Tag: bodycare

HOW IMPORTANT IS ‘ME TIME’ FOR YOU?

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For me, it is VERY important. I will take any of my available time (trust me, not so much) to just reboot. Do you know that taking time for ourselves apparently has psychological & physical benefits? 

Yes, dearest. We juggle our career and family everyday, wouldn’t it be good to have ‘me time’ for our sanity’s sake? And what’s better than pampering yourself in the comfort of your own bathroom, with the latest spa collection from THE BODY SHOP “SPA OF THE WORLD”.

Check out my pics from their launch event in The Dharmawangsa Hotel Jakarta.

I love how each packaging look so luxurious. I also learned at the event, that dark colored packaging is very much needed to keep the benefits of their essential oils. 

They have bath milks, massage oils, exfoliants and creams. In total they have 11 products which divided into three beauty rituals: RELAXING, BLISSFUL and REVITALISING. They named this collection SPA OF THE WORLD, because each product features ingredients from different part of the world. Yup, now creating a spa experience at home is much easier. 

At the event, they also launched OILS OF LIFE, skincare range that specifically created to intensely revitalise skin, revive radiance & leave our skin feel nourished. If your skincare regime need a new life, well you gotta wait, as this range will be available in Indonesia by early March 2016.

PHOTOS: SHINTA ROSVITA

LET’S REFRESH WITH THESE BODY COCKTAILS

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This year’s summer was super hot. Literally. 

And the worst part about this summer, no holiday for me. Yes, that means, no sipping cocktails by the pool while wearing big hat and that designer’s sunglasses. Sigh. Then came one fine day after office hours, I got home and received this cool package (complete with the cocktail shaker) from The Body Shop Indonesia. Limited Edition Body Care range with an irresistible blend of lime extracts and crushed mint leaves, named VIRGIN MOJITO. I believed they were inspired by the same Virgin Mojito, the alcohol-free version of the popular refreshing poolside cocktail. 

A perfect summer essentials to get that fresh feeling every day, especially if you’re a fan of fresh and uplifting scent. In the package I received the Shower Gel, Body Scrub and Body Butter to try. I’ve tried the shower gel with warm water in the shower and I love the way it cleansed well with tingling mint and touch of citrusy scent. Use loofah for extra foam and enjoyable bathing experience. Great for morning use to sort of waking up the skin. 

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Check out the green beads in the body scrub. Comes in a gel formula, it’s not too harsh, even when I applied them on dry skin. I love to scrub on dry skin, as I believe it’s more effective to remove dead skin. 

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Last but not least, the body butter. Wonderful texture, it melts into my skin like butter. Don’t be fooled by the strong fragrance once you opened the tub, because the scent will toned down once applied and stay soft for the next 3 hours. It didn’t make my skin look greasy or feel like one, too. I think it’s more lightweight than the previous body butters from The Body Shop that I’ve tried. 

The complete Virgin Mojito range are now available in The Body Shop Indonesia’s stores and online. Go get them now, as they’re limited edition!

PHOTOS: SHINTA ROSVITA

BEYOND LOVELY

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I live for the weekend.

And what a weekend indeed, yesterday I received this lovely box from BEYOND INDONESIA. Thanks, gals.

Just look at that cute box, I love how this Korean brand put on cuteness on each and every products they have. 

Inside the box, there are two products: BLOOMING LOVELY MAGNOLIA BODY LOTION & BLOOMING LOVELY MAGNOLIA SHOWER COLOGNE.

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And yet again, the packaging had me. Love the illustration! 

So what’s inside the Body Lotion (pink bottle)? Plant Moisturizer. It gives elasticity for the skin without any irritation. I’ve tried other body lotion from BEYOND, and I simply love it. I felt like since it was made in Korea, they understand our Asian skin better. Their body lotion smells soft, not overpowering and their absorbency level are magnificent. They didn’t leave any stickiness behind, which was great for our humid & hot weather here (summer for 365 days). And this BLOOMING LOVELY MAGNOLIA BODY LOTION feels like other BEYOND’s body lotion: refreshing & comfortable on skin. With soft magnolia’s scent, it’s a winner for me! 

Next, BLOOMING LOVELY MAGNOLIA SHOWER COLOGNE. I have to admit that I rarely use body mist. But, this body mist completes the body lotion with the same soft & romantic scent. So, yes…layering! Perfect for spray retouch throughout these never ending summer days. Somehow, it felt cool when sprayed. 

Best part, they’re very affordable. Nothing hit more than Rp 250K. Actually, they have body wash in this range too. If you’re a softy like me, you’ll love this range. 

PHOTOS: SHINTA ROSVITA

SUN, FEARLESS, FEMALE

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I have to admit, I’m so lazy on putting on sunscreen. It’s bad, I know. But what can I say, I don’t dig the scent of most sunscreen lotion.

