Jun 10, 2019

Review: Loreal Elseve Extraordinary Oil

Product Name Loreal Elseve Extraordinary Oil
Size : 30ml - 100ml 
Cost : $17.90 ‐ $28.90 (Buy from Qoo10)
Rating:  5 star



So after having my hair short for more than 2 years, I've finally started growing them out in 2018. Since long straight hair doesn't quite fit my face, I also went ahead and permed them. 



My hair is remarkably resilient against hair dye but it doesn't do as well with Digital perms. It was quite a nightmare to get my hair in order after I first dyed them last may 2018. I tried a few hair products which didnt do much at all. Then I came across a sample satchet of Loreal's Extraordinarily Oil in my beauty stash and decided this was the best time to bust it open. Best decision ever. 


Packaging 
There are a few variant in the packaging but they all come in the same glass bottle with a pump head. The packaging is simple and utilitarian. 

Cost 
Going at $28.90 for 100ml in our local Watsons or Guardian Pharmacy is a tad bit steep. But you can always rely on the Internet and small scale neighourhood Beauty Stores to sell them at nearly half the price. 

Buy the same oil from Qoo10 for just $17.90!

Scent/ Touch
By far, I've only tried the High Shine (pink bottle )and Sublime Enhancer (orange bottle) versions of the line. I would describe both oils to be pleasantly scented and leaves a relatively light residue on the palms. The Sublime Enhancer is significantly less scented. 

Personally , I find the rose version to have a denser/heavier oil than the Sublime Enhancer . However they both apply onto the hair and washes out of the palms almost just as easily.  


High Shine Vs Sublime Enhancer  
As I've mentioned above, the Sublime Enhancer is less viscose compared to the High Shine version. It barely leaves any residue on the hand compared to the High Shine. 

However, the High Shine version is my preferred choice as it suits my permed hair and lifestyle better. 





Usually, I wash my hair in the morning and leaves the house with wet hair. High Shine fits my lifestyle better as it requires lesser product to fully coat wet hair and keeps the curls somewhat intact. Keeping the curls intact is a big deal as anyone who has ever permed their hair before would know. Those curls don't last if you don't make the effort to keep them in some sort of curled/twirled fashion everyday. 

I use roughly 2 - 7 pumps of oil depending on how generous I feel that day and how much time I have to work the product into ringlets of it's own. I usually separate my hair into 2 or 4 bundles and twirl them into ringlets before allowing them to dry naturally.

With the default oil, my hair feels lighter and fresher but my curls are noticeably looser and messier. The upside is the oil doesn't transfer onto head as much as the High Shine version so my scalp stays fresh longer. 

I would recommend the default oil for someone with unpermed hair that requires some tender loving care without weighing it down. 



Overall Impression 

Spoiler alert, I absolutely love this product. After perming my hair, my head has been a constant cosplay of Hermione Granger from Harry Potter. The big and bushy version of the first movie - not the subsequently subdued and tamed Emma watsons version. 

The other products I've tried always felt greasy on both the palms and the hair. And to make matters worse, they don't even get absorbed by the hair - doing absolutely nothing for the state of my locks. 

Extraordinary oil on the other hand, goes onto the hair with ease and gets absorbed quickly. The product smoothens the appearance of my hair and locks down the shine in my hair. It makes my hair looks naturally glossy and healthy while taming it. It does not weight my hair down or feel icky like some hair product does. 

A small tip here , it is always easier to apply oil on wet hair as it ensures even distribution and smoother applications. So if you ever have problem ensuring an even application on your hair, make sure to wet your hair a little before applying. 

My hair is still a far cry from the hair you see in shampoo commercial but anything it has, I attribute it to this oil. If you have frizzy, damaged and permed hair like me, get this! 







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Oct 18, 2018

Itinerary: 12 days In Greece On A Budget With Public Transport

Budget Airline Scoot introduced a few new destinations into it's ever expanding menu of routes last year. So a friend and I decided to take advantage of their national day promotion (which featured a 1-for-1 deal) and managed to get return tickets for just $480 each! 




Since it was a promotional flight, travel dates were limited and we eventually settled on a winter tour of the beautiful country from 27th Feb to 13th March. Approximately 12 days and 11 nights. 

If you've always wanted to explore Greece but hasn't a clue how to start, you're in for a treat! Continue reading to learn more about where we went, how we travel and how much the place cost. I'll drop as much travel tips as I can so this blog post should be pretty informational. 



