Basic Night Skincare Routine with MooGoo products

I'm always busy. I work full-time from 8am to 5pm during weekdays, not counting the on calls.  But I hit the sack with my boys 9ish at night. Because they are notorious for waking up whenever I tried to sneak out of bed. So I just gave up and adjusted my sleeping time. There's not much time for self care after work but I make sure I complete the basic steps.

1. Cleansing ( Double Cleansing daily if possible)

2. Toning (everyday)

3. Exfoliating (1-2 times/week)

4. Serum (1-2 times/week or just before special occasions)

5. Moisturizer (a must!)

My skin is sensitive and breakouts every so often following hormonal changes (hands up if your skin was horrible like mine during my second pregnancy!). Compulsory face mask wearing during the new normal is definitely not helping either. The mask is humid and stuffy after a while.  It also makes drinking water during the day more tedious, leading to dehydrated skin. Therefore, I have included MooGoo Gentle Exfoliating Micro Powder and Moogoo Night Restoration Cream as my Basic Night Skincare Routine.

MooGoo basically means milkcows. Craig Jones the founder reformulated udder cream used to moisturize the udders of milk cows as it was very useful for his mother's psoriatic rash. MooGoo has since launched many skincare products proudly declaring that only natural and nontoxic ingredients are used. 

Craig designs these products treating every client like his own family. So he never uses harsh ingredients like Parabens, Phenoxyethanol, Glycols, Silicones, Formaldehyde Donors (a class of preservatives), Paraffin Oil, SLS and SLES. Therefore, the products are safe to everybody including newborns and pregnant mothers. To minimize carbon footprints, MooGoo uses virgin plastic for the layer that is in contact with the product, and recycled plastic for the outer layers. All the products are made in Ozzie under the strictest standards but distributed worldwide. 

What's in common for these two products? They contain hydroxy acids (HAs). Hydroxy acids are naturally derived acids that weakens the glue that holds dead cells together to promote exfoliation and reveal new and healthy skin cells. When used in higher concentrations, they can penetrate deeper into the skin to encourage collagen and elastin formation, as well as to suppress and lighten pigmentation. 3 main types of hydroxy acids exist-- alpha-, beta- and poly-HAs.

MooGoo Gentle Exfoliating Micro Powder

Dual exfoliation is the key here- using both enzymatic (beta HA in the form of salicylic acid) and non-abrasive physical particles (rice bran powder). Besides that, Bentonite Clay is added to remove skin impurities, and Marshmallow Root to soothe irritated skin.

The whole ingredient list is here:

Oryza Sativa (Rice) Bran Powder, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate (Coconut-Derived Cleanser), Manihot Esculenta (Tapioca) Starch, Althaea Officinalis (Marshmallow) Root Extract, Bentonite Clay, Xantham Gum (Food Grade Thickener), Salicylic Acid (Plant-Derived).

MooGoo Natural Night Cream

The number one ingredient in this night cream is lactic acid. This is an alpha hydroxy acid that helps to exfoliate in a gentle manner. It boosts hydration on the skin surface and faints lines/wrinkles.

Other essential ingredients include:

Plant based essential oils to nourish and restore the skin function as a barrier.

Hyaluronic Acid aka collagen to make skin supple  and firm.

ECGC (Green Tea Extract) is a natural, powerful antioxidant compound

The cream is naturally preserved with Hops Extract 

Full Ingredient List
:Aqua (H₂O’s Fancy Name), Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil, Macadamia Ternifolia (Nut) Seed Oil, Borago Officinalis (Starflower) Seed Oil, Cetearyl Alcohol (Plant-Based Emulsifying Wax) and Polysorbate 60 (Food Grade Emulsifier), Glyceryl Stearate (Emollient), Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter), Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil, Lactic Acid (Plant-Derived Enzyme), Niacinamide (Vitamin B3), Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice (Aloe Vera), Squalane (Olive), Ascorbyl Tetraisopalmitate (Oil-Soluble Vitamin C), Panthenol (Vitamin B5), Piroctone Olamine (Olamine Salt), Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride (Dehyquart Guar), Xanthan Gum (Food Grade Thickener), Hyaluronic Acid, Mel (Honey), Allantoin, Glycerin (and) Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Fruit Extract, Glycerin (and) Camellia Sinensis (ECGC Green Tea) Leaf Extract, Acetum (Apple Cider Vinegar), Potassium Sorbate (Natural Preservative), Natural Vanilla Fragrance (Phthalate-Free), Natural Pear Fragrance (Phthalate-Free), Tocopherol (Natural Vitamin E), Humulus Lupulus (Hops) Extract

What does Dr Yingzangel think?