Mostly they smell like coconuts, which I feel way too beachy when I actually live nowhere near the beach. And they remind me of summer vacation, which I don’t think I’ll be getting one soon this year *sigh*. Worst part, they’re way too sticky and look oily when applied. 

Then one day, these cute package arrived at my doorstep, thanks to Dewi Sri Spa. Dewi Sri Spa is one of the luxury brand from Martha Tilaar Group which specialised in premium spa range product with natural ingredients from Indonesia. And SURYA MAJAPAHIT is their latest spa range.

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There are three products in the range as you can see, Cooling Shower Gel, Sun Protection Lotion and Soothing Body Gel. With essential oils of Javanese Lotus, Licorice and White Rice, this is one unique series, I might say. Consists of two aftersun products and one sun protection lotion, I’m already relieved that they don’t have any coconuts in their ingredients lists. Finally, a sun protection lotion with SPF 40 that I can apply daily without the scent of going to the beach in a bikini. Hello, people! I’m going to the office inside an air-conditioned building with full clothes on every day, what do you expect? 

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Comes in white and creamy texture, this lotion will absorb quickly on clean skin. Apply before you head out the door to protect your skin from the harsh rays of UVA and UVB. 

And I really love the idea of cooling shower gel. Imagine, after all that outdoor activities, going home and taking a shower with this gel will reduce that hot sensation on skin. No wonder it felt so cool, it contains menthol. Love the shower gel that feels cool even after I rinsed. 

Need more cooling sensation? Apply the soothing body gel. As the name stated, it is very soothing. The gel texture is not that thick, so it’s easily applied and absorbed without stickiness. This is great also when you’re baking yourself under the sun and found your skin burning in red. If they are, apply this gel in soft tap, don’t rub. The menthol will sooth your skin immediately. 

I’d love to use this range when (only God knows) I’m going on my beach vacation. But in the meanwhile, this range will gives me strong protection against sun damage in this crazy city I live in and keep my skin feels cool after all my daily activities. 

PHOTOS: SHINTA ROSVITA

TIME TO WEAR THOSE MINI AND SUMMER DRESS!

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Not so confident of wearing one, thanks to that ugly dark shadows on your armpits and knees? Well, afraid not as SATTO comes with range of body care products to tackle this beauty situation. 

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Not a new brand in Indonesia, SATTO has been around since 2009. This year, they sort of relaunch one of their star product “Whitening C-Scrub”. I was invited to SATTO’s event this week and given these hamper to try at home. Read on for the reviews. 

SATTO Hand & Body Whitening Goat Milk Triple Moisturizer: As the name stated, it contains goat milk extract. With white opaque creamy texture, it did brighten instantly. Need to apply sparingly and blend until fully absorbed, or it might left a white powdery stain on your skin. Scent might be overpowering once applied, but toned down after a few minutes into a more subtle fresh scent. No worries, there are no goat milk scent or so whatever. Use this after scrubbing for maximal result. 

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SATTO Body Scrub Enriched With Orange Whitening: Refreshing orange scent, which I love. Not to opaque as the hand & body moisturizer, with soft and tiny granules. Recommended to use while showering, scrub in circular motions and rinse thoroughly. Unlike C-Scrub which targeted for dark parts of our body, I use this all-over. Result: brightening effects and moist skin. 

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SATTO Hair Tonic Serum: Liquid, dark brown color hair tonic. Very strong ginseng scent, I might say. But those ginseng (supposedly) will make our hair stronger, softer and shinier. Not only ginseng, it contains aloe vera and vitamin E too. Haven’t got the chance to try this yet, but I’ll update this review as soon as I tried this. Recommended to use after shampooing while massaging it slowly to the scalp to get maximal result. 

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Last but definitely not least, SATTO Whitening C-Scrub: Super effective to minimise the appearance of dark shadows on that specific parts of our body (read: armpits, bikini lines, knees, elbows). Similar granules texture like the Orange Scrub, but C-Scrub is more opaque (see pics below for textures). Make sure you scrub evenly while showering and do not miss a single dark spot. Since there’s no way I’m going to exposed my armpits pics here (LOL), I decided to try on my knees. See the before-after pics below. 

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I know, right? You can tell from the before picture on the left, my knees look dark. And after scrubbing with C-Scrub, voila! It turned brighter and whiter, I’m so impressed with this body scrub, really! Turned out, SATTO Whitening C-Scrub proclaimed itself as the first and the best scrub in Indonesia, made exclusively for sensitive and moist areas. So yes, after my experience with my whole knees and legs, I’m gonna go for those more ‘sensitive’ parts and put on my bikinis afterward. Here comes summer!!!!

PHOTOS: SHINTA ROSVITA

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FROM THE LAND DOWN UNDER…

… comes JURLIQUE. And their story began in 1985.

