O'RIGHT: Free Mind Mud

This is the best hair mud I have ever used. And it is an eco-friendly green product!

With my limp and straight Asian hair, my hair is always cut in layers to give that extra natural lift and body. Unfortunately, it only takes a few weeks of regrowth before my crowning glory starts to flatten on my head like a helmet. Hence, I cannot go anywhere with product.

I have spent lots of money on hair volumizing sprays, texturizing muds, body sculpting clays and root-lifting sea salt sprays. Even dry shampoo that promises to give that beach messy wind-blown look. Some are pretty okay, and some are simply useless. Point to note that none of them were eco-friendly made either.

The problem is that there is usually a compromise. If the product does the job (to give body), it usually comes in a super thick, gooey and utlra-sticky consistency. After all, the hair needs to stick together to give that volume and body, right? And I can't stand the feeling of sticky fingers after application, especially if it's hard to wash off - even with hand soap.
  
After many attempts, I found O'right Free Mind Mud.

O'right is a Taiwanese brand that focuses on green and eco-friendly haircare and bodycare products. They incorporated the global green concept of business into their products, ingredients, product design and packaging. O'right devotes itself to reduce carbon emissions by using only natural and certified organic ingredients, soy ink printing, and biodegradable and recycled bottles amongst many other green corporate practices to ensure a sustainable global future.

Apart from its eco-friendliness, this green hair product is amazingly effective - even without all the usual harmful  chemicals and alcohol found in most hair care products. Here is my review of its Free Mind Mud hair mud.

Packaging
Without really knowing the brand, what sold me were a few pointers on the box packaging. First, the box paper comes from responsible sources and printed with soy ink. Also, there is a liner that states that product is manufactured by using clean energy of both solar and wind power. This already sounds like something worth supporting!

When I opened the box, there was an interesting seed paper attached to the box lid. Every box contains a piece of seed paper and instructions to water the paper and bury it into soil. Over time, the seeds will come alive - sprout and grow.

My seed paper has 3 seeds embedded in it. While I thought this is a smart marketing tact, I love the educational aspect of it. Immediately, you get the sense that this company is serious about being green.

Product
There isn't anything about Free Mind Mud that I don't love.

• Super pleasant citrus smell
• Gives hair instant body boost and texture
• Paste is not too sticky yet it really holds
• Extremely flexible to work through hair with fingers - no stiffness!
• Easy to rinse off hands
• Long-lasting effect - I never needed to retouch or add more product after my first application 
• Retains and memorizes hair style - even after you have your hair in a ponytail or exercise.
• Shows off my long layers extremely well

 As you can see from the ingredients list, it does not contain the usual harmful suspects like parabens, silicones and propylene glycol. Instead, you'll find beeswax, coconut oil (cocos nucifera oil) and carnauba wax. Yes, there seems a lot of wax. But funnily, my hair does not go flat and weighed down.

If you like the long and tousled look, you need to get this hair mud. Most hair mud and clay products are often marketed for sculpturing short hair and give texture. I found Free Mind Mud works perfect with long hair as well.

BEFORE. This is me before Free Mind Mud. Look at my naturally flat helmet-forming hair with no visible layers or textures.

AFTER. Two minutes later. This is me with Free Mind Mud. Look at my layers and hair body all over my head - from roots to ends.

Retail price: S$34 per 50ml tub

Unfortunately, this product is not easily found in Singapore (yet!). I bought mine in a boutique hair salon at Katong 112 called Organic Hair Professionals. They have a few outlets in Singapore, you may want to check them out. For more information on O'Right, click here.

The Lemon, Organic Honey & Cayenne Pepper Diet

Photo: mamapop.com

I have been looking into detox recipes. But I am a lazy dieter. I refuse to being held prisoner to unforgiving food plans and counting calories. I have no patience for ingredients I cannot even spell properly. I am also time-strapped.

I needed something easy-to-do with flexibility that I could slowly incorporate into my life, and not feel guilty if I lunch with friends or dine on date night. Nothing is worse than going for a meal with someone, and the person is on some kind of restricted diet.

