Tag: review

LOOK NOTICEABLY YOUNGER


Have you noticed those fine lines and creases are starting to show? While Botox seems to be far from your imagination (like me), this serum might help.

I’ve tried so many various products that promised to help with the anti aging process etc, and nothing feels like this. Estée Lauder Perfectionist [CP+] Wrinkle Lifting/Firming Serum and its’ velvety texture when applied, close to the feeling of liquid powder. So quickly absorbed, I don’t have the time to warm them on my hands before applying like I always do with other serum. 

Comes in a pump packaging, which I thought was super helpful for a serum product (I dislike drops, BTW), and light fragrance, it did what it said on the box. Fast, effective and dramatic. I applied it on the back of my hand with one pump, and my hand instantly look and feel softer. Even the lines are sort of diminished. I’m definitely going to use this to help soften the smile lines and around the nose, as somehow it can make skin look brighter and radiant as well. As we can’t ask for miracles, at least we can minimize the look of those fine lines, right?

BAD HAIR DAY?

There’ll be no such thing as bad hair day if you know exactly what hair type do you have and which hair care and styling products that will suit you best.

Take it from me, there’s no way in this world that we can expect our hair to look its best without any help. At least, we all need our basic hair care products. I’ve learned from a few hair experts back in the days that we have to choose to the right shampoo and conditioner (separate) for our scalp and hair type. And if you are the styling type (like me), you need add-ons. In my case, pre-styling products and post-styling products. 

Why do I believe in the power of styling? I have very fine baby hair, and I blame it on my genes for not having thick hair. I need volume and shine, pronto! That’s why I stocked my self with pre-styling products to keep my hair safe from heat, as I blow dry almost every day. And I definitely need my post-styling products to keep my hair in place for the rest of the day. I even have two different hair sprays, for day and night use. There you have it, my dear hair products that keep my bad hair day away. 

FINISH WHAT I STARTED

This month empties from my adventure on beauty and body care products.

1. Neutrogena Visibly Clear Pink Grapefruit Cream Wash
I’m an old fashioned woman who loves my facial wash to be foamy. Lots of them. As I like my oily face to be squeaky clean at the end of the cleaning process, this probably the first Neutrogena product that I didn’t like. It might be cleansing gently, but with the creamy texture and a weird scent of pink grapefruit which didn’t produce any foam at all, this is certainly not my favorite. I think it might work for drier skin type. Repurchase? No.

2. L’Occitane Radiance and Colour Care Mask
I change my hair color every month, so hair treatment is a definite must for me. And this hair mask did wonder to my chemically treated (read: dry and coarse) hair. I love the green notes which remind me of freshly cut grass and the not so thick texture it has. I put this on once a week after shampoo & conditioner. I leave the mask on under the shower cap while I cleaned the rest of my body, then washed it away at the very end of my shower. Unlike any other hair mask I’ve tried, this won’t put any oily trick on my oily scalp, so it’s a bonus. When my hair dries, it does feel more relaxed, easier to comb and look shinier. Repurchase? Yup, definitely.

3. Sally Hansen Airbrush Legs
Uneven skin tone is a total blah. For me, this product works like concealer slash foundation for my legs. OK, I admit, sometimes I used it on my arms as well. Not just covering any imperfections, but I use this to make my pale skin look more tan. Although they recommend to spray it straight from the can, but I feel better if I mixed it with my daily body lotion, then applied with hands. I think it does spread evenly using my technique. Repurchase? Yes, I need this when I’m on my skirt and sleeveless mode. 

FAST & PAINLESS WAY TO GET RID OF DARK CIRCLES

Spare your lunch time to do this treatment and you’ll come back looking fresher than ever. I did.

Look at those dark circles. You can blame it on your hormones, lack of sleep, smoking, or  too much computer related works, but what are you going to do about it rather than complaining? I chose the fast and painless way, for sure. 

