Year-end Wine Sale and Wine Tasting in PJ!

Posted on November 4, 2015 by CelesteDeJesus

Perfect event to get wines at special prices plus wine tasting and yummy canapes

It’s November! And what better way to celebrate this month by enjoying great wines, good food and a SALE event where you can get wines at Year-End sale prices.

Join other food and wine lovers as you enjoy a beautiful Saturday evening of great wines from different countries and delicious canapes served by Spitalfield’s Gastrobar. Guests will have access to free flow (serious? free flow?!) of 12 wines from respected winemaking countries: Spain, Italy, Chile, Australia, South Africa and France.

As a guest, you will be part of a fun-filled evening that involves wonderful company of people, lucky draws, activities, specials over glasses of great wines and first-hand access to Year-End sale on selected wines!

Wine Talk Year-end Sale + Free Flow Wine Tasting

EARLY BIRD ENTRANCE FEE:

RM90 (paid on or before 9th November) buy tickets HERE

STANDARD FEE:

RM120 (paid on or after 10th November)

WHEN:

14th November 2015, Saturday

TIME: 4PM to 7PM

WHERE:

Spitalfield’s Gastrobar, Atria Shopping Gallery, Damansara Jaya, Petaling Jaya

An exciting part of this free flow wine tasting includes NEW ARRIVAL WINES from Australia — the Printhie wines. Printhie is a 5-Star rated winery from the high-altitude, cool-climate Orange region of NSW, Australia. I’m a big fan of Pinot Gris and I’m so excited to be one of the first few people who gets to taste the Printhie‘Mountain Range’ Pinot Gris in Malaysia. According to Wine Talk sommelier, this is a classic Pinot Gris, with moderate aromatic fruit intensity typical of Pinot Gris, with citrus, pear and peach fruit. The palate shows evidence of lees stirring in creamy mid-palate texture, with luscious honeysuckle flavours balanced and a great acidity, making it an addictive white wine, very aromatic and friendly.

And to even make this wine tasting more fun and irresistible (as if the free flow of 12 wines aren’t enough), wines will be served with yummy, mouth-watering canapés by Spitalfield’s Gastrobar. Spitalfield’s has recently opened at the Concourse Level of the newly-renovated Atria Shopping Gallery in Damansara Jaya. It is a British-inspired bar that serves great cuisines which range from pasta to pizza to other delicious dishes with its unique theme.

Look at this place! Wouldn’t it be lovely to hang out here while sipping wines and munching on yummy food with friends?

british-inspired-bar-interior-spitalfields

Buy your tickets HEREbefore the Early Bird rate ends! But if you missed it, it’s fine. You can still buy tickets until 12^th November at an affordable rate of only RM120 – for free flow of 12 wines served with yummy canapés, I think this is still a STEAL!

Wines to enjoy and get specials from during this event:

1	Luis Felipe Edward ‘Alto Los Romeros’ Sauvignon Blanc	White
2	Domaine Maby ‘Varations’ Cotes Du Rhone White	White
3	Printhie ‘Ashburnham’ Sauvignon Blanc	White
4	Leeuwenkuil Vineyards Marsanne	White
5	Printhie ‘Mountain Range’ Pinot Gris	White
6	Luis Felipe Edward ‘Alto Los Romeros’ Carmenère	Red
7	Printhie ‘Ashburnham’ Cabernet-Merlot	Red
8	Chinon ‘Les Pensees de Pallus’	Red
9	Leeuwenkuil Vineyards Cinsault	Red
10	Bodegas Antidoto – Ribera del Duero	Red
11	Printhie ‘Mountain Range’ Shiraz	Red
12	Viu Manent ‘Vibo’ Vinedo Centenario	Red

See you on 14th November!

Wine Talk and Moet & Chandon Champagne Tasting

Posted on October 10, 2015 by CelesteDeJesus

An exclusive experience for Champagne lovers!

(image from moet.com)

Oh, how we love the beautiful sparkles and bubbles of Champagne. Not to be confused with just any other bubbly, Champagne is a sparkling wine produced from grapes grown specifically in the Champagne region of France. Champagne is typically more expensive than other sparkling wines here mainly because it is considered a luxury item.

moet-chandon-champagne-flute-glasses-cheers

(image from moet.com)

And who wouldn’t know of one of the world’s largest Champagne producers in the world, Moët & Chandon? This iconic bottle has been gracing celebrations, happy moments, weddings, parties and car races all over the world!