I try to make sure my bathroom is stocked up with products that are made of non-toxic

and natural ingredients like MooGoo, especially on the lower shelves where my boys can easily reach. I think this is important for households with young children like mine to childproof our homes. These MooGoo skincare products leave my skin really clean and moisturized before sleep. The night cream is very rich and luxurious, hydrating my skin overnight.

Sometimes we can be surprised at how quick they can get hold of creams and starts applying on themselves, emulating our actions. We also have a set of MooGoo udder cream and natural irritable skin balm that they will reach for as part of their bedtime routine every night.

MooGoo products are available in Caring Pharmacy, MooGoo website (www.moogoo.my), Lazada (MooGoo Official Store), Zalora and OurShop. Grab yours now!

Half Day Trip to Sungai Lembing

It took us so long to arrange for a trip to the famous Rainbow Waterfall at Sungai Lembing. But I wished I have been visited much earlier. It's such a breathtaking and relaxing trip.I dragged everyone out of bed at 5am.

After half an hour's drive from Kuantan town, the quaint town of Sungai Lembing came into view.

Hawker Centre

8, 231, Sungai Lembing, 26200 Sungai Lembing, Pahang
https://g.co/kgs/2wpfQF

A good breakfast/brunch here includes:
Homemade Sungai Lembing noodles in caramel sauce with Yong Tau Foo (in clear broth or curry soup) like stuffed lady fingers, bitter gourd, tauhu, bean curd skin.

Sungai Lembing noodles in ketchup based egg gravy 茄汁面or spicy sauce with dried chillies 辣子面。

To gain access to Rainbow Waterfall, one needs a local guide with his modified 4WD. We highly recommend Mr Lee who also manages Lembing Valley Resort with his family. It's possible to bring along young children like us. But make sure to bring along a backpack carrier. We used insect repellent as well but there wasn't that many mosquitoes to be honest.

Lembing Valley Resort 山城一站
Unnamed Road, Kampung Kolong Pahat, 26200 Sungai Lembing, Pahang
016-933 2665
https://g.co/kgs/uHWqXt
FB

The off-road ride was kind of bumpy and adventurous but there were many other 4WDs tagging along. They have been modified to included a covered rear which can seat at least 9 adults. During RMCO, the SOP was to only have a maximum of 8 people each vehicle. So we had the whole truck by ourselves.

The first pitstop was just a 5 minutes drive off-road to sunrise viewing. Instead of climbing the nearby Panaroma Hill, we could also enjoy this spectacular view from our 4WDs. Our timing was just great to catch the sunrise in action in a sea of clouds and mountains . 

The chilly morning was immediately transformed into a warm day.

We continued our journey up into the woods for about half an hour. Soon we were all geared up for a moderately challenging climb to Rainbow Waterfall. We had ample time and the I had Yi on my back all the time so I could free my arms to steady myself and grab onto the rocks whenever needed. We would rate the trail as fairly manageable. If my 4 year old could reach the waterfall without much hiccups, so could most elderly visitors.

There were multiple spots to enjoy Rainbow Waterfall. Dipping into the cool water was many's choice. The tour package included a hot cup noodle and beverage (Milo malt drink versus Nescafe) after some water activities to chase away the coldness.

Mr Lee brought us up to a gentle slope by the side of the waterfall for a more complete view of the mesmerizing rainbow which was very well seen by 10am or so.

Another least known spot required some water treading. He led us (literally by hand as the bottom was full of branches) across the pond just below the waterfall to witness the rainbow "transecting" the waterfall. It was also possible to see a complete circular rainbow just underneath the waterfall changing in size depending on the distance we stood from the rainbow. Spectacular!

Lunch was at this home style orchard cum restaurant.