One that I’ve tried was ACT (Advanced Cells Therapy) for Dark Circles from Euroskinlab, one of the beauty clinic in Jakarta. This treatment is specifically designed for those who have serious dark circles problem, for only 45 minutes duration. The whole process is just like standard facial (cleansing, scrubbing, massage) with extra pressure massage on the eyes area (with special eyes serum). Then, the therapist will use the ACT machine with a spiral movement under both eyes. It was painless, even though the machine uses electricity for power. I actually enjoyed those vibrating feeling under my eyes for about 15 minutes.

“If we use eye cream or serum every day with our own hands, the absorption of the product will be very minimal (about 100 daltons-that’s molecules). But with the help of ACT, we’re expecting 1.5 to 3 million daltons per treatment,” explains dr. Riska from Euroskinlab. I did this once, and can you spot the difference from my eyes pictures above? The dark circles were slightly faded, even the whole skin was looking brighter. They said the result will last longer after 5 to 6 treatments (once weekly), depending on how dark your circles are. 

To find out more, visit their website.

EFFORTLESS WAY TO BODY SHAPING

Are those trips to the gym and suffering diets really don’t work anymore? Time to change your training to eliminate those flabby tummy, now!

Why did I say effortless? Because I tried it and I rarely sweat or feel super tired. Hypoxi is a simple 30 minutes workout that combine alternating high and low pressure with exercise to help target fat in the areas that won’t budge. Dr Norbert Egger, the Austrian scientist behind Hypoxi invention, spent many years working in the weight loss industry. He noticed that many women struggled to reduce fat in their problems areas, such as stomach, hips, buttocks and thighs despite regular exercise and healthy diet. As a sport scientist, he knew that good circulation and exercise are critical to achieve weight loss in a specific area. So, he created a fast and sustainable weight loss treatment, that claim to be up to 3 times more effective than regular training for targeted fat loss. 

So I decided to give Hypoxi a go. First, consultation and measuring. They will ask you about your body shaping target, measuring and decide which machine to use (they have different devices to suit our needs). I’ve got the size ’S’ machine, which target on my lower body part only. Later, I’ll have my own sort of Private Trainer (PT) who’s in charge to put on my corset like attire (which look like a futuristic tutu skirt for me), before I got inside the pod. She said, it’ll shrink and bloat while I pedal, giving pressure to the tummy area only. She also attached two more things, to measure body temperature and heart beat while I train. Then, my PT set the RPM according to my body weight and height, and she told me to pedal below my pulse rate (125). Then, all I have to do is sit inside the pod and pedal my way until 30 minutes is up.

I didn’t sweat much during the training, and my PT said it’s totally normal. She also suggested, before any training in Hypoxi studio, eat carbohydrate two hours before. Then, 4 hours after the training, we’re suggested not to eat any carbo, stick to protein, no fried food and no sugar drinks. 

Since this was my first session, I have 11 more to go if I want to see great result. My PT said, three times a week will be good for me. She only suggested not to train if I have serious abdominal pain while having my monthly period. I’ll keep you posted on how many inch I lost after my 12 session, so stay tune. 

For those who live in Jakarta, Indonesia and would love to have a free trial, visit their website.

LUCKY NUMBER 7

What’s not to love about premium denim? Slipped them on, and your point of view about denim will change forever. 

My first encounter with this premium denim brand was by a famous Indonesia’s celebrity friend who brought back 7 For All Mankind denim from her annual Los Angeles’ shopping trip, I haven’t started my relationship with premium denim in the year 2001. I thought, such a waist of money to spend for a pair of jeans. I’m the kind of gal who’ll spend a fortune for bags and shoes. But jeans? That famous friend of mine told me to try them on first before judging. And once I did, I definitely got the point why people are willing to spent for premium denim.

Often nicknamed as “Sevens” this brand is one of my favorite premium denim ever. I love the fabrics which somehow got more better in fit and texture after time. They always fit like a second skin for me, especially on the thighs and behind. For the flat behind owners like me, rejoice, as somehow they made me feel like I have a pair like Kim K. And I never got them altered too, as the length always fit me fine when I wore my 7cm heels. The more it washed with care, the more good looking they are. 

