Cosmo Pro Review: A Good-Looking Advanced Air Purifier

Product Review

I have been using an air purifier from Cosmo in the children's bedroom for more than a year now. It has worked well for us and I couldn't be more satisfied with it. With the pandemic raging on, cleanliness and hygiene are at the forefront of my mind when it comes to my family's health. However, with more and more restrictions being lifted and the "new normal" reverting back to normal, it seems inevitable before allergies, common cold and flu return to households with a vengeance!

Today's blog post is regarding Cosmo's newest product, the Cosmo Pro® Air Purifier. This appliance can be considered one of the most advanced air purifiers in Singapore. This upgraded model comes with a revolutionary 5-in-1 HEPA filter shown to filter air pollutants like pollen, dust, bacteria, tobacco smoke and even Covid-19 and an AI-powered PM2.5 Sensor with the ability to detect fine particles at an increased accuracy of 99.9%. These features render the filtering power of the Cosmo Pro® Air Purifier second to none.

First Impressions

The delivery of the air purifier was done right on schedule. The well-designed, sleek and compact look of the Cosmo Pro appealed to me. I decided to place it in a corner of my living room where it seemed to look right at home.

Keep in mind that the air purifier needs to be placed on a flat and stable surface. Also, it is advisable not to place the appliance behind curtains or too close to any obstacle so that the air can circulate freely. 

Once the plastic bag from the new filter has been removed and the filter placed back, the appliance can be turned on. The appliance has a Zero-Pressure Touch Panel which is pretty cool. When you touch the power button, the indoor air quality is revealed by a digital display with a colored air quality indicator - Blue, Green and Red. 

There is a UVC Function which activates the built-in UV lamp, killing bacteria and viruses in the filter and the airflow. The Anion function can be turned on as and when needed (the default setting is Off). Anions are negatively charged particles that have been shown to improve mood, enhance sleep, strengthen immune system, cleanse the air and neutralize harmful free radicals. 

There is also a Timer Function, a Wind Speed Adjustment (Low, Medium, Strong, Auto, Sleep), a Filter Reset and a WiFi Function. 

There is also a Child Lock Function so don't fret about inquisitive little ones messing up any settings.

Multilayer Filtration

Cosmo’s aerodynamic design allows for 360° air purification even in areas with poor ventilation or air flow. Cosmo Pro is built with motors so powerful that a single product can purify every corner of your home of up tp 100m², at a CADR rate of 600m³/h. No matter where you place it within your home, you can rest assured that your family is well-protected.

Its strong outer structure also provides for a longer lasting, more durable air purifier that is highly resistant against any potential physical damage.

The Cosmo Pro uses innovative multilayer filtration with each layer designed to pick up a different class of pollutant

1 - The Pre-filter sieves out the largest particles first such as hair, dust, lint and fur. 

2 - The Cosmo Anti-Bac Shield filter, as its name suggests, prevents the growth of bacteria, thereby reducing the exposure to infections and allergic reactions. 

3 - The H13+Medical Grade HEPA filter has been engineered to remove micron particles and block bacteria, pollen, pet dander, dust mites, and finer particles. 

4 - The Activated Carbon can absorb a large number of contaminants as well as neutralise odours in the air and absorb formaldehyde that is commonly found in homes. 

5. The Photocatalyst Filter uses light energy to kick-start a process that turns air pollutants into harmless substances. Germs, viruses and bacteria are broken down by the electrostatic and oxidisation effects of the electrons generated from the Photocatalyst Filter. 

Two Herbs Singapore: Affordable Herbal Treatment for Hair & Scalp

In Partnership with Two Herbs

I have confessed on the blog before - I am woefully negligent when it comes to taking care of my hair and skin. I am certainly not proud of it and I wish I had inculcated better self-care habits when I was younger so I wouldn't carry any regret regarding the same today. I know it is never too late to change but old habits die hard. I realize it is my duty to impart my young daughters with the wisdom to do better.

I was recently invited by Two Herbs Salon to experience one of their hair treatments. Two Herbs is Singapore's first & only 100% Chinese and Ayurvedic herbal hair treatment salon. It was established due to the high demand for herbal hair care treatment in Singapore. The salon offers affordable pricing without hard-selling the products and treatments or coercing the customers to sign packages. 

So far, there are three outlets in Singapore located at Woodlands, Kovan and Ang Mo Kio. 