Moet & Chandon, together with Wine Talk Malaysia, will be hosting a Champagne tasting session on 21^st October 2015, 3:00pm at Neo Tamarind Kuala Lumpur. Early Bird tickets are available for purchase now, limited seats available. You’ll enjoy tasting of 4 variants of Moet & Chandon Champagne with Maison Moet & Chandon Brand Ambassador, Pierre-Louis Araud. If you are a true lover of Champagne, you wouldn’t want to miss this exclusive experience!

Purchase your tickets HERE or call 1300 88 9788. Tickets are in limited availability.

Early Bird Tickets – RM199

Normal Price – RM250

moet-chandon-champagne-in-gold-bucket-christmas

(image from moet.com)

L’Oreal Revitalift Magic Blur Product Review

Posted on September 19, 2015 by CelesteDeJesus

Can you erase skin flaws both instantly and gradually over time?

skincare-loreal-paris-magic-blur-moisturizer-and-eye-cream

Pores, fine lines, wrinkles…now becoming more and more a major skin concern for women of my age. And although there are numerous temporary fixes out there that can give you instant results, not all of them are designed to give results that develop over time.

News arrived that L’Oreal has launched a new addition to the Revitalift skincare range called Magic Blur. As its name implies, it gives you an immediate ‘blurring’ solution; it is meant to instantly reduce the appearance of imperfections that include pores, lines and wrinkles. Of course, I’m one of the many enthusiasts who were excited to try and test this range, as pores have always been a challenge and I’m always looking forward to explore new innovations that address this never-ending skin concern.

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skincare-loreal-revitalift-paris-magic-blur-results

But what makes Revitalift Magic Blur from other products that also give instant blur effects? I’ve been using Benefit Porefessional more than a year now and I’m happy with the immediate solution it provides to reduce the appearance of my pores. So how would Revitalift Magic Blur fare against products like Benefit Porefessional or primers that hide pores? Revitalift Magic Blur promises to build results over time, meaning it gives instant AND continuous results.

This new range includes 2 products: Eye Cream and Moisturizer. Both products come in elegant red packaging with gold stamping on L’Oreal logo, which I find very classy. I know, I know, the packaging is not what I put on my face but I always take note of good packaging. I believe that a good brand will always put a certain level of attention and effort on making sure that the product has a good presentation, would you agree?

skincare-loreal-paris-revitalift-magic-blur-moisturizer

skincare-loreal-paris-magic-blur-moisturizer-and-dolls

L’Oreal Revitalift Magic Blur

Instant Smoother Anti-Aging Moisturizer

Opti-Blur Technology + Pro-Retinol A

Price: RM65.90

What’s inside:

Opti-Blur Technology – diffuses light on skin to immediately blur lines, wrinkles and pores

Pro-Retinol A – fights the signs of aging for an anti-wrinkle action over time and a younger-looking skin

How to use:

Apply a small amount every morning on cleansed skin.

Spread gently all over the face without massaging in circular motions. Take note, DO NOT massage in circular motions.

What to expect:

Instantly, blurs appearance of lines, pores and imperfections.

Over time, reduces signs of aging, wrinkles. Skin feels firmer, skin tone is more even.

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revitalift-loreal-paris-magic-blur-moisturizer

This cream has a beautiful texture, somewhat soft and fluffy on the skin, like cotton feel. It has a lovely scent that dissipates in a few minutes, not too strong. It is easily absorbed on the skin and leaves a matte, velvety finish. It feels great on the skin but it is recommended to apply SPF afterwards, especially if you’re going outdoors or even just driving around, as most products containing Retinol needs sun protection.

It comes in a red glass jar packaging with the signature L’Oreal-engraved jar cap. I like the glass jar but some may not because it’s heavy and you have to dip your finger into it. This doesn’t come with a spatula but what I do is to just use a small plastic spoon that I collect from my son’s jelly snacks. Yes, improvise! This way, I don’t need to dip my finger into it.