I found this amazing drink recipe: lemon, organic honey and cayenne pepper - a variation of the famous Master Cleanse diet.

The Master Cleanse diet was created in the 1940s by nutritionist Stanley Burroughs to treat stomach ulcers and other health ailments. The diet requires 10 or more days solely on the consumption of freshly squeezed lemon juice, organic maple syrup, cayenne pepper and water.  Dieters had to drink 6 to 12 glasses each day. And consume nothing else. I don't recommend this.

PLEASE NOTE: I am not advocating liquid diets. In fact, liquid dieting is not for me. As a foodie, there is no way I am going on a liquid diet.

Instead, I took this recipe, changed it up a little. Instead of using organic maple syrup, I replaced it with organic honey. And I incorporate this drink into my daily normal life.

What is the secret behind this drink?

Lemons naturally cleanse the gut because it is full of Vitamin C, and act as a purifier supplying potassium. It is also a natural antibacterial and antiviral agent to help cure digestive infections, and promote immunity. Lemons also help to boost fat burning at a quicker rate.

Honey helps people lose weight because it replaces other sweetners in this concoction. It is also easily digestible and cleanses the liver and body with natural anti-bacterial agents. Honey burns fat fast and is often used to decrease stress levels.

Cayenne pepper contains capsaicin, which helps the body burn more fat and increase energy expenditure (thus, burning more calories). Cayenne pepper is considered a thermogenesis food - which means it stimulates weight loss by increasing metabolism and blood circulation. When blood circulates effectively, it carries and expels toxins from the digestive system through the natural process of waste elimination.

My Post One-Week Experience
I would have a glass in the morning, in-between meals and whenever I'm thirsty. Everyday, I would drink at least 1 litre. It has been one week and I have noticed subtle changes. I am eating smaller portions. While on this drink, I have also been consciously avoiding gluten-intensive foods (read The Gluten-Free Craze: 9 Things You Didn't Know Contain Gluten). I no longer have my usual mid-afternoon food cravings, no sugar spikes, no bloated feeling after a meal, I feel more energetic and mornings are easier to get up to. I do sense that I am a little jumpy (like I have a little too much energy) though. If you like Bloody Mary or Bloody Caesar cocktails, you take to this drink like camel to water.

How To Make Lemon, Honey & Cayenne Pepper Drink?
For this recipe, I am making my daily 1 litre intake. You only need 4 items. No blender, juicer or appliance needed. Just a little arm muscle, maybe.

You will need: 
2 Whole lemons
4 Tsp of organic honey
1/2 tsp Cayenne pepper powder
Filtered water

Step 1: Put 4 tablespoons of organic honey into a measuring cup and add up to 200ml of lukewarm water. Stir until the honey dissolves. This should take no more than 1 or 2 minutes.

Step 2: Squeeze lemon juice into the honey water. Preferably use a lemon squeezer, it'll save you a lot of arm muscle workout. Through my experience, each lemon gives about 50ml of juice. Remove all seeds. Once you are done squeezing lemons, you will notice that your lemon honey mixture is now measuring up to 300ml.

Step 3: Add cayenne pepper. The level of spiciness is up to your preference and tolerance. But for me, I put in at least 1/2 tsp if I plan to make at least 1 litre of this drink. That works out to at least 4-5 heavy dashes of powder. Stir.

Step 4: Pour the 300ml mixture into a 1 litre water bottle or jug, and fill it up with filtered water. Drink chilled or room temperature.

Viola! That's it.

If you have any question, thoughts or like to share your experience with this drink, please leave a comment. I would love to hear from you.

Note: This lemon, honey and cayenne pepper drink recipe is an alternative and addition to your everyday beverage consumption. It is not suggested on this post for this drink to be taken as a liquid diet or meal replacement.

The Gluten-Free Craze: 9 Items You Didn't Know Contain Gluten

In recent years, the gluten-free craze has caught wave as the latest healthy diet fad. Even Hollywood celebrities like Miley Cyrus and Gwyneth Paltrow can't seem to talk enough about it. For many people, the gluten-free diet is just an evolution and expansion from the previous low-carb trend. You might wonder why gluten-free. Before you do, ask yourself the below questions:

• Do you constantly struggle with fatigue? 
• Are you prone to depression? 
• Have you been diagnosed for a chronic illness or disorder? 
• Do experience frequent headaches, muscle and joint pain, persistent bloating and have digestive problems?
• Do all of the above happen for no apparent reason?