This beauty brand actually is a phonetic combination of Jurgen & Ulrike Klein, a German couple who migrated to Australia. Jurgen is a biochemist and Ulrike is a botanist with the same vision to create the purest skin care on earth. Combining their knowledge, they knew that in order to do such, they need earth, water, air and sun at their most pure. And they found the perfect place for Jurlique’s first farm, the pristine hills surrounding Adelaide. There, they foster richer soil, grow healthier plants which are free from synthetic chemicals, pesticides, herbicides and insecticides to create more efficacious skincare and body care products. Once picked and sorted by hands, their ingredients will go through a unique extraction method called the “Bio-Intrinsic” process, a three-stage process to create a highly potent extract without any plant material wasted. They do follow strict organic and biodynamic (certified by the National Association for Sustainable Agriculture, Australia) farming principles. And last but not least, they do not test their products on animals. 

Now sold in more than 20 countries around the world, they still grow their potent herbs and botanicals in the Adelaide Hills. Their Rosewater Balancing Mist is the first Jurlique product I’ve tried, especially needed when I travel by air. I love the relaxing scent of rose and it hydrates practically (just spritz!). Gladly, now I don’t have to buy Jurlique in Singapore anymore. Yes, Jurlique has officially opened in Jakarta, Indonesia this December 2014. Located in Plaza Indonesia, me & fellow press were invited to their first concept store cutting ribbon ceremony. 

The store itself stays true to Jurlique’s natural concept with wood materials used for its exterior and interior. I love the warm and calming atmosphere they created and how easily we can browse through their products according to the scents/ingredients and specific needs. It’s as simple as their packaging. In the store, I also spotted their latest skin care range, Rose Moisture Plus, made specifically for dehydrated skin. And, since it’s almost Christmas, they have several gift boxes to choose too! I can’t wait to try Jurlique’s other products, stay tune for my reviews.

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SKINCARE BASED ON ART?

For those of you who are still unfamiliar with Diptyque, it was a brand started by three friends with the same artistic mind and creative passion in Paris, way back in 1961. That alone explained why they have such well thought packaging, right down to the fonts. 

Diptyque might be super duper famous for its luxurious scented candles (thanks to Jennifer Lopez who demanded Diptyque candles be placed in her dressing room) but this year, they introduced the latest range of products, skin care.

Named L’Art du Soin for the Face (by the way, they had them for body care as well), the total 5 products is quite a small range for based on the art of infused skincare. Inspired by ‘phytotherapy’, an ancient practice meaning ‘to treat with plants’, every product was formulated with plant and flower infusions for beneficial effects on skin. The range offers to bring out skin’s natural radiance for a complexion glowing with well being. There are 5 items available: Infused Facial Water, Nourishing Cleansing Balm, Radiance Boosting Powder, Multi-Use Exfoliating Clay & Protective Moisturizing Lotion. The main product from this range is Infused Facial Water, enriched with Damask Rose scent. Very multi tasking, as you can use it as a toner, a mask (just soak cotton pads with it) or mixed it with the other products from the range like Multi-Use Exfoliating Clay, Radiance Boosting Powder or Nourishing Cleansing Balm for cleansing purpose. In Jakarta, the price range for this luxurious skincare products, starts from Rp 800.000 – Rp 1.000.000. 

Tested them myself yesterday at The Dharmawangsa Suite, I personally love the textures. All of them, including the most heavy one, Nourishing Cleansing Balm, surprisingly felt very light upon contact with my skin. Mixed with Infused Facial Water, it metamorphosed into cleansing oil texture, which is perfect to remove makeup for dry skin. Radiance Boosting Powder is another favorite of mine. The white clay powder combined with powdered rose, jasmine and neroli petals, not only hydrate my skin. It turns into a creamy lather for face cleansing when mix with water and the black ball sponge provided inside the packaging. This can also be mixed with Infused Facial Water, and the good news is, it may not be rinse if you don’t feel like you have to. Trust me, I’ve tried not to rinse them, and it didn’t feel sticky or itchy. Just wipe the rest of the foam on your face and left it there. 

Coming from the brand that’s well known for their elegant scents, expect the same for this skincare range. And of course, they’ll beautify our bathroom cabinets as well. 

ANOTHER WAY TO CELEBRATE BRAZIL

If you’re not into football and that FIFA World Cup thingy, the new collection from L’Occitane is a great way to put a colorful mood of Brazil for your body care regime. 

Feito no Brasil (made in Brazil) was born by L’Occitane founder, Olivier Baussan’s trip to Brazil. Not just the craze of Brazil, but also the artists, musicians, spices, perfumes & flowers. Two new ingredients was picked for this new range of body care products, JENIPAPO (fruit tree from Cerrado) and VITORIA REGIA (giant water lily from Amazone). Thanks to Brazil illustrators, Andres Sandoval and Joana Lira, the packaging looks’ are very very Brazilian indeed, with all the colorful designs. 