Aug 27, 2017

Hokkaido Spring Day 5:

My fifth day in Hokkaido this spring turned out to be a little more exciting than I expected. After a bit of research, I decided against an early bus out to Furano and set out to explore the capital of the region instead.  It wasn't originally on my itinerary but I decided to check out Hokkaido's hallmark omiyage manufacturer and it's equally hallmark attraction. I went to the famous Shiro Koibito Park.


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The nearest train station is Miyanosawa Station. It is roughly 7 minutes (walking distance) away with well-marked signages to guide you along. The possibility of getting lost is close to zero. Entrance fee is free.





Jul 22, 2017

Hokkaido Spring Day 4: Nakajima & Maruyama Park, Mt Moiwa Ropeway

I wasn’t quite sure what to do on my fourth day in Hokkaido so I decided to focus on my main theme for this trip – Cherry Blossoms. I sought the advice of the staffs at my hostel (The Stay Sapporo) and decided to get myself to the local parks first.

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I crossed some gorgeous red poppies frowing by the sidewalk along the way. Aren’t they amazing?


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Jun 30, 2017

Hokkaido Spring Day 3: Noboribetsu

It was the last working day for my Hokkaido Rail Pass and it was perfect to offset my JR Super Express Train Hokuto to Norboribetsu. A one way trip on this train from Sapporo to Noboribetsu will set you back at 4480 yen (roughly 72 minutes) so if you ever intend to make long distance day trips like these, plan them according to your Rail Pass availability.


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Jun 19, 2017

Hokkaido Spring Day 2: Hakodate Morning Market + Onuma Park

Rise and shine at 6:30! I wasn't planning on waking till 7am but it was so bright I found it hard to continue sleeping. After taking a shower, I packed up and checked out of my hostel. I found myself at Goryokaku Koen again by 8:18 am because I just couldn't get enough of these Somei Yoshino!

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I wandered aimlessly like the hopeless dreamer I am, soaking in every bit of the Sakura rays. Let my photographs show you the beauty I saw.




Jun 17, 2017

Wonder Woman the Movie : It was WONDERFUL!

I caught the movie last Friday and boy was it good! I'm sorry if I'm blowing the entire mystery of this entry to bits by disclaiming so early in that this movie is amazing!

I've watched many blockbusters recently and one just disappoints me more than the other. Even the stuffs from Marvel weren't able to pump me up as much as Wonder Woman had - and no, it has absolutely nothing to do with the fact that the heroine is a female.


Jun 14, 2017

How to survive the Mongolian Gobi Desert!


Before I realize, it's nearly two years since I embarked on my Trans-Siberian journey and toured the Gobi Desert. Yes, I have a problem staying on top of this blog thing.  I know the Trans-Siberian journey is one of legends and myths and is on the Bucket list of practically every wanderlusts. And many young wander "lusters" like me, rely solely on the internet for our travel research because we're too cheap for Guide Books. So I'm paying it forward here with a short entry xD

- Click here to read about my 6 days in the Gobi Desert.


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Other than being known for having the longest and oldest train routes on earth, the legendary Trans-Siberian journey is also famous for the diverse landscape and cultural experience it provides.  A trip into the exotic and charismatic Gobi desert is a must-do if you ever decide to take on the Russia –> Mongolia –> China route.

Without further blabbing, here is my short entry on preparing for the Gobi Desert while you are on your Trans-Siberian adventure because ... let me be honest with you, it's harder than you think.


Jun 4, 2017

Hokkaido Spring Day 1: Hakodate, Goryokaku Park & Mt. Hakodate

I took a red eye flight with a layover in Kuala Lumpur on my first ever trip to Hokkaido. I had bought the tickets only 3 weeks before the trip so AirAsia’s tickets were the only ones I could get that didn’t break my bank. My return tickets cost me SGD$628.50

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My flight was scheduled to fly at 8:45 pm and it was a whirlwind of a busy day! Thank God I managed to get everything together in time! After finishing all my morning and afternoon appointments, I rushed home and took the MRT to the airport because what do you think? because I’m cheap! I checked myself in with AirAsia's check-in booth to avoid having my bag weighed. I hadn’t bought any baggage space for the trip over (Cheap alert!) but I think I might have accidentally crossed the 7kg limit by one of two kilos, oops=X. I had grand visions of leisurely whizzing through the departure gates with just the booth printed boarding pass but verification of travel documents was required for entry into Japan so I was sent back to the counters to have my passport checked.





Had a brief layover at KLIA. Maybe it's the fact that I'm flying a Budget airline this time but man, the boarding gate between my flights were so far away! I also had to go through the x-ray machines twice even though it was a transfer. The last time I flew with Malaysia Airline to Osaka, I didn't have to do any of that. Was it just a difference in airline or are they stepping up security after that fiasco?