parfums as an Ambassador in their latest perfume campaign. I have for a long time admired Boss for achieving the perfect balance between the classic and the contemporary. This campaign encapsulates the iconic spirit of the brand and reflects my own tastes and attitudes towards a truly unique fragrance."
Theo James

Name: Boss The Scent Eau de Toilette
Price: RM 360 for 100 ml
Made in: UK

ღ The Fragrance
The Scent beguiles with a blast of spicy ginger, before fusing to a heart of maninka fruit and lavender. The drydown is anchored by an intense, burnished leather.

The aphrodisiac maninka fruit, evocative of passion fruit and rum, is an exclusive ingredient from Africa. Well, I couldn't detect any of those but a little tinge of persimmon kept tantalizing my senses. Perhaps I should whip up a cocktail for a better gander? Heh!

Unlike many perfumes for the gentlemen, it doesn't have that little something that epitomizes man. It turns out to be remarkably unisex due to the fresh, and fruity notes. The subtle whiff of leather at the end deepens and seals the form of the fragrance.

It feels a bit lacking longevity wise; I had to press my nose to my wrist after 30 minutes or so to catch the scent. But I doubt that the gentleman would remember to carry a Travalo with him while he is out and about, so he may want to layer with the other products in the range to extend his scent throughout the day.

ღ The Flacon
I have never seen a design quite like this before... the bars represent a cage of sorts for the spirit of seduction (the amber juice) and depressing the nozzle would unleash its full potential to the world!

ღ The Collection
◆ Boss The Scent EdT 50 ml RM 272
◆ Boss The Scent EdT 100 ml RM 360
◆ Boss The Scent Deostick 75 ml RM 96
◆ Boss The Scent Deospray 150 ml RM 96
◆ Boss The Scent After Shave Lotion 100 ml RM 272

ღ The Composition
The full ingredient list for The Scent Eau de Toilette:-
Alcohol Denat., Aqua (Water), Parfum (Fragrance), Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, BHT, Linalool, Limonene, Hydroxycitronellal, Coumarin, Citronellol, Citral, Benzyl Alcohol, Geraniol, CI 15985 (Yellow 6), CI 19140 (Yellow 5), CI 60730 (Ext. Violet 2), CI 14700 (Red 4).

Pssst, ladies, this a perfume to use on the sly if you see it on his side of the bathroom sink!

Disclosure: Press sample.

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Aveda Botanical Therapy Hair Treatment At Restyle+ Mid Valley Megamall

I jumped on board enthusiastically when the offer to experience the Aveda Botanical Therapy Hair Treatment came by. Thank you, Linda, for the invitation!

The Botanical Therapy Hair Treatment taps into the wisdom of Ayurveda by combining the power of aromatherapeutic essential oils and breakthrough plant micro technology to restore balance to the ecosystem of the scalp and hair; resulting in healthier, shinier, softer and silkier strands.

I was greeted by the senior stylist, Terence, once I stepped foot into the Aveda Lifestyle Salon. My session began by inhaling the Blue Oil Balancing Concentrate. Tension literally melted off my shoulders the moment I caught a whiff of the pepperminty scent! Following that, we discussed the state of my hair and scalp. It was in an acceptable condition so he suggested that I go for the Moisture Treatment, whereas I was keen to sample the Repair Treatment.

Steeping myself in comfort

In the end, we compromised, and decided upon a two-step treatment, which includes a Damage Remedy™ Penetrating Protein to strengthen my locks from the inside out and a Dry Remedy™ Moisturizing Masque to seal moisture in. We started off with the sulphate free Damage Remedy™ Restructuring Shampoo, and then the aforementioned masques were brushed on and my hair was wrapped with something resembling a cling film. This process is not pictured because that is one unattractive sight, haha!

I got a taste of the hand ritual while the products above worked their magic. Hand Relief™ Moisturizing Creme was used to massage every joint while we indulged in some small talk. It was bliss, I tell you, even though my fingers felt really oily when I wondered around the premise after my session ended!

This is one pretty salon ❤️

Before I knew it, my hair was ready to be rinsed. It was finished off with the Damage Remedy™ Daily Hair Repair to protect against heat styling and then blow dried with a dollop of Dry Remedy™ Daily Moisturizing Oil smoothed on for added shine.

Almost complete product line up. It is missing the Blue Oil Balancing Concentrate!

And, I was ready to head off! Boy, the treatment did a good job in taming my unruly hair: it looked glossier, was free from frizz, and felt so much softer and stronger (I noticed less hair being shed during shampooing over the course of two weeks!). Sadly, my natural texture gradually returned after 10 washes...

Before

After

Prices depend on the length of the hair. Mine was RM 250 and took roughly 75 minutes. If you are interested in trying the Aveda Botanical Therapy Hair Treatment, go to Restyle+ at Mid Valley Megamall and request for Terence!

Address:
S-007 2nd Floor,
Mid Valley Megamall,
Lingkaran Syed Putra,
59200 Kuala Lumpur.

Telephone:
03-2287 1313

Hours:
10:00 AM - 10:00 PM

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/restyleplus

Disclosure: This treatment was complimentary.

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