I was invited by L’Occitane Indonesia to their event at Skye on a very nice afternoon with all the Brazilian snacks and drinks, I felt I was in Rio. LOL. There were Capoeira and samba dancers too! 

VITORIA REGIA has two scents, made from two different phases of the water lily flowers. The Day Flower’s fragrance is fresh with green notes, mixed with orange, lemon & green apple. While the Night Flower’s fragrance is more floral and powdery with a touch of green notes and lime, hyacinth, peony, musk and sandalwood. 

JENIPAPO, also included a range of sunscreen for face and body, with fruity and floral scents, such as citron, watermelon, pinacolada, lily of the valley, frangipani, musk, sandalwood & vanilla. 

My favorite range is VITORIA REGIA Night Flower. I love how sophisticated the powdery scent from the Eau De Cologne. I wish they’ll make Eau De Parfum version of it. These range will be available in L’Occitane Indonesia stores just in time for the World Cup kick off, on June 12, 2014. Get ready to shop!

SWEET BODY TREATS

As I love the taste of honey, and legend said that honey was Cleopatra’s secret beauty weapon, the latest range from The Body Shop will definitely be my favorite beauty regimen. 

What a better way to experience the whole range of The Body Shop HoneyMania, than a spa treatment. At the Spa Hotel indonesia Kempinski, I got the chance to luxuriously dip into The Body Shop’s latest body care range. The range contains Community Fair trade honey collected from handcrafted hives in the Ethiopian rainforest, made from the nectar of a thousand of wildflowers, and they carry soap, lip balm, EDT, shower gel, body scrub, body butter and the innovative Bath Melt. 

My treatment at the Spa began with a warm bath. I felt like a queen bee, literally! I love the texture of Bubble Bath Melt, which really resemble honey. So deliciously looking and felt really soothing on skin, thanks to the creamy bubbles it created. And the smell is absolutely luxurious, very rich floral and honey scent. 

After the bath, time to scrub with HoneyMania Body Scrub. Don’t worry about harsh texture as I can feel it’s very creamy. Before the body massage, time to shower with the Shower Gel, my personal favorite! The soap-free shower gel will be the best way to start lathering on the scent. Next step is the body massage, using the Body Butter. I always find Body Butter is very good when my skin is very dry due to harsh weather, thanks to its’ buttery texture. Who knows it’s also good for body massage as it glides on really well? Well, from now on, I’ll bring Body Butter to my regular spa rather than using unknown oil on my body, for sure!

Last but not least, spritz of EDT will complete the whole sweet & luxurious experience of HoneyMania range. It’s very light, but if you use the layering technique, the rich floral scent surprisingly last longer than ordinary EDT’s. 

Overall, even though honey is literally the main ingredients for this body care range, they’re different from other honey products. It must’ve been the contribution of a thousand of wild flowers scent which made these products didn’t smell like (literally) honey! I love the scent and the soft silky skin result after trying the whole range. And the packagings was so attractively yellow bright, with deliciously looking honey comb illustration, I believe it’s hard not to touch them on store display. 

Remember, to always watch out for counterfeit products, therefore I always recommend to go to The Body Shop stores near you or for Indonesians, you can shop online, here. 

LIKE A SHOT OF CAFFEINE 

Pardonne-moi for such a long (too long) hiatus. You don’t wanna know why. But anyway…I am back!

This time, I’m going to review about body scrub from JUARA. One of their top product, Invigorating Coffee Scrub. JUARA, which actually means ‘champion’ in bahasa Indonesia, is 100% vegetarian, no animal testing, paraben free, contains no artificial colorants, sulfates or phthalates skin care products. Judging from these only, this brand is already a winner for yours truly. 

As you can see from my pictures above, the color of the scrub is dark, real dark. As for the texture (imagined grind coffee beans), it’s not as rough as I imagine it would be when applied and scrubbed. Some scrub made my skin red afterwards, but this one left me with no red marks. You might wonder about the coffee scent. Well, somehow, for me it smells more like a combination of chocolate and coffee. But yes, you definitely can smell the coffee there. 

I applied on dry skin, before shower, scrub and rinse. I love how it contains gentle, sulfate-free cleansing agents, so it acted as a cleanser too. No need for shower gel afterwards, even though it didn’t produce any foamy effects while rinsed. Touched with water, it gave this moisturizing feeling on my skin, a bit filmy. But…after I dried myself with towel, I can definitely feel the softness on my skin. And the chocolatey coffee scent did last longer than any shower gel I’ve tried. 

So, is this product a ‘JUARA’? You bet!

You can get JUARA products, here.