Month: March 2013

WHY IT’S NEVER TOO EARLY TOO START

While I have to thank my mom for introducing me to eye cream when I hit my 17th birthday, I wish someone told me back then to use the complete anti-aging skincare regimen.

Not just eye cream, but the whole thing, starting from cleanser, toner, serum, moisturizer and night cream. It is better to stop those wrinkles and any signs of aging on your face before they do appear and become much harder to erase. Especially for us who live with every day sun, pollution and stress exposure that damage our skin constantly. Just note that premature anti-aging regimen is a wise thing to do.

Thankfully (and sometimes confusingly), now there are many beauty brands which can accommodate our needs for a complete anti-aging regimen that work synergistically. Deciding on which, for me is a fun part of being a woman. We are spoilt with choices, ladies.

Earlier this year, January 2013, Amway Indonesia launched Artistry Youth Xtend, a breakthrough skincare which claimed to reprograms the future of skin to delay aging. Who wouldn’t want that? So I decided to give them a try.

And thanks to Amway, I had an unique experience in Amway Experience Center, right here in Jakarta, Indonesia. I had a chance to try on Artistry F.A.C.E.S (Facial Analysis Computer Evaluation System), a very special machine exclusive to the Artistry brand which can personalized our Artistry skincare. The personalize analysis from the UV photo includes: skin type, hyperpigmentation, fine lines & wrinkles, and Porphyrin (aka acne bacteria). Be brave to see the results, it could be quite shocking to see how many bacteria living under that nose pores or those pigmentation spots underneath your epidermis are ready to show. But no worries, there’s always solution. Judging from my results, they recommend me which products will suit my combination skin best. They are a whole range of Artistry Youth Xtend range, Rich Cleansing Foam, Softening Lotion, Serum Concentrate, Protecting Lotion, Enriching Lotion and Enriching Eye Cream. A whole set to cleanse, tone, treat and moisturize (day and night), that will address the first signs of aging with synergistic combination of botanicals and progressive technology.

What’s inside?

LifeSirt : a botanical extract from Mediterranean, known for its skin rejuvenating properties to extend the lifespan of healthy skin cells,

Micro-X6 Peptide : to repair skin’s existing damage and boosting collagen.

African Baobab Fruit Extract : natural moisturizer high in Vitamin A, E and F, which protects skin against future damage.

So, currently this is what I do every day for my beauty regime to achieve more youthful looking skin (and I intend to keep it that way as long as I can):

1 Cleansing with Rich Cleansing Foam. The scent is soft, I love the light creamy texture (which will produce medium foam after water contact) & the result. It cleanse well, zap my oil on the T-Zone Area without making the rest of my skin feels and looks tight or dry.

2 Toning with Softening Lotion. Not an ordinary toner, it’s liquid but it’s not watery. It’s a very light lotion, just pour a bit to cotton pads and pat gently. Instantly refresh my skin, doesn’t leave my skin dry and prep it for the next step.

3 Treat with Serum Concentrate. It will absorb in a jiffy. I just use one pump for the whole face, including neck. Do not neglect your neck, ladies. Seriously.

4 Protect & moisturize with Protecting Lotion. Since I have a combination skin, this lotion was recommended for me, instead of Protecting Cream which I guess is more creamy and suitable for drier skin. I love this, because it contains SPF 15 PA+++, so I can skip my ordinary sunblock and this really help my morning rush.

5 Boosting my skin’s ability to repair itself at night with Enriching Lotion. Surprisingly, I always wake up with more smooth and moisturized skin in the morning. The lotion texture also helps to absorb better than any night cream I’ve ever tried and it didn’t cause me any breakouts.

6 Last but not least, banishing those fine lines on eyes area with Enriching Eye Cream. Super rich texture which works well with under eyes concealer. Use the spatula provided and pat for ultra absorption.

 

SUSTAINABLE + HOLLYWOOD GLAMOUR = ?

The Conscious Exclusive Collection at H&M.

This is what I called partying without guilt (in fashion terms). Made from more sustainable materials such as organic cotton, recycled polyester, recycled polyamide and Tencel, the collection will feature not only clothing but accessories for men and women.

Hollywood’s glitz and glam for the ladies & classic with a touch of rock and roll for the guys (I can imagine Johnny Depp rocking the fringe sleeves suit and look super awesome).

The Conscious Exclusive Collection will be available in around 140 H&M stores worldwide as well as online from April 4, 2013. 

WHEN A CONCERT IS NOT JUST A CONCERT

Six different outfits changed, made mostly by Riccardo Tisci for Givenchy, and a serious face chart by MAC Cosmetics.