Image source: Two Herbs

In my lifetime, I have undergone a handful of hair spa and hair oil massage sessions but that's about it. My salon visits are mostly limited to hair cuts with the occasional styling. I have never colored my hair or gotten any kind of chemical hair treatment done. Since I lack the initiative to do anything beyond the most basic level of hair care, I thought I must say yes to the invite. What greatly appealed to me was the salon's use of natural herbal products in their treatments and the trichologist certification. On further probing, I was pleased to see the overwhelmingly positive customer ratings and testimonials. 

The herbal-formulated scalp paste used at Two Herbs is a natural Chinese and Ayurvedic made treatment paste. The salon aims to solve their customers scalp problems by using premium herbs handpicked from the Himalayan mountains. Herbs such as Amla strengthens hair roots, Neem possesses antiseptic properties, Korean Red Ginseng boosts blood circulation, Old Ginger cleanses the scalp, Bhringraj and Ginseng promotes hair growth, He Shou Wu covers grey, Brahmi is an antioxidant and Dang Gui prevents hair loss. 

The founder of Two Herbs, trichologist Riff Lim Kian Hong started his journey in hair care by taking up a hairdressing course. After graduation, he gained extensive work experience at a hair care center. He started looking into adding Ayurvedic herbs into existing Chinese herb formulations to help his wife deal with her post-pregnancy hair loss. The successful results led him to start a new brand called Two Herbs using the natural formula. In the next 10 years, outlets were established in Singapore, Taiwan, China, India & Malaysia. 

Why Use Only One Kind of Herb When You Can Use a Blend? 

Using the Two Herbs treatment which is a blend of 9 organic herbs, gives your scalp a higher chance of recovery - this is because the Chinese and Ayurvedic herbs used on your scalp increase the chances of getting your scalp issues solve faster and more efficiently.

Image source: Two Herbs

Ayurveda is a natural system of medicine with roots in India dating back to 5000 years. It includes herbs with medicinal properties, that has proven to help people with various hair problems.

Hair products containing herbs like shikakai, amla, bhringraj are common in India. Ayurvedic formulations are believed to solve scalp and hair-related problems such as hair loss. 

After rigorous experimentation with different Chinese and Indian herbs, a powerful formula for scalp treatment was developed. And for the past seven years, customer results and testimonials have proven the success of the formula.

Hair loss and What You Can Do About It

Hair loss (alopecia) is a condition that affects millions of people around the world. It affects men more commonly, the onset can either be gradual or sudden and it can be a temporary or permanent condition. We have all heard that it is typical to lose 50-100 strands of hair a day. This usually isn't noticeable because new hair is growing in at the same time. Hair loss occurs when new hair doesn't replace the hair that has fallen out. 

Age, genetics, hormonal changes, medical conditions, environmental factors and lifestyle choices can influence hair loss. At the root of it, hair loss occurs when there is disruption of the cycle of hair growth and shedding. Or sometimes when your hair follicle is damaged or destroyed. A dirty & clogged scalp can result in hair loss. 

It is no secret that in Singapore, hair loss has become a growing problem over the years, with many men and women losing their hair at an alarming rate. This can impact an individual's self-confidence in a big way. Some may cover it up with hairstyles, makeup, hats or scarves. But others may seek treatment to prevent further hair loss or even restore growth. With so many available treatments in the market, the problem of hair loss may be able to be fixed, but it can often be hard and frustrating to find the right solution in the sea of options.

Two Herbs Herbal Treatments

At Two Herbs, one can book an appointment online for the following treatments - Herb Scalp Treatment (Cover Grey), Herbal Scalp Treatment (Hair Loss) and Scalp Mask Treatment. 

As I mentioned before, the treatments utilize Chinese and Ayurvedic herbs. Only the finest leaves are selected and hand picked. The leaves are first hand-grounded by a skilled in-house artisan; after which the grinding process is conducted in an enclosed area to prevent contamination. After days of drying in the sun, the product is packaged in airtight bags, and then delivered to GMP and ISO quality factories in Singapore for further processing. They are also certified by HSA to be free from toxic heavy metals.

The Hair Loss Herbal Treatment works by cleaning scalp buildup and unclogging hair follicles resulting in a healthy scalp that will enable stronger hair to grow. Dang Gui is also used to help reverse genetic hair loss. 

Image source: Two Herbs

Cover Grey Herbal Treatment covers grey hair and promotes black hair growth through the use of He Shou Wu and other herbs. 

At age 40, I guess that I am relatively lucky that I don't have a single strand of grey hair. However, hair thinning is another story altogether. I have inherited somewhat straight and thin hair from the paternal side of my family and as a result of turning older and chronic hair neglect, hair loss is definitely something that is now starting to become noticeable. So obviously, at Two Herbs I went for the Hair Loss Treatment. 