If you have answered YES to all of the above, your body may be experiencing an adverse reaction to the foods you eat. In particular, gluten. These reactions are common to what doctors today term as gluten intolerance - a condition that has strong linkages to many of today's chronic health issues; from diabetes, chronic fatigue, rheumatoid arthritis, thyroid disorder, lupus and many more.

These illnesses have one thing in common: they are part of a group of illnesses called autoimmune disorders. An autoimmune disorder or disease is when the body's immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys healthy body tissue and cells.

In other words, the body begins to self-destruct on a cellular-level causing tissue damage resulting in a chronic illness. While gluten may not be the sole trigger for the development of these chronic illness, research have found that it is by far a strong and possible contributing factor.

In today's figures, as many as 1 in 7 people are gluten-sensitive, or gluten intolerant.

What is gluten?
Gluten is a protein found in foods processed from wheat, barley and rye. It is what gives bread, pasta and cookies that chewy texture, and extends shelf life. Gluten can also be found in unexpected places like surimi (imitation crab meat), deli meats, soy sauce and even toothpaste.

Our bodies are unable to absorb and digest these  processed proteins naturally. Hence, they manifest themselves in toxic ways resulting in an anti-reaction that comes in the form of headaches, body aches and joint pain. If left unresolved, the body will experience prolonged chronic fatigue, and eventually trigger some form of chronic illness at some point.

Gluten intolerance is easily detectable through the process of elimination. If you suspect you may be sensitive or intolerant to gluten, try to eliminate it from your diet first. Start for a period of two weeks, remove all wheat, rye and barley-based foods.

Take notice of your energy levels. Have they increased? Are your joint and muscle pains no longer feel like they are on fire? If you notice a significant improvement in the state of your body and health, then you are most probably gluten intolerant.

9 Items You Didn't Know Contain Gluten
Gluten is not always obvious to detect. It is very good at hiding itself. Just when you think you only have to worry about breads and pastas, even lipgloss has gluten!

Gluten-Guilty #1: Breads, Pasta & Cookies
As mentioned before, gluten is commonly found in these wheat-based processed carbohydrates we consume in our daily lives. This category can be expanded to include couscous, flour tortillas, muffins, cakes, pastries and certain cereal. Cut these out of your diet and watch your energy level and health improve. In fact, a lot of people have lost weight just by eliminating these from their diet! What a bonus. 

Gluten-Guilty #2: Low Fat Dairy Products
Milk, yogurt, cottage cheese, soft cheese, mayonnaise and even low fat/no fat salad dressings are all guilty for containing gluten.

Gluten-Guilty #3: Deli Meats
Processed meat usually have gluten added as one of the preservation ingredients. Everything from ham, salami, pepperoni to smoked turkey. Just when you thought a healthy sandwich lunch was a good idea, consider it again. Sausages are also off limits! Usually stuffed with bread and other fillers, packaged and processed sausages will contain high amounts of gluten. While real crab meat is gluten-free, imitation crab meat is not. 

Gluten-Guilty #4: Canned Veggies
Since we are on the topic of sandwiches, canned vegetables and processed sauces that most of us slap onto our sandwiches are to be avoided like ketchup, mustard, pickles and horseradish. Really? Yeah because they are usually soaked in a malt-vinegar solution, and malt is made from barley. 

Gluten-Guilty #5: Beer 
When it comes to alcohol, there is good news: not all is off the menu. It depends on the source and production process. Most distilled alcoholic beverages are generally safe and gluten-free like gin, vodka and whiskey. Wines and champagnes are made from grapes so they are also safe and gluten-free. Other gluten safe liquors are sherry, port, brandy, cognac and triple sec because they are made from fruits. The one to worry about is beer. Beer is made from hops and barley, a potent concentration of gluten. Ales and lagers must be avoided.