Kicking her Diamonds World Tour in Montreal last weekend, Rihanna rocked the stage with serious stuffs indeed. This official face chart designed by one of MAC’s senior artists, Christopher del Castillo, for her signature concert’s look. Using the RIRI (Hearts) MAC collection which will be released throughout 2013, the one product that stands out from this chart is MAC Riri Woo. Sounds familiar? Yup, it’s based on the original and one of the beloved MAC Ruby Woo lipstick (which also loved by Gwen Stefani, by the way) but this Riri’s version is slightly bluer and deeper in tone. 

ELECTRIC BOOST

Bored of your eye makeup? Take a hint from Thakoon Fall 2013 show.

Deep blue with shimmering gold glitter for the eyelids. Quite dreamy, but very refreshing.

NARS makeup artist, Diane Kendal, did this look for Thakoon which was a juxtaposition between winter and summer.

If you want to give this look a try for a perfect weekend night out, you might want to tone it down a level. Use a deep blue eyeshadow with a matte texture from lash line to the crease. Stay clear from using winged eyeliner, and tap a bit of gold eyeshadows with shimmer (instead of glitter) on the center of each lid. This will do that eye-catching trick. 

YOUR HAIR CAN BE GORGEOUS, PRONTO.

Thanks to Oscar Blandi & his range of hair care products which will hit his boutique in Plaza Senayan, Jakarta, soon.

Jessica Alba, Charlize Theron, and Katie Holmes are just a few famous Hollywood names included on Oscar Blandi’s celebrity clientele list. Even Jennifer Garner once said, “He’s better than anyone at making a woman look like a fancy version of her best self.”

So, Jakartans, rejoice. Now, we can look like a fancy version ourselves too. Yesterday, I attend the Oscar Blandi Sunset Rooftop Party in Ampera Six Commercial Building, Jakarta. A very cool setting for a hair care products launch where fellow press and bloggers can feel the afternoon wind blown through our hair.

Introducing the hero products, Oscar Blandi Pronto Dry Shampoo range, Ina Balasong, Managing Director PT Kreasi Maharani (same group that bring Make Up For Ever to Indonesia) explained to us why they decided to bring Oscar Blandi. “We decided to provide the excellent choice of hair products. This is the only brand that aims the three main concerns of Indonesian women. We want our hair products to deliver fast result, smooth our frizzy hair and lifting our limp hair. This range of dry shampoo will deliver just that. We can be gorgeous in no time,” explain Ina.

At the event, they showed us a short presentation about who’s the man behind the brand, Oscar Blandi. A native of Naples, Italy, his father was also a hair stylist who started Oscar’s interest in hair design in the first place. For over than quarter century, Oscar has been an expert for hairstyling, known for his goal to make hair look sexy and natural. That’s why he’s loved by many celebrities for his full and natural styling. His inspiration for Oscar Blandi products comes from “old world” influences, as they use extracts from plants and organic elements combined with today’s technologies.

There are three dry shampoos from Oscar Blandi Pronto, Dry Shampoo Spray, Dry Shampoo and (my favorite) Invisible Volumizing Dry Shampoo (retail price Rp 225.000 and Rp 265.000). With the same goal to achieve gorgeously clean and fresh hair in no time, they have various textures and application techniques to fill different needs.

Dry Shampoo: comes with a powder texture and a pointy nozzle tip for instant root application. You can also apply this on a hair brush. Key ingredients are natural rice, oat and tapioca starches to cleanse the hair, Triclosan and Tea Tree oil to help fight dandruff.

Dry Shampoo Spray: a more convenient spray version of the Dry Shampoo. Spray directly on the root, or you can spray on your finger tips and apply. Added to the key ingredients are Vitamin B5 and E to strengthen and protect.

Invisible Volumizing Dry Shampoo: the latest innovation in dry shampoo with clear undetectable spray. Suitable for all hair colors, it also boosts volume with a very refreshing and cooling effect of Lemon Verbena scents. Spray directly on the roots before brushing thoroughly.

For those (like me) who suffered from an extremely oily scalp even though we wash our hair every morning and can’t avoid limp hair by lunch time, I really recommend to use dry shampoo. It’s an effortless way to get that clean feeling anytime of the day, without worrying about any dry ends. Not necessarily used at home, we can use dry shampoo for touch up during the day for that extra pick-me up. Click here on how to apply dry shampoo correctly.

 

 

 

 

STEP FORWARD IN PERFUMERY

If you choose a cashmere sweater from a high end brand because you think about the quality of the material and the longevity of having & enjoying it, then you’re already a step forward.