My Experience:

I loved the instant result that it gives on my skin; my pores are less visible, lines are diminished, and the texture is just nice. However, when sunscreen is applied afterwards, you’ll have by-products forming on the surface of the skin, like eraser shavings. Some of you may have experienced this, it normally happens when the layers of cream, moisturizer or foundation on your face don’t blend well together.

It is fine if applied on the skin with no plan of applying foundation afterwards. I tried using different brands and type of foundation but it was challenging to find a suitable one that will not result to “eraser shavings” even without massaging in circular motion. I’ve used it with Guerlain Lingerie de Peau, BodyShop BB Cream and Givenchy Loose Powder alternately, using makeup brush, but I still get the “eraser shavings”.

After 2 weeks of using this moisturizer every morning, I agree that the texture of my skin feels better. It may show improved results over time on my pores if used for a few more weeks. The downside is it’s hard to blend with makeup and I end up having ‘eraser shavings’.

Before and After Application:

So here is how my skin looks before (left photo) and after (right photo) application, with no filter, no editing effects here. The matte effect immediately gives the skin a smooth look…MyInstantMagic!

skincare-loreal-paris-magic-blur-moisturizer-on-face

skincare-loreal-paris-magic-blur-eye-cream

L’Oreal Revitalift Magic Blur

Instant Smoother Anti-Aging Eye Cream

Opti-Blur Technology + Caffeine

Price: RM57.90

What’s inside:

Opti-Blur Technology – the fusion of blurring polymers inside a miraculous skin-transforming texture to create a perfectly smooth surface

Caffeine – reduces aging signs over time and diminishes puffiness and dark circles

What to expect:

Instantly, blurs appearance of lines, bags and dark circles.

Over time, wrinkles are reduced, dark circles are less visible, puffiness is diminished.

skincare-loreal-paris-revitalift-magic-blur-eye-cream

This cream, like the face moisturizer, has a lovely texture that is also easily absorbed by the skin. It also leaves a matte finish on the eye area, like the texture that an eye primer also leaves on the skin.

It comes in a red, soft plastic tube, which is easy to press. It has a white cap and a transparent rubber applicator. By pressing the tube, the eye cream will be dispensed through the transparent rubber tube then apply it on the eye area like how you would by using your ring finger. I love this kind of eye cream packaging versus the jar; easier to apply on eye area, less or no wastage because you can easily control the amount of cream for your eyes.

My Experience:

The instant results for the eye cream is easier to see because it does great in solving my fine lines immediately. It works like an eye primer, providing a good canvas for my eye makeup, which by the way, doesn’t result to ‘eraser shavings’ because I don’t apply cream products on it.

After 2 weeks of using this eye cream every morning, I can see good improvements on my fine lines (no photo, sorry, I did try to take close-up photos but it’s hard to show the difference). My fine lines were noticeably diminishing! Compared to the moisturizer, the results from the eye cream were easier to see after 2 weeks.

Where to buy:

Watsons stores or via online at watsons.com.my

Want to try these Magic Blur products?

Get RM10 OFF for purchase of Magic Blur Moisturizer or Eye Cream, click HERE

Burberry Body Tender

Posted on August 16, 2015 by CelesteDeJesus

Beautiful scents create beautiful feelings…

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I’m learning to appreciate fragrances more and more these days. A few months ago, I was captivated by the scent of Burberry Body Tender Eau de Toilette.

The bottle design is iconic, as is expected of any Burberry product. It is not your usual shape of a bottle. This one has 8 sides, fully transparent, revealing the light pink-colored fluid.

The inside of the cap has a metallic finish material embellished with Burberry’s signature check pattern. I love the simple but designer appeal of this bottle and, of course, the fact that I can see what’s inside clearly. I like seeing how much I’ve used and how much is left in a fragrance bottle.

Size: 60ml / 85ml

Price: RM300 / RM380

This fragrance was advertised and promoted using famous model Cara Delevigne.

cara_delevigne_perfume_fragrance_burberry_body_tender_edt

I’ve actually finished this fragrance bottle by the time I wrote this short article. I loved this fragrance so much that I bought an 85ml bottle of the exact one a month ago. See, this is why I need to see how much is left so I can restock! I should never run out of the good stuff. This scent makes me feel nice, lovely, beautiful.