Gluten-Guilty #6: Gum & Candy 
Love chewing gum? It is exactly what you chew on that is bad for your immune system. The chewiness of sweet candy and gum is made from gluten. Always read the ingredients and look out for anything that has to do with wheat, rye, barley and even malt vinegar. Licorice, made primarily from wheat flour, is a big no-no. 

Gluten-Guilty #7: Stamps & Envelopes
Stop licking your stamps and envelopes! While stamps and envelopes are not food, many adhesives contain gluten. Afterall, glue is short for gluten...hello. And by putting your tongue on the sticky portion of stamps and envelopes, you will inevitable introduce gluten into your immune system. Remember in a Seinfield episode, George Costanza's fiancee died from licking their wedding invitation envelopes? Okay... you're not going to die from gluten overdose but you get the point.

Gluten-Guilty #8: Lip Gloss
Bummer...I love lip gloss. Every girl knows that lipgloss is inevitably sticky, and what makes lip gloss glossy and sticky is gluten. And like stamps and envelopes, once the substance is on our lips, it will inevitable make its way into our bodies.

Gluten-Guilty #9: Soy sauce
Soy sauce has 4 main ingredients: wheat, fermented soy beans, salt and water. In some brands of soy sauce, wheat is listed as no.1. How weird is that? Whether you are eating in or eating out, resist reaching for the soy sauce bottle. This is impossible when dining at a Japanese or Chinese restaurant. Best to avoid these cuisines during your two-week gluten-free trial.You can slowly introduce it back into your diet after the gluten-free trial period and make up for it in other areas (that's at least what I would do because how can a Chinese live without soy sauce, seriously?!).

There are, however, gluten-free alternatives like gluten-free beer, gluten-free milk, gluten-free bread, gluten-free pasta, gluten-free jams and much more. You just need to spend a little longer at the grocery store, look on every shelf, pick up every product and read labels carefully.

Happy grocery shopping.

ELISHACOY: Always Nuddy CC Cream

Blemish balms are so yesterday. Today, Korean beauty brands like Elisacoy are launching new CC creams like hot cakes fresh out of the oven. Not BB. CC.

CC creams, or Colour Control creams, are simply a refined version of the BB cream created in Korea. While BB creams were developed primarily as a skincare product, CC creams retains the skincare properties of BB creams while further adding skin tone balancing properties.

I will start by saying that Korean brand, Elishacoy, is not an organic skincare brand. However, their new CC cream is made with interesting Eco-Cert (an organic certification organisation used widely as an industry standard in Europe and internationally) botanical extracts.

As a niche Korean skincare brand with a strong beauty cult following, Elisacoy is like most local Korean beauty brands: difficult to find outside of Korea. The good news is there are online beauty portals such as Wishtrend.com and Qoo10 that Singaporeans can go to buy Elishacoy products.

Developed as a skincare product of convenience, Elishacoy's Always Nuddy CC Cream is said to be a 10-in-1 high multi-functional cream and they are:

1. Whitening
2. Anti-wrinkle
3. UV protection
4. Hydration
5. Corrects skin texture
6. Balances skin tone
7. Cover imperfections
8. Long-lasting
9. Excellent application
10. Instant skin radiance

As a makeup applicator, this cream corrects skin tone and texture with micro colour capsules. These micro capsules in a white cream base pops open during application. When you first see the cream, it is chalk white - like liquid paper. Kinda scary.

But as you apply the cream, the warmth of your hands activates the popped colour capsules to change colour. This helps blend the cream smoothly onto your face giving a radiant, smooth and even-toned appearance.

To test the colour change/blend, look at the cream BEFORE I spread it onto my skin, and look at the cream AFTER I wiped it off with a cotton pad (skin-toned beige).

As a skincare treatment, it is made with more than 20 hydrating (and exotic) ingredients to soothe and hydrate one's complexion. Main ingredients include black bean extract, olive leaf extract, cactus flower extract, cranberry fruit extract and avocado oil. Eco-Cert ingredients include lavender flower water, bitter orange flower water and large-leafed lime flower extract.