Are you also ready to take a step forward in your choice of perfume? Now, you can experience something entirely different and totally unexpected out of the Oud Mood collection from Maison Francis Kurkdjian.
Especially for the Indonesia’s launch of these unique perfumes, Marc Chaya, President &co-founder of Maison Francis Kurkdjian Paris kindly shared with me and fellow press about the goods of Oud.
“Oud is a very powerful scent, used by people in the middle east,” explain Marc. He later explained that most perfumers mixed Oud with incense to make it more acceptable. “It’s not a DNA of French perfumery. French school of perfumery is all about floral.” Even though Francis Kurkdjian himself did resistant about adding Oud to his perfumer palette at the first place, this raw material become OUD, the embryo for Oud Mood collection in February 2012, after Marc convinced him.
“The Oud that we’re using, come from Laos when they’re growing naturally like a fungus. They’re like a disease which formed white resins around trees. Oud is the second most expensive essential oil in the world after Iris. It cost us US$65.000 per kilo, and we need 5 tons to make 1 liter of essential oil.”
Just like its’ predecessor, the trio in Oud Mood Collection are not all about Oud. We will only feel a fraction of Oud which wrapped with other interesting scents. “Rough and brutal Oud, wrapped up with the softness of rare and soft fabrics,” said Marc about the Silk Mood, Velvet Mood & Cashmere Mood, three extraits de parfum from Oud Mood Collection. No ordinary perfumes indeed, as they’re concentrated with 30% pure essential oil (that’s 10% more than ordinary Eau De Parfum).
Smooth as silk, Silk Mood is the lightest and the most feminine of them all. Created in Francis’ mind as a genderless perfume, this perfume extract wrapped up Oud with Bulgarian Rose, Blue Chamomile from Morocco and Papyrus. Expect to scent a very Oud scent became airy like a caressed rose petals on our skin.
Luxurious like cashmere, Cashmere Mood is definitely not for the faint of heart. Imagine walking inside an all leather store, as it’s very leathery, thanks to Moroccan Labdanum, Benzoin from Laos and Vanilla which enhanced the Oud. I imagine a very sophisticated man (with a nice leather shoes) owned this.
Mysterious like velvet, Velvet Mood is the purest and closest interpretation of OUD, the predecessor, released with cinnamon from Ceylon, saffron and exotic Copahu Balm from Brazil. It goes dark yet give those majestic and royal sense.
After attending the exclusive launch of Oud Mood in The Library at The Dharmawangsa Hotel, Jakarta, Indonesia, I really believe that Oud is not for those commercial (read: mass market) type. For those who embrace life and of course, Oud fanatics, Oud Silk Mood, Oud Cashmere Mood & Oud Velvet Mood will be a permanent collection. Available in 70ml Extrait de Parfum (price TBA in Indonesia), it’s a perfect way to enjoy your fine life just like the cashmere parable mentioned above.

 

EXCLUSIVELY AVAILABLE AT HARRODS

Invasion of Dior at the uber famous Knightsbridge’s original, Harrods.

From March 15till April 14, 2013, there’ll be mini exhibitions, wonderful window displays which reconstruct Dior’s façade in 30 Avenue Montaigne, Paris, 50 seats café which will serve Dior-doodled cupcakes and last but not least exclusive Dior products.

Here are some of the exclusive products that really catch my eyes, from teddy bear, snow ball, and a super fabulous Lady Dior bag with tartan covered handles. 

NEW BEAUTY PRODUCT TO TRY

Biotherm White D-Tox Liquid Light (Rp 695.000 for 30ml bottle).

For the never ending search of that perfect complexion, clear, even-toned, flawless, radiant, bright, glowing and smooth. If it seems to good to be true, think again. Before you (and me) give this product a try, you should know that our complexion is largely determined by light. Yup, if we can’t see that natural glow, it could be the color barriers blocked the reflection of light on skin.

There are three color molecules known as chromophores beneath the skin which impact the path of light and play a crucial role in determining the skin’s brightness, evenness and tone. Dark spots caused by excessive production of melanin, resulting a grayish complexion. Meanwhile, that yellowish sallow complexion caused by collagen glycation, which reduce its’ capability to reflect light. Last but not least is the imbalance of hemoglobin which caused a reddish, uneven complexion.

One of the Biotherm’s Whitening Care range, this latest product contains Lumina Marina Complex which targets all three chromophores. This is definitely not a traditional brightening product, with its’ ability to combat the three major color barriers. This tough yet gently brightening serum, with its’ moisturizing and weightless formulas, will help us reach our optimal skin texture and brightness.