Sometimes, attempting to achieve a brighter complexion can feel like a full-time job. Moisturising regularly, drinking a proper amount of water daily, getting enough sleep, religiously using a vitamin C serum, and treating myself to a brightening mask are just a handful of the things I’ve done in the hopes of getting that coveted lit-from-within glow.
Turns out, spamming products on my skin and chugging the H2O had little to no effect on my skin’s radiance. Truth be told, all it did was make my skin more sensitive and increase my number of trips to the loo. There had to be another way to address my dull, dehydrated skin, I thought. Perhaps a beauty supplement would do the trick. Little did I know that a few days later, I would be asked to try the Lao Xie Zhen Collagen Beauty Essence – it couldn’t have come at a better time.
For two weeks, I would be drinking a sachet of the beauty supplement every morning or night. For the ultimate challenge, I decided to omit my usual brightening serum from my skincare routine to see if it could make a visible difference to my skin. Before I dive into my full review, however, let’s take a look at the most common causes of dull, dehydrated skin.
What causes skin dullness and dehydration
Pollution has long been condemned as the devil for the health of our skin, but it’s really just the tip of the iceberg. When fine dust particles are combined with blue light, UV rays, air-conditioning, and hectic schedules, it can easily cause stress and wreak havoc on our complexion. Think premature ageing and a sallow complexion. Yeah, no thank you.
Since I still work from home on alternate days, I’ve had a ton of extra screen time and extended hours in air-conditioned rooms, which isn’t great for my skin. The former allows blue light to break down my skin’s collagen and elastin, while the latter zaps moisture from my skin as I worked.
In addition, what we eat can have a direct impact on how we look. Since I was constantly noshing on processed foods instead of chowing down superfoods, my skin freaked out and a dull complexion began to surface. While I’ll also be cutting down on foods that are high in sugar, salt, and fat during the trial, I couldn’t wait to see what the Lao Xie Zhen Collagen Beauty Essence could do for my skin.
Lao Xie Zhen Collagen Beauty Essence review: First impressions
Convenience
Neatly packaged in bright pink boxes, each one houses six packets of the Lao Xie Zhen Collagen Beauty Essence. As someone with butter fingers, I expected the preparation process to be a mess, but it was just the opposite. Since every packet came with a tear notch on the sides, I could pour a steady stream of ruby-tinged beauty essence into a small cup without any spillage. Simple, fuss-free, and mess-free.
Since refrigeration is not required, I could store them in the kitchen at room temperature. This made it convenient for me to bring sachets of beauty essence to the office during the day too.
Fruity scent and taste
Packed with beetroot, figs, hawthorn, and acerola cherries, it’s no surprise that the Lao Xie Zhen Collagen Beauty Essence had a fruity, berry-like scent and taste to it. Despite the presence of fish collagen peptides, I couldn’t detect any fishy odour from the drink, so those with sensitive noses can breathe easy.
And sure, you can down it like a shot of vodka, but I liked taking my time to sip on it. It slowed my morning routine down and it paired well with the bowl of cranberry granola I was having. After the first packet, I looked forward to having another one the next day.
Beautifying ingredients
A gander at the list of beautifying ingredients in the formula left me very impressed. The product boasts a proprietary formula from Japan, chock-full of vitamin C and plant polyphenols to boost the production and absorption of collagen by the body, promising a glowing radiance from within.
The Lao Xie Zhen Collagen Beauty Essence uses patented nano collagen peptides PO·OG from Japan, which are made of the purest and highest grade of fish collagen out there. Its low molecular weight also allows it to assimilate into our bodies within an hour, much quicker than most collagen supplements. In fact, scientific studies have identified the presence of collagen peptides in the bloodstream shortly after consumption.
Credit: Hao Yi Kang
As I mentioned, the beauty essence also contains four types of plant polyphenols to protect the skin against free radical damage and prevent the loss of collagen. Here are the key ingredients behind the powerful supplement:
1. Beetroot: This ruby-coloured vegetable presents numerous health benefits and is the key to anti-ageing. It helps to detoxify the skin and body, regulate blood sugar levels, and lower blood pressure.
2. Figs: Known as “the miracle fruit”, figs are high in nutritional value and help with digestive function. It prevents constipation, helps with weight management, and promotes healthy hair growth.
3. Hawthorn: This berry aids digestion and improves the body’s circulatory system. On top of that, it can improve cardiac function, help with insomnia, improve memory, and reduce anxiety – perfect for those of us who are snowed under with stress.
4. Acerola cherries: This underrated superfruit has one of the highest natural vitamin C content (30-40 times that of a kiwi fruit), which helps to boost collagen production and improve skin radiance. It also aids in iron absorption, supports the immune system, and has anti-inflammatory properties.
With all these amazing ingredients packed into little sachets, I was thrilled to find out what Lao Xie Zhen Collagen Beauty Essence could improve my health too.
After 2 weeks of trying Lao Xie Zhen Collagen Beauty Essence
Before my two-week trial ended, I had already started to see and feel a difference in my complexion. My skin looked a little more radiant, brighter, and even-toned. After two full weeks, my skin was much smoother to the touch, and it felt more supple and elastic too. My moisture barrier seemed to have healed as well, and my skin was more resilient to warm showers – it didn’t turn bright red or get easily irritated after.
Perhaps the most surprising thing was the difference I noticed in my digestion. Thanks to my poor eating habits, I’ve always had an unhealthy gut. This would lead to frequent bloating, occasional tummy aches, and constipation. After the trial, however, my digestion became much smoother, and I rarely experienced uncomfortable symptoms after meals.
I had high hopes for the Lao Xie Zhen Collagen Beauty Essence, but I didn’t imagine to reap extra health benefits from a beauty supplement. All I want for Christmas now are more boxes of the beauty essence to help me get glowing and feeling my best in 2021.
If you’re just getting started, here’s the recommended intake based on your age:
You’re in your 20s: Consume one pack every two days
You’re in your 30s: Consume one pack daily
You’re in your 40s and above: Pair one pack with one packet of the Lao Xie Zhen Premium Boiled Essence of Chicken daily
Lao Xie Zhen Collagen Beauty Essence retails for S$40 (a box of six packets) at Hao Yi Kang’s website.