The prices are nett and a la carte. There is no compulsion to sign packages which I think is great! 

Mango Special: Mango Shrikhand

It is that time of year again! Yay 🥭

You ask any Indian what their favourite fruit is and chances are, the most common answer will be mango. It is no different with us. We got the first batch of mangoes of the season last week and if last year is any indication of how this year is going to be then we are all going to be seeing a definite weight gain by the time mango season ends (Uh-Oh). I've been enjoying mango chia pudding for breakfast almost every day the past week. The girls have insisted they want chopped mango every day in the fruit compartment of their lunchboxes so we have been gorging on quite a lot already. 

For this year's mango special recipe, I knew exactly what I was going to make. Sometime last year, one of our friends got us the Chitale brand of Kesar Shrikhand from India. It was tangy yet sweet and delicious. My twins absolutely loved it and it was polished off in record time. 

A few days ago, one of my twins came to me and out of the blue, asked for "that yellow sweet thing". I had no idea what she was talking about. She went on with the description to the best of her 7-year old culinary vocabulary and after much back and forth (and many exasperated looks from her), it finally dawned on me that she was referring to the Kesar Shrikhand that she had eaten so many months ago. I was surprised she even remembered it.

I love when my kids ask for something specific for me to make for them. Since I already know that they will love it, it makes the effort worthwhile 😄

Since it was mango season, I told the girls that I would make Mango Shrikhand for them. They were super excited and couldn't wait for it. This dessert also known as Amrakhand is usually attributed to the Indian states of Maharashtra and Gujarat. Amrakhand commonly makes an appearance during Indian festivals such as Gudi Padwa (which signifies the arrival of spring), Ganesh Chaturthi and Diwali. But many Indian households even make it as part of an everyday meal. 

I have made Mango Shrikhand a few times before. This is a super simple dessert to make. There is no cooking involved which is great. You hang plain yoghurt for several hours to remove the whey and then whisk the thickened yoghurt (called chakka) until smooth with mango puree, powdered sugar and a few spices (usually saffron and cardamom). That's it! Most of the time taken for this dish is the inactive waiting and chilling time. The actual dish only takes about 10-15 minutes to put together. 

I have used plain full-fat homemade yoghurt for this recipe but you can use store-bought plain yoghurt or even Greek yoghurt. Using Greek yoghurt is a short-cut way of making this dessert although it results in a Shrikhand that is typically less tart. This time, I have used canned Alphonso mango pulp but you can make the mango puree yourself with fresh mangoes if they are in season. I have found that both work well in this recipe. 

We really enjoyed this Mango Shrikhand. The luxurious texture of the thickened yoghurt with the aroma of the spices, the subtle flavour of mango, nutty texture from the pistachios and extra mango goodness from the chopped mango made it oh-so-good. My twins had their fill in the morning and by evening were asking for another serving. Soon, they will be asking me to make it for them again 😄

This Mango Shrikhand is the perfect summer treat. I hope you try this dessert if you haven't yet. 

The Complete Package for Families: Seletar Aerospace Park, Singapore

The first time I visited Seletar Aerospace Park was in the golden ages i.e. before the Covid-19 pandemic 😆 My twins were on the brink of turning five at the time and they were the reason I had come across the place during my search for the next family fun outing venue.
 
For the uninitiated, Seletar Aerospace Park (SAP) is an increasingly popular family and lifestyle destination in Singapore. This industrial enclave catering to aerospace industries is tucked away in the idyllic Seletar area. This place is one of Singapore's better kept secrets.

Seletar Aerospace Park has an eclectic mix of F&B outlets, retail outlets and frequently plays host to bazaars, carnivals and outdoor movie screenings. It is popular with young families because of an aerospace-themed playground nestled within its premises. It has also been attracting nature enthusiasts and photographers for its thriving biodiversity, boardwalks and nature trails that collectively form the Hampstead Wetland Park. 

SAP is a nod to Singapore’s colonial past. The area served as a pre-World War II military base for the British Royal Air Force in the 1920s. In order to house RAF personnel and their families, numerous quaint black and white bungalows were built with the help of female immigrants. With old trees and open fields, this part of Singapore has retained its old world charm. 

Today, Seletar Airport operates as a general aviation airport for chartered flights and training purposes. Of the former colonial bungalows, 32 have been refurbished as part of the charming cluster that is known as 'The Oval at Seletar Aerospace Park'. The Oval is a rustic lifestyle hub and recreational destination for both the working community and residents of the north-east region. 

Here is what you can do if you make your way over to Seletar Aerospace Park,