Where to buy? Burberry has a signature counter located in Isetan KLCC and did you know that Burberry has an online shopping site? You can now buy beautiful Burberry items whenever, wherever! Visit www.my.burberry.comto shop for bags, makeup, fragrances, watches and more. And…they give FREE shipping!

About Burberry Body Tender

A youthful, sparkling twist on the iconic Burberry Body fragrance. The scent opens with a fresh surge of lemon, crisp apple and green absinthe. A delicate blend of dewy English roses, white jasmine and sandalwood gives a radiant, optimistic heart. Sensual notes of cashmeran, amber and musk warm the base.

Swarovski Stardust Fashion Necklace

Posted on July 22, 2015 by CelesteDeJesus

Who doesn’t love fashionable and anytime-wear accessories…

fashion-accessories-swarovski-stardust-necklace

This is probably the first time I’m sharing something about a necklace! How exciting!

I’m one of those few, or shall I say, very few women who are not enamored by all kinds of jewelry. I’m not fond of wearing rings, except for my wedding ring because I am obliged to wear it (haha!). Rings slowly fall out of my fingers when washing my hands or applying hand cream. I’m also not a big fan of bracelets because these disturb my comfort while typing on a laptop, desktop or any computer. I do love earrings and I do love necklaces.

fashion-accessories-swarovski-jewelry-ad-celebrity-ambassador

Miranda Kerr for Swarovski

I first saw Swarovski’s Stardust collection in magazine ads featuring Miranda Kerr. I loved the simple yet creative and unique treatment of crystals with the bracelets and necklaces. The collection includes different colors of nylon tubes but I liked the gray/white color the most as it will be easy to mix and match with any color of outfit. Of course, having the other colors would be nice, too.

fashion-accessories-swarovski-stardust-collection

It also includes beautiful colors of bracelets that wrap around your wrist in 2 loops – the Double Bracelets. I love the shimmer of the crystals inside the nylon tube but as I’ve said, I’m not really comfortable wearing bracelets to work…I can wear one on a casual, no-work day but how often do I enjoy those days…ahhh, time is limited.

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fashion-jewelry-accessories-swarovski-stardust-bracelets

*Stardust Bracelets images from swarovski.com

My husband was sweet and thoughtful to give me what I asked from him for my birthday…my very own Swarovski Stardust Necklace!

Swarovski Stardust Necklace

The necklace comes in an elegant, thick hard blue box with Swarovski’s logo embossed and silver-stamped in front, its iconic swan beautifully represented in the center. Inside, the necklace rests on a solid dark blue, velvet finish board, with a Swarovski blue card tag attached to it. A booklet is also provided for jewelry care information and other important details.

The lobster clasp is adjustable, which I also adore. I can easily play around with the length with its flexible closure. The clasp itself is adorned by the swan logo and you can see the name ‘SWAROVSKI’ all in capital letters engraved on one side of the necklace’s silver end. These 2 details are definite identifiers for a genuine/original Swarovski Stardust necklace.

It was tough to shoot this product while trying to show its sheen or shimmer, I still need to discover more about jewelry photography. Anyway, I am so in love with the shimmer of those crystals inside the nylon tube, my shots don’t give justice but if you want to see how it really looks like, just visit any Swarovski boutique or visit www.swarovski.com

Look at those sparkling crystals inside!

fashion-accessories-swarovski-stardust-necklace-sparkling-crystals

Thanks to my loving hubby for this necklace. I think I want another color of this or a necklace-earring set. Nyahahaha!

Swarovski Boutiques in Malaysia:

Pavilion – Level 3
Mid Valley – Ground Floor
Suria KLCC – First Floor
Gurney Plaza – Ground Floor
One Utama – First Floor
Sunway Pyramid – Lower Ground One
Aeon Ipoh Station 18 – Ground Floor
JBCC – Ground Floor

fashion-accessories-swarovski-stardust-necklace-woman

*Swarovski Stardust Necklace via http://www.swarovski.com

About Swarovski Stardust Necklace

This easy-to-wear necklace from Swarovski’s Stardust collection features a nylon tube filled with sparkling crystals for multi-colored shine. Boasting a stunning 3D silhouette, this palladium-plated necklace is a must-have item for your jewelry box and a limited edition. It comes with an adjustable lobster clasp closure in stainless steel.