林明茶馆
Sungai Lembing, 26200 Sungai Lembing, Pahang
019-969 2112
https://g.co/kgs/5ABDum

We had a pipping hot bowl of Hakka homemade soup noodles served with pork ball and pork belly slices. The herbal eggs were very well marinated and infused with the fragrance of Chinese herbs. Paired with a bowl of slightly bitter Chinese tea, this was a heavenly combination for a rainy day after the climb.

We learnt that it could be tricky to navigate ourselves in this laid back village. The road by the river across the car bridge led to a dead end. After a few trial and error only then we realized how to get to our afternoon tea destination. This is why I have to pin the location in this blog post so I won't get lost again. Just follow GPS ok.

家传食谱
Mee Sungai Lembing Food And Bakery
376, Sungai Lembing, Lorong Pahat, Kampung Kolong Pahat, 26200 Kuantan, Pahang
019-729 5838
https://g.co/kgs/E21dPU

There are lots of places selling this traditional snack called Dan San 蛋散 which means egg drops but we think this is the most flavoursome. It's a pastry pleated and deep fried until golden and crispy, classically coated with a layer of melted maltose. 

The other must tries here are their tofu fa made using mountain water-- we think they taste best warm without sugar. But the chilled pudding version works well with the children, especially the mango pudding.

If you really like the taste of Sungai Lembing noodles then you have to buy some home!

Mee Sungai Lembing
Sungai Lembing, 26200 Sungai Lembing, Pahang
019-989 3305
https://maps.app.goo.g/phmcEuW4nWJLU65w5

This is where the noodles are hand made. Fresh and ready for you to bring home. It lasts about a week in the fridge. Besides noodles, it's also highly recommended to bring other local delicalies like coconut cookies and Tau Sha Peah home.

There are other attractions which we did not have time to explore:

1. Sungai Lembing Museum
https://g.co/kgs/icd6Jo

2. Crystal House
https://g.co/kgs/5NEas2

I hope this gives you a guide of what to do and where to eat in Sungai Lembing!

Good Morning Multigrain Bread Recipe

We miss our multigrain bread from uni days when we were in Melbourne. But nothing ever beats a good homemade bread. To make it packed with nutrients, we added Good Morning V18 grains powder which is full of colourful phytonutrients as stated in my previous post here.

Ingredients

310ml water

1 tablespoons/15g butter, softened

170g high protein flour

160g wholemeal flour

120g Good Morning V18 grains powder

1 tablespoons packed brown sugar

1 teaspoons salt

2 teaspoons instant yeast

Place the ingredients in that order into the bread pan. Be careful to separate yeast from sugar and liquid.

Choose preset 3 wholemeal bread, light crust and 750g loaf. Start the bread machine.

Make sure the dough is well mixed when the machine beeps.

Tada-- warm bread after 3.5 hours!

Dieting versus Meal Replacement for healthy lifestyle | Good Morning Multigrain Beverages Review

Having a strong family history of type 2 diabetes mellitus, I am beginning to adopt healthy lifestyle. Besides ditching the lift, (yes I take stairs to 8th floor, multiple times in a day), I pay attention to what I eat, most of the time but restricting carbohydrate, adding on vegetables, fruits and lean meat or seafood. Soon I'll need to start my single life in KL with long hours in the traffic, so I figure out I better eat on the go! This is called Meal Replacement or Diet Shake. Find out more here on WebMD.

Good Morning Multigrain Beverages has a great range of meal replacement options. I have tried the following options.

1. GSure
2. Pea Protein
3. V 18 Grains

These Good Morning Multigrain Beverages are based on  18 Multigrains with 5 colours

1. Red- Red Quinoa, Red Bean and Red Rice
2. Black- Black Sesame, Black Bean, Chia Seed and almond
3. Green - Mung Bean, Green Peas, Lentils
4. Brown- Flaxseed, Lotus Seed, Buckwheat
5. Orange- Corn, Millet, Soy Bean, Brown Rice, Garbanzo Bean

It's very important to take rainbow coloured phytonutrients as each provides specific nutrients and protects us against certain ailments. Details on this article at Harvard Health Publishing Site.

Red: Rich in carotenoid lycopene, a potent scavenger of gene-damaging free radicals that seems to protect against prostate cancer as well as heart and lung disease.

