How does your hair handle silicones? I know that on certain hair types, silicones act like a heavy grease, weighing down the strands and making them appear lifeless. Silicone-based conditioners and hair serums leave my hair sleek, shiny, and feeling so soft. So, when I discover a new product, my first question isn't whether it has silicones – it's how good the formula is.
Today, we're diving into the Elizavecca Collagen Coating Hair Essence from the iconic hair care line CER-100, a serum that aims to be the holy grail of gloss. Reinforced with protein and vegetable oils, this product closely resembles the Elizavecca CER-100 Hair Muscle Essence Oil, which I already reviewed, so now I have an opportunity to compare!
About the Collagen Coating Essence CER-100 by Elizavecca
As I already mentioned, the Elizavecca Collagen Coating Essence* is part of the brand's popular CER-100 hair care line, which focuses on intense protein and nourishment for damaged hair. It is generally a leave-in hair essence or oil designed to provide daily conditioning and a protective "coating" to the hair strands. The primary function here is to nourish, strengthen, and smooth damaged, frizzy, or rough hair.
- Product Promise:
With just a drop of its healing texture, Collagen Coating Essence by Elizavecca promises to rejuvenate dull, damaged hair, making it shiny and soft again.
- Where to buy?
As always, you can get a bottle of essence via Amazon or the official Elizavecca store. For the price of $9.50, you'll receive 150 ml (5 oz) of the product.
Packaging:
Elizavecca's CER-100 line is known for its bright orange color palette and the flaming-red mane of the main character. I love everything from the original art design to the shape of the bottle and the convenience of the dispenser. With a little care, you can transform the images on the Elizavecca product boxes into a unique paper doll.
Texture and Scent:
The Collagen Coating Hair Essence has a silky texture with a slight viscosity. It's neither thick nor runny. Imagine a mixture of hyaluronic acid, silicone hair conditioner, and a fine oil – all the smoothness and occlusivity of these ingredients are united in the formula. The scent is soft and herbal. It somehow reminds me of herbal tea with spices or that infamous cough and chest congestion gels, but a softer, sweeter version. It is very pleasant.
Ingredients:
Of course, I can't consider my review detailed without a dive into the ingredients and their benefits for the hair. Let's begin with the three silicone ingredients that create a base for the formula and give the essence its distinctive, smooth, and spreadable texture – Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone, Disiloxane. These silicones are volatile silicones, meaning they evaporate quickly, leaving a weightless, non-greasy feel and reducing the drying time of the product.
Another important ingredient in the formula is Hydrolyzed Collagen (1.1 ppm). Elizavecca loves adding collagen into their products, and we greatly appreciate this! It functions as a conditioning agent, enhancing the appearance and feel of hair by increasing body, suppleness, or sheen, and improving the texture of damaged hair. The concentration is quite low (1.1 ppm means 1.1 parts per million), so we want more.
When it comes to secondary, supportive ingredients, Elizavecca added everything we'll want for that shine and nourishment. Here you can find Sweet Orange Oil, known for its conditioning, antioxidant, and potentially antimicrobial properties. Evening Primrose Oil, which is rich in essential fatty acids (like linoleic acid) that function as a skin-conditioning agent and emollient, helping to soften and moisturize the skin and hair. And, of course, the Argan Oil – a must-have for soft, nourished strands.
CER-100 Collagen Coating Hair A+ Muscle Essence vs. CER-100 Essence Oil
So what is the difference between these two very similar products? When it comes to the packaging and sizing, there are a lot of similarities; however, the hair essence is a bit larger (+50 ml). The naming is also similar, and could therefore be quite confusing for the buyer. As for the ingredients, you'll be able to note similarities and differences. While both products are based on the same base, like silicones, the CER-100 Essence Oil features macadamia, avocado, sunflower, and soybean oils, which are absent in the Collagen Coating Hair Essence.
The formula of the Essence Oil is also topped with tocopherol, an antioxidant with Vitamin E activity, which isn't present in the Hair Essence. The main difference, of course, lies in the hydrolyzed collagen. If you feel like your damaged hair could use an extra boost, I would recommend you get yourself a bottle of Collagen Coating Hair Essence.
The texture is almost the same, but the fragrance is different. While Hair Essence has a spicy scent, which reminds me of herbs or medicine, the Essence Oil smells sweet, almost like a confectionery. Overall, the Collagen Coating Hair A+ Muscle Essence seems a bit more rich in ingredients and reinforced with collagen, while Elizavecca Cer-100 Hair Muscle Essence Oil has far fewer ingredients with a bigger emphasis on hydration, rather than treatment.
How to Use?
The Elizavecca Collagen Coating Hair Essence is designed as a daily, leave-in treatment. It can be applied to both damp and dry hair.
- 1. Start with a very small amount, typically a pea-size or 1-2 pumps, depending on your hair length and thickness. This is a concentrated essence, so less is often more. You can always add a bit more later.
- 2. Rub the dispensed amount between your palms for a few seconds. This warms the product slightly, allowing for easier, more even application and absorption into the hair shaft.
- 3. Gently smooth the texture over the mid-lengths and ends of your hair. Concentrate on dry and rough areas and split ends, as this is where the collagen and other moisturizing ingredients are needed most to create the protective "coating."
- 4. For persistent frizz or a boost of shine on non-wash days, you can reapply a tiny amount of the essence to the dry ends of your hair.
My Experience:
In my opinion, there is no better product for straight, damaged hair. It excellently detangles, effectively smoothes, and protects the cuticle from further damage. I personally prefer using the hair essence on damp hair, so my Tangle Teezer can smoothly run through the hair without ripping it. This all, of course, if your hair can tolerate the silicone base of the product.
The secret to actual repair here is regular usage. Like in skincare, it is important to continuously use a hair repair product and eliminate any extra harm to the strands. To see results, you'll need to gently wash, moisturize, and carefully detangle your hair. It is also best to stay away from hot hair dryers, flat irons, and curlers. Just let your hair rest and breathe, and don't forget to nourish it. That's exactly what I plan on doing!
Final Verdict…
Hydration: 👍👍👍👎(10/10)
Texture: 👍👍👍👎(9/10)
Overall: 👍👍👍👎 (9/10)
So, there you have it! After weeks of testing, the Elizavecca Collagen Coating Hair A+ Muscle Essence definitely earned its spot on my vanity. My locks feel softer, look shinier, and have a noticeable bounce that was missing before. While it won't magically repair split ends overnight (nothing truly will!), It's a stellar deep treatment for improving the overall texture and manageability of dry, damaged hair. The only downside? Well, I believe the concentration of collagen could be bigger, but I'm no chemist, so I can't truly say that this would make the product better.
Have you ever given this K-beauty hair hero a try? Or maybe you have a different holy-grail hair essence you swear by? Drop a comment below and let me know your favorite tips and tricks for getting that salon-fresh feel at home. Let's talk hair!