This cream's texture is very light and absorbs almost instantly into the skin. It has a nice creamy and slight watery consistency that is great for spreading unto the face. There is no detectable scent at all. 

If you are thinking of getting this CC cream mainly for coverage (instead of correction), FORGET IT. I can still see my sunspots and freckles. But if you are primarily looking for a skin colour corrector to balance out uneven skin tones, GET IT!

For instance, some people have a slightly darker skin tone on their forehead and nose compared to their cheeks.

For one week, I used this cream as a base under my SPF fluid and makeup (avoid eye area). Boy, does it work! It gives that smooth fluid look to my complexion. This is me at work with Elishacoy Always Nuddy CC cream + daily makeup.

Makeup application a lot easier too. The effect can last the whole day into the evening without any need to re-apply - afterall, it is sitting  as a base under my makeup. More importantly, the cream is so light that it absorbs completely into the skin without the feeling of leaving a layer of product onto my skin.

Also, given that Arbutin is one of their top 10 ingredients, I don't doubt that this product can help lighten my pigmentations with regular use. I will have to use it for longer and see.

My gut feel is that this CC cream is making its way to becoming one of my regular makeup essentials that is going-to-be-hard-to-live-without. So, unless you are prepared to get hooked to this new CC cream, read no further.

Online price: USD$34.99 at Wishtrend.com. International shipping is available.

WAIT, AND THERE'S MORE. Shop now and get USD$3 off your total bill (valid until end of 2013). All you have to do is enter the promotional code: RFXLSCOZ. Minimum purchase per order is USD$20. Happy shopping!

To get the latest promotions or information on Wishtrend Singapore, check out their Facebook page.

Disclaimer: This product was sponsored for consideration to review. Katjuju.com, is not affiliated, in any way, with this company or its products. This product review is written with editorial integrity and honesty; and without influence.

APIVITA: Suncare Antispot Face Cream SPF50

Early this year during the launch of Apivita's herbal first-aid creams, I was told their Antispot Face Cream SPF 50 under the Suncare range is one of their bestsellers.

I am always on the hunt for the next best SPF for face. Up until now, my all-time favorite is Heliocare's SPF 50 Gel listed as one of Kat's Best Products Reviewed in 2012. So, when my SPF finished, I was in the market to try something new and remembered Apivita's recommendation.

This sunblock for face is made with 77% natural ingredients and contains natural extracts such as sesame oil (Sesamum Indicum Oil), some sort of tomato extract (Lycopersicum extract), propolis extract, different grades of organically-cultivated green tea extract, sea fennel and sea lavender.

Natural ingredients such as sea fennel and achillea help to prevent and reduce brown spots, while propolis extract, sea lavender and lycopene offer effective photostable protection against photoageing and free radicals. (What does photostable mean? Basically, it means that the quality of this sunblock quality is stable and does not change or breakdown when exposed to light.)

One interesting innovation about this product is Apivita has replaced all water content with organic green tea infusion to enhance the antioxidant properties of all their Suncare range of products.
 
Here's my review of Apivita's Antispot Face Cream SPF50.

It has a strong floral smell. Quite pleasant, not what I had expected of a SPF product that usually smells of some sort of oil.
 
As a high SPF protection product, I expected the texture of the cream to be somewhat thick-ish. And it is. When squeezed, it comes out in the form of a beige paste. You will need to spread the product well before it gets absorbed into the skin.

According to the instructions, Apivita recommends half a teaspoon of product for the face. For me, that's too much! I usually use a squeezed blob (or two). That is more than enough because once the product is absorbed into the skin, my skin feels a little tight. And it leaves a shiny layer that I have to pat down with face powder, before putting on makeup.

The good thing is this product comes with an expiry date. But if you have read my article on 10 Common Myths About Sunblock I Bet you Didn't Know, you will know that the product's expired date is only just indicative. If you leave your sunblock directly exposed in the sun, the product may breakdown and expire quicker.

Lastly, the cream is rich. So for normal wear, you don't need to reapply throughout the day. Once in the morning is usually good enough to last into the evening. If you are going swimming or being exposed to the sun for hours, then you will definitely need to reapply a few times throughout the day. One tube can last me at least 6-8 months!