Green: These foods are rich in cancer cell-blocking chemicals like sulforaphane, isocyanate and indoles.

Orange and yellow: Provide beta cryptothanxin, which may help prevent heart disease

White and brown:  This contains allicin, which has anti-tumor properties. Other foods in this group contain antioxidant flavonoids like quercetin and kaempferol.

Besides that, these 3 beverages are lactose free, vegan friendly, gluten free with no added sugar. The Multigrains used are also non GMOs. The high soluble fiber content helps to ameliorate digestive and constipation issues.

Good Morning Global Sdn Bhd is documented in the Malaysian Book of Records as the biggest multigrain based product company. Their products go through strict quality control as set out by ISO22000, HACCP, GMP and MESTI. Therefore the ingredients used are also of premium quality and safe for consumption of the whole family.

Below are the other special features:

V18 Grains

This is now fortified with ginger and prebiotic inulin which is food for healthy bacteria in the gut.  Besides the fragrant taste of multigrain, the ginger gave a spicy kick which is surprisingly pleasant and not too overpowering with powerful anti-inflammatory properties.

GSure

This provides complete nutrition and is suitable for people who need to build muscle bulk and prevent muscle loss because it contains CaHMG. Muscle loss is common with ageing and impacts negatively in the ability to perform self care. This is called sarcopenia. Lutein helps to improve vision. Omega 3&6 are great for cardiovascular health. Read more about sarcopenia on WebMD.

Pea Protein

Good Morning Pea Protein is so a complete nutrition fortified by essential and non-essential (meaning we may not need to take it from our daily diet because our bodies are able to make them) vitamins, minerals and amino acids. Remember I just talked about sarcopenia? This can actually start as early in our 30s. Especially for those who are obesed, the body is made of fat and not muscles-- aptly called sarcopenic obesity. You can imagine how difficult it is to get these people moving and regain the muscle bulk. This is when Pea Protein can help as meal replacement to lose weight yet building muscles.

What does Dr Yingzangel think?

I would love to follow the suku suku separuh healthy eating dietary needs 3 times a day. But it's simply mission impossible. Working full-time means most we dine out for lunch most weekdays. It can be a real chore to grab a nutritious and well balanced diet in Malaysia while eating out when char kuay teow and nasi lemak are some of the calorie loaded staples for many.

Good Morning beverages offer great and affordable options for supplementing and replacing our meals with quick and nutritious shakes. Most importantly, they taste really good (naturally sweetened with no added refined sugar!) Perfect for me who doesn't have the time to grab healthy lunches.

To know more, remember to visit their sites. Good Morning Global Sdn Bhd is having their 12th anniversary sales at the moment. Hurry up and get yours!

Good Morning estore
Instagram: @goodmorningglobal @goodmorning18grains 

Healthy Mung Bean Korean Pancakes

Besides dessert, do u know that mung beans are also great for savoury dishes?

INGREDIENTS

For the Pancakes:

½ cup mung beans

1/2 cup evaporated milk

1 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons sugar

½ cup (75g) rice flour

1 cup of chopped chives (scallions and leeks are good, too)

1 cup of corn

a couple Tablespoons oil for pan-frying (I used sunflower)

For the Dipping Sauce:

3 Tablespoons soy sauce

1 teaspoon sesame oil

¾ teaspoon sugar

¾ teaspoon gochugaru (Korean red pepper flakes) or ½ teaspoon common red pepper flakes

2 teaspoons toasted sesame seeds

INSTRUCTIONS

Soak mung beans in warm water for at least two hours or overnight in the refrigerator.

Drain the mung beans and add just enough water to cover and boil until soft.

Mix the pancake ingredients using food processor.

Heat a large nonstick skillet on medium-high heat for about a minute then add 2 teaspoons oil to the pan. 

Place 1 Tablespoon of the pancake batter in the center.

Swirl the pan gently to redistribute the oil and cook the pancakes until the edges look browned.

Flip and cook the other side.

Repeat into batter is finished.

Make the dipping sauce by mixing all the ingredients together. 

Enjoy! Serve with the pancakes while they are still hot.

NOTES

-This recipe makes about 20 mini pancakes.