Picture shown above:
– my splurge of the month (Sevens Skinny Boyfriend, High Waist Straight Leg & Classic Straight Leg).
– celeb spotted in Sevens, Minka Kelly (check her behind for the fit!) 

IT’S NOT JUST A LITTLE CRUSH

Being a sweet teeth, I always love the sweet scent of sugar. And when I first tried this body scrub, it smell so divine, I really want to eat it.

Soap & Glory Sugar Crush Body Scrub is filled with goodies great enough to eat like smashed brown sugar, sweet lime, almond oil and macadamia grains. See, even the ingredients are so tempting, right? And as any Soap & Glory products, it looks good in the bathroom. 

Why I love it?
– It smell so sweet.
– The texture is not as harsh as I expected, don’t imagine sugar as sugar for your coffee. Trust me, it’s nothing like ordinary sugar. It’s more pasty.
– It leaves my skin so soft afterwards and the scent does stay for a while, even my bathroom smell heavenly. 
– It doesn’t irritate, scratch, leave sticky feeling afterwards.
– Great product with an accessible price always a winner.
– It won’t give me sugar rush or added calories intake. 

How to apply?
– Before using soap in the shower, damp the whole skin (body only, please), and scrub evenly. 
– Scrub more on hard spots, like knees and elbows (sometimes I use it on the back of my feet too)
– Rinse well and never forget to use body lotion.
– Recommended to use depending on the level of scaliness you have to deal with. Mine will be once a week.

Repurchase? Yup!

FINISH WHAT I STARTED

This will be my first post for everything that I have emptied from my adventure on beauty and body care products.

Personally, I never leave half empty products hanging around my drawers or in the bathroom for too long. I tried, I conquered and I’ll make sure I finished it if I love it. The rest is history, as I hate to see clutters.

Now, I’m going to share the products that I’ve emptied recently.

1. MAC STUDIO FIX NC30
I’ve been using this compact powder foundation for ages. So, to tell you the truth this is not my first MAC Studio Fix I’ve emptied. It works wonder for my oily skin and stay forever until I took it off after a long day. Repurchase? You bet!

2. L’OCCITANE CHERRY PRINCESS HAND CREAM
This delicately cherry fragranced hand cream is one of my must have. Contain nourishing shea butter (FYI, L’Occitane shea butter hand cream is sold every three seconds around the world), this is my day hand cream. Repurchase? Too bad, this is a limited edition product, so I might switch to other similar scent from L’Occitane, Fleur Cherie.

3. NEUTROGENA DEEP CLEAN FOAMING CLEANSER
Whenever I got a chance to go abroad, I’ll stock up on this facial cleanser from the drugstore. With a very accessible price, this cleanser really did what it said. Deep clean. It gives my oily skin a matte looking face for hours and keeping the acne at bays. It gives enough foaming action without no scent. Repurchase? Yes. But if I’m running out of stocks, usually I switch to SK-II Facial Treatment Cleanser, which I love as well.

4. KERASTASE REFLECTION CHROMA THERMIQUE THERMO-SHINE THERMO-RADIANCE PROTECTING MILK
Phew, that was a long name for a product, don’t you think? When I had my naturally straight hair (I had mine curled now), this product is a true helper since I will use my straightener every day. Not only protecting my hair from the heat of straightener, but I feel my hair got straightened more easily. And I love the floral scent it left on my hair. Repurchase? Maybe, if I ever decided to get back to my straightener and straight hair again.

 

 

WHY I LOVE THIS SHAMPOO

It’s impossible not to wash my hair every day. Not only the climate to blame, but I’ll point directly to the oily scalp (if you have oily skin, most probably you’ll have oily scalp as well). Not to mention, the amount of hair styling products like mousse and hairspray that I used.

So, it’s important for me to find a perfect shampoo that will get rid of that oil and build ups every single day. Why I love Clairol Herbal Essence Drama Clean Refreshing Shampoo?
– It smells great. I love the fruity bubbly smell (they said it’s a fusion of citrus blossom and green tea), which actually reminds me of my favorite drink, pineapple juice. And the scent seems to last long.
– It does what it said. Drama Clean. It cleans really well, I can feel my hair ultra light every time I finished washing it. It doesn’t leave any sticky and moisturizing feel at all.
– When my naturally straight hair dries without the help of hair dryer, it does look like it has more volume and shine. Considering my really fine hair needs a boost, this shampoo is my savior when I don’t have time to style my hair with mousse and hair spray.
– The 700 ml bottle with a reasonable price point for an imported product that I can easily get at the grocery store near my house. Remember, I don’t live in the US.  

Recommended? Yes, if you have oily scalp and avid user of hair styling products that can leave build ups. But if you have dry hair, try using this shampoo only once a week, just to get rid of build ups. And never ever forget to use conditioner. 

IT’S NOT COOL TO BE CRUEL

In this case, it’s not pretty if you’re being cruel to animals.

Have you ever imagine that the lipsticks we’re using were actually made from ladybug’s shell or the shimmer you’re applying is made possible by fish scales? That’s nothing compared to what I’ve seen through investigation video titled “The Ugly Truth” shown during the launch of Cruelty Free Campaign by The Body Shop Indonesia this morning.

Animal testing for the sake of our cosmetics is really not cool. It’s cruel. In the video shown, thank God my pics above are kind of blurred so you can’t see how the animals like mice and rabbits are suffering for the sake of our beauty products. According to Cruelty Free International, over 80% of countries across the world are still doing animal testing for cosmetics. Therefore, together with The Body Shop, they are committed to this cause and working together to achieve a worldwide ban on animal testing. As we all know, one of The Body Shop 5 values is “Against Animal Testing”. Both are now doing it with our help as customers, to sign the pledge in The Body Shop’s stores around the world, including Indonesia. “We hope that slowly, every region in the world will adapt this Cruelty Free campaign. And based on our experience, customer’s involvement and commitment will be heard more. The Body Shop has been doing “against animal testing” since 1996,” said Rika Anggraini, Corporate Social & Environmental Values Manager The Body Shop Indonesia.

Rika later explained that The Body Shop has been using a more reliable non-animal methods for products testing. “We’re using EPISKIN, it’s a synthetic human skin that react almost the same like our skin. We use them for ingredient test before the product developed and allergic test after the product has developed. It is more expensive, but no animals were involved at all.”

To kick off this campaign in Indonesia, local actresses and model, Rachel Amanda, Tya Ariestya and Laura Muljadi which are known as The Body Shop’s loyal customers since the Brit’s brand entered Indonesia, were signing the pledge at the event in Hotel Mulia, Jakarta, Indonesia. You can also help by dropping by to your nearest The Body Shop store and sign the pledge and leave your name and email. Or, simply log in to http://www.thebodyshop.co.id/ starting tomorrow.

At the same event, The Body Shop Indonesia also launched 100% Cruelty Free Makeup Collection by Lily Cole. Named the first ever global brand ambassador, Lily collaborated with The Body Shop for this lineup which includes lip shine, radiance primer, eyeliner, duo lip and cheek called dome, shimmer cubes and puff on radiance. Pretty in pink packaging, bright colors (many in purple, Lily’s favorite color) and shimmer that comes from mineral mica, not clam shells.

Being an eyeliner kind of gal, my favorite product from this line is the liquid eyeliner. Smudge to make smoky eyes look more natural, or leave the line straight. This limited edition collection will be available in selected The Body Shop Indonesia stores, starting tomorrow. And stay tune, cause this line will grace the runways in Jakarta Fashion Week, starting November 3, 2012 in Plaza Senayan, Jakarta, Indonesia.