This product is hypoallergenic, water resistant and does not contain alcohol, parabens, silicons, mineral oil, propylene glycol, colorants, ethanolamines and phthalates. Its packaging is made from recyclable materials such as PE, PP and paper.

Retail price: $84 per 50ml tube

Available at Apivita boutique outlets at VivoCity (#01-04) and ION Orchard (#B3-45)

Disclaimer: This product was sponsored for consideration to review. Katjuju.com, is not affiliated, in any way, with this company or its products. This product review is written with editorial integrity and honesty; and without influence.

Kiehl's Singapore has Dropped Prices, Permanently

New York skincare brand, Kiehl's, has dropped its prices for 21 of its best-selling products in Singapore. Reason?

According to published news, Kiehl's successful worldwide expansion has led the company to enjoy cost efficiencies that it wants to share with customers. Whatever the reason, the customer still wins. Here's the official press release:

As of 1st April 2013 (and it ain't an April's Fools joke), customers can enjoy these products for cheaper:

Source: joeychong.com

Source: joeychong.com

Thanks Kiehl's. Despite my previous review of Kiehl's Ultra Facial Oil-Free Gel Cream that was not positive, I might just try popping back to your store to try one your best sellers -at the new lowered price. I have my eyes set on:

COAST TO COAST: Outback Cellular Recovery Radiance Serum

If you are battling with the premature aging pigmentation (sun spots), you really must get your hands on this.

Going into my 30s is when I started getting a lot of emerging small, dark spots on my cheeks and nose area. Besides the option of undergoing laser treatment, nothing I do is able to erase these spots. Despite applying SPF 50+ daily protection and testing plenty of whitening, anti-aging and spot erasing creams to combat this problem, the spots keep multiplying in numbers, growing in size and getting darker.

Until I discovered Coast to Coast's Outback Cellular Recovery Radiance Serum. Okay, so the name is long but who cares...it works.

Since my first introduction and review of Coast to Coast products such as their Coastal Rejuvenating Facial Exfoliant and Invigorating Shampoo, I have not stopped recommending this brand to all my girlfriends, and even blog readers who have emailed me to ask for skincare advice.

This is another one of their amazing products that work. Granted, it has not completely erased my spots. What it has done, after one month+ use, is lightened my once dark brown sun spots into an almost like faint translucent spot shadow. The effect is not immediate so you have to be patient. I only started noticing the difference almost a month into it, having used up about half the bottle.

Here is my review.

Outback Cellular Recovery Radiance Serum is a vitamin C booster serum that contains rich anti-oxidants like Kakadu Plum and Desert Lime. It is specially developed with a unique formula that contains skin-brightening agents to induce a significant lightening effect on the skin, and aid in the treatment of irregular pigmentation. Combined with plant peptides and hyaluronic acid, this serum boosts skin's collagen production, smooths away dull skin and protects the skin from environmental damage and premature aging.

Although it states to apply a few drops every morning under a face moisturizer, I used this serum every night as well. It has a lotion-like consistency and is dispensed out of a dropper applicator.

One drop per use is enough to spread evenly over my face. With smooth and gentle massage strokes, the serum absorbs very quickly into the skin.

The only gripe I have about this serum is its distinct (and hard to describe) smell. Made from Kakadu 

plum (a native fruit flower of Australia) and listed as the eighth ingredient, it does not have the usual sweet and soothing aromatherapy of lavender or geranium.

Instead, it smells like salty plum - for lack of a better description. The smell does not last long because once it is absorbed into the skin, the scent is gone. This serum does contain good smelling extracts like orange flower water, chamomile, sandalwood, and bergamot. If you are interested in this serum, I suggest you go to the retail store to sample a drop on your hand.

Scent-aside, this serum is so effective with lightening pigmentation. Ideal for all skin types with first signs of premature aging.

This serum is a strong contender to make my 2013 Best Products Reviewed list (click here to read last year's 2012: Kat's Best Products Reviewed).

Retail price: S$112 per 30ml bottle

Available online or at their Coast to Coast retail boutique at VivoCity, #01-08.