Wine Tasting and Spanish Food for a Beautiful Evening

Posted on July 20, 2015 by CelesteDeJesus

Love delicious food with enjoyable wines? You shouldn’t miss this exciting wine tasting in KL! Few days to go!

wine-talk-la-bodega-wine-tasting-food-and-wine

Well-known and well-loved Spanish restaurant, La Bodega, teams up with Wine Talk, Malaysia’s online wine delivery service, to bring you yet again another beautiful evening of wine tasting, paired with delicious tapas and more.

La Bodega Tapas Y Vinos is popular for its numerous and unforgettable Spanish dishes, including the classic Paella, which is the best version I’ve tasted in my life. With branches in Jalan Telawi, Bangsar Shopping Center (BSC), Pavilion KL, Empire Subang and the Shore in Malacca, La Bodega continues to delight us with their appetizing menu and other fun-filled activities.

I enjoy hanging out at La Bodega because of its delicious menu choices, specially these ones that will bring you to an unforgettable gastronomic (if not orgasmic) level! I’m in love with their Gambas Al Ajillo and Deep Fried Goat Cheese.

La Bodega’s Gambas Al Ajillo (one of my favourites!)
*Photo by La Bodega

La Bodega’s Deep Fried Goat Cheese (I can’t resist this one…it’s addictive!)
*Photo by La Bodega

La Bodega’s Arroz Negro con Calamares
*Photo by La Bodega

And if you haven’t heard, La Bodega makes us women even happier to be…women! Every Thursday, enjoy an evening of lovely music and, of course, drinks at La Bodega Jalan Telawi KL and La Bodega The Shore in Malacca.

Wine Talk is known for its wide selection of wines online, ready to be ordered and delivered to your address within West Malaysia. Wine Talk wines are selected by its French sommelier, David Stephan, and are made available online where you can order anytime, anywhere…from a couch while using your phone to a coffee shop while using your laptop.

Wine Talk also makes you discover wines that you haven’t seen or tried before. With David Stephan always looking for new great wines to introduce to Malaysia, Wine Talk continues to make wine discovery an exciting and pleasurable journey.

And this time around (again), La Bodega and Wine Talk join wines and wine glasses to bring us its wine tasting and sale event for July. Come on, ladies and gentlemen, you don’t want to miss all these!

There will be 11 wines from respected winemaking countries: France, Italy, South Africa and Chile. For only RM100 per guest, you will enjoy free flow drinks of these beautiful wines, which are available in Malaysia exclusively via Wine Talk.

Wine is best enjoyed with friends and even better with delicious Spanish food by La Bodega. Take a look at this mouth-watering Paella Valenciana Mixta that was served during the previous wine tasting evening in May! We gotta have a plate or 2 of this!

La Bodega’s Paella Valenciana

How to be part of this event? You can RSVP via the Facebook pages of La BodegaTapas Y Vinos or Wine Talk Malaysia or you can click the image below and fill-up your details. Payment is not required yet on RSVP. RM100 will be collected at the entrance during the event on 25^th July 2015, Saturday, 4pm-7pm, La Bodega Bangsar Shopping Center.

See you soon!

If you have any questions, you may directly send a message via the Facebook pages above or email to info@winetalk.com.my or call 1300 88 9788

Zoeva and Luscious Lipsticks to Get that Girl-Next-Door Look

Posted on July 14, 2015 by CelesteDeJesus

It’s amazing how a dash of color on a woman’s lips changes her personality and appeal.

luxola-luscious-cosmetics-lipstick-flirty-fuschia

I’m getting more addicted with using different lip products and different colors these days. In one day, I’d probably use 2-3 different brands and shades of lipsticks at work: one in the morning before I go, another one right before stepping out of the car and a third one when I retouch after lunch time. I find it fun and stylish to be shifting lip colors through the day!

I have a collection of lip colors that I mainly use for my office look but there are times when I want to have that simple, innocent look (so I don’t look like that tough monster all the time at work, haha!).

I love shopping at Luxola and I had a fun time choosing 3 lipsticks to try and to achieve a girl-next-door look. I picked 3 different shades from light pink to vibrant red. And I was also excited to try 2 brands of lip color that I haven’t tried before: Luscious Cosmetics and Zoeva. I’ve tried Zoeva brushes and I loved them so I decided to try its Lip Crayon.

The Zoeva Lip Crayon comes in a black matte box and the lip crayon stick comes in a black matte finish with silver text letterings. The lip color shade is visible at one end so it’s easy to identify even with the cap on.

ZOEVA Lip Crayon

Color: Tender Rose

Lipstick Pencil

Made in Germany

2.8g / 0.10oz

Price: RM34.00

What is it:

The ZOEVA Lip Crayon is a chunky lipstick pencil with a super light and creamy formula. It gives your lips sharp colour and a fine shiny finish. This product is also very smooth, as it melts naturally like butter on your lips for a visibly soft and plump effect.

What makes it great:

This lip product contains Vitamin E and Jojoba Oil, making the lips smoother, plumped and moisturized.

The downside to this crayon is that it’s not the twist up type. You need to use a sharpener for this one.

The texture of this crayon is amazing. It’s so easy to apply, it glides smoothly on the lips on its own. I normally use lip balm with some other lipsticks but with this Zoeva lip crayon, I’m good to go without balm. It also has a soft sheen finish, giving you an overall fresh look. With light makeup, I can easily have a girl-next-door look. Adding a hair accessory like this Sereni and Shentel thin headband makes it even sweeter.

I also decided to try this brand, Luscious Cosmetics, as it has an interesting name and the shades are fashionable. This Signature Lipstick comes in a combination black and silver tube, with the color visible on the base, like Zoeva Lip Crayon.

luxola-luscious-cosmetics-signature-lipstick

LUSCIOUS Signature Lipstick

Color: Buff Pink

Made in USA

4g / 0.14oz

Price: RM57.00

What is it:

The Luscious Signature Lipstick Collection provides the lips with lightweight, vibrant colour. Each lippie in infused with nourishing oils that make the formula feel moisturising. It also offers a velvety finish that makes your lips look and feel rich.

What makes it great:

This lip product contains jojoba oil that keeps the lips well-moisturized. It feels lightweight on the lips while giving a velvety finish.

The texture is good and color is buildable. If you want a very light touch of color, you can apply 1 swipe. I, however, prefer a deeper shade so I apply 2-3 swipes then blot my lips over folded tissue. It has a darker color than Zoeva Lip Crayon but it still gives me that girl-next-door look. Combined with a white plain headband, my look is complete, voila!

And who said that dark, rich red lipstick won’t give you a sugar-spice-and-everything-nice appeal?

I was happy to give this Luscious Super Moisturizing Lipstick a try. The shade I picked is sexily named ‘Flirty Fuschia’, and it comes in a sleek silver tube. Nudes dominate the full color collection and I picked one of the deepest colors.

LUSCIOUS Super Moisturizing Lipstick

Color: Flirty Fuschia

Made in Taiwan

3.5g / 0.12oz

Price: RM51.50

What is it:

The Luscious’ Super Moisturizing Lipstick gives colour and luster to your delicate pucker with its creamy and moisturizing formula enriched with Vitamin E and Grape Seed Oil.

What makes it great:

This lip product contains Vitamin E and Grape Seed oil to keep lips moisturized and supple.

The texture is great and like the other Luscious lipstick, the color is also buildable. Because it contains Vitamin E and Grape Seed oil, this lipstick feels smooth and comfortable on the lips.

Yes, the color might seem too sexy for a girl-next-door look but with light eye makeup and right accessories, this shade can be sweet and dandy. Here is the flirty fuschia paired with my red Sereni and Shentel headband.

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I love these 3 new lipsticks and I find it amazing how I can change my look with different lipstick shades. Do you switch lip colors throughout the day? Give it a try and explore how your lip colors change your mood, your look and your appeal!

Exclusive for my readers:

15% OFF on your first order at www.luxola.com/my

Use my code BLX-CELESTELIPS

Valid till August 31st and is not applicable on non-discountable brands found in Luxola FAQ

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Exclusive for my readers:

15% OFF on your first order at www.luxola.com/my

Use my code BLX-CELESTELIPS

Valid till August 31st and is not applicable on non-discountable brands found in Luxola FAQ.

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Love lipsticks? Discover more information and makeup tips via Luxola’s LX Edit! You’ll find amazing and useful guide for that perfect and fashionable look.

SK-II Pitera Facial Essence Product Review

Posted on July 10, 2015 by CelesteDeJesus

I finally took the step to test this bestselling beauty product…why is this so popular and is it worth it?

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Since I arrived in Malaysia 5 years ago, SK-II has been one of the most prominent skincare brands in this country. I wasn’t really familiar with this brand before as it is not available in the Philippines, at least not before I left. The brand has such strong marketing presence and highly influential brand ambassadors that included Cate Blanchett. Oh, who doesn’t admire Cate, with her timeless beauty, grace and impeccable sense of fashion?

celebrity-ambassador-sk-II-cate-blanchett

Of course, I admit that I got interested to try the brand, mainly because of its Facial Essence. It promises skin transformation in 14 days, making spots less visible, appearance of wrinkles reduced, and making the skin radiant. I bought a Pitera Essence set for my mother-in-law before and I noticed a remarkable improvement on the radiance of her skin. After finishing that first set, I bought a second set for her and bought one for myself, too.

Made in Japan

Price: RM229

Where to buy:

SK-II counters in major department stores – Isetan, Parkson, Metrojaya, Aeon

Sephora boutiques

Luxola at www.luxola.com.my

SK-II Pitera Essence Set contains:

SK-II Facial Treatment Clear Lotion 30ml

How to use – After cleansing the skin, pour an appropriate amount (approximately 3 cm diameter) of Clear Lotion onto cotton pad. Gently wipe over T-zone, followed by U-zone from center outwards, then over neck.

SK-II Facial Treatment Essence 75ml

How to use – After toning the skin, pour an appropriate amount (slightly larger than the diameter of the cap) of Essence onto cotton pad. Gently pat onto face and neck.

SK-II Facial Treatment Mask 1pc

How to use – Place mask over eye area first, then gently spread over face and pat firm. Remove mask after 5-15 minutes. Discard mask after use.

I’ve used up the Clear Lotion and the Treatment Mask. These are both good products although it’s hard for me to fully evaluate, as the size of the lotion may not have been enough to show results while the 1-piece mask does give that instant hydration effect after use.

As for the Facial Essence, I’ve been using it for 3 months now. I’m not a big fan of the scent of the essence itself but it dissipates in a few seconds anyway so it’s not a big deal. The essence is water-like both in color and viscosity. It feels clean and light, easily absorbed by the skin.

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After first 2 weeks of use, it’s sad to say that I didn’t notice much change on my skin. I know that a skincare product’s speed of efficacy may vary from person to person, and this doesn’t necessarily mean that the product is not working so I patiently continued to use it. After 1 month, I did notice that my skin’s texture and radiance have improved. And on my 2^nd month of use, I noticed that spots are diminishing, although not completely gone.

I’ve seen good results but somehow on my third month, it’s just on ‘maintenance’ phase, as I don’t notice improvements anymore. I also find that the progress of results took longer than expected or as promised. I’m happy that my skin improved, especially with the diminished spots, however, I expected better. Considering that SK-II is probably the top brand in the country and that it’s mid-priced, I thought that results will be amazing or surprising, within at least a month. I find that it took long to see changes from the Facial Essence. Will I buy it again? Hmmm, I’d probably try something else with my RM229.

About the product

SK-II’s signature product, the much-loved and most awarded bestseller, Facial Treatment Essence has over 90% Pitera™, the miracle ingredient discovered over 30 years ago that remains essentially unchanged till today. Its irreplaceable formula gently exfoliates the face and helps moderate the skin surface renewal cycle.

In just 14 days, your skin’s 5 dimensions are visibly transformed: spots are less visible, appearance of wrinkles is reduced, skin texture is more refined, firmnessis improved, and radiance is beautifully elevated. Skin becomes breathtakingly crystal clear.

Texture: This lightweight miracle water is quickly absorbed into the skin.

Key Ingredient: Pitera™ is full of vitamins, amino acids, minerals and organic acids that work together to allow the skin’s natural surface rejuvenation process to function at its prime.

Other Ingredients: Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate, Butylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Water, Sodium Benzoate, Methylparaben, Sorbic Acid.

Make Up For Ever Pro-Finish Multi-Use Powder Foundation

Posted on July 3, 2015 by CelesteDeJesus

No matter how good liquid or cream foundation is, I still need a good powder foundation to complete my face finish

make-up-for-ever-multi-use-pro-finish-powder-foundation-and-brush

Oh, what would our photos be without foundation or at least a photo filter that creates the illusion of flawless skin like having foundation on?

I bought this Make Up For Ever Pro Finish Multi-Use Powder Foundation at its boutique in Sephora Starhill, together with the Mist & Fix Make-Up Fixer Mist. It comes in a sleek black compact with a black box.

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The compact has a compartment for the powder itself and the sponge: the powder on top compartment and sponge under. I’m not a big fan of this compact style because I need to keep lifting the powder part to get the sponge and somehow the movement keeps tapping the powder compartment. Eventually, this might make the compact powder break. It would have been better if the sponge was on top and the powder was under. But this is Make Up For Ever foundation and I wanted to give it a try.

make-up-for-ever-multi-use-pro-finish-powder-foundation

I picked color 125 (Beige Rose/Pink Rose), well, technically, the beauty consultant recommended it to me. This foundation has a 24-month life-after-opening period (if this is new to you, it simply means that after start of use or opening, you can use it for the next 24 months).

I’ve been using Make Up For Ever Pro Finish Multi-Use Powder Foundation for several months now. I am enjoying the texture and finish on my skin. I normally apply this after using my liquid or cream foundation, it works well with Guerlain Lingerie de Peau.

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The sponge is great to use but, of course, if you want a more flawless application, it’s best applied with a face powder brush. This multi-use foundation can be applied both in wet or dry application. If you are comfortable with sheer foundation effect, you don’t even need a liquid foundation. You can simply wet the sponge and apply the multi-use powder. Both with wet or dry application, this foundation lasts great through the day, although I still retouch once in a while because I love the freshly made makeup look and I have oily skin.

And definitely, after finishing my makeup, I apply the Mist & Fix. It works wonders on keeping my foundation in place.

make-up-for-ever-multi-use-pro-finish-powder-foundation-shades

Where to buy Make Up For Ever / Price: RM180.00

Make Up For Ever Boutique

Level 2 Sephora Starhill

Zalora Online/MakeUpForEver

http://www.zalora.com.my

zalora-make-up-for-ever-multi-use-pro-finish-powder-foundation

About the Product

With its transforming texture, PRO FINISH is the 1st multi-use powder foundation that allows you to fully customize your finish and coverage level. Formulated with exclusive bio-mimetic coated pigments, its breakthrough formula can be used wet or dry.

Apply it wet for a sheer semi-matte perfection or dry for a full coverage, matte result.

Created with talc lightweight formula, its texture is long lasting, has buildable coverage with no chalky effect and easily blends for a perfect professional result in just minutes.

Enriched with hydrating ingredients, PRO FINISH corrects and evens the complexion without drying our skin.

Olay Regenerist Advanced Cleansing System

Posted on June 21, 2015 by CelesteDeJesus

Some of us might not have the budget for a Clarisonic…but, hey, what about this one?

skincare-facial-cleansing-device-anti-aging-set

For the past years, I’m sure you have witnessed the popularity of facial cleansing devices, dominated by best-selling brand Clarisonic. It took a while before beauty brands recognized the strong potential from this new beauty segment but it wasn’t too late for brands like Clinique and Olay to jump in the beauty device wagon.

While I think that Clarisonic is a worthy investment for good facial cleansing system, not everyone would have a budget of RM600+ to enjoy the benefits of a cleansing device. I wasn’t highly keen on trying out a cleansing device before but while shopping online at www.watsons.com.my, I received a free Olay Regenerist Advanced Cleansing System (worth around RM129) together with my purchase of RM150 of selected brands. I love online shopping and I love free stuff!

This facial cleansing device set comes in Olay’s black and red box. The box set contains: 1 facial cleansing device, 1 brush head, 1 skin renewal cleanser 20ml and 2 AA batteries.

Benefits of Olay Regenerist Cleansing System:

Up to 4x better cleansing than cleanser alone (tested on removing makeup vs. cleanser alone)
Gently exfoliates
Delivers daily deep cleansing
Renewal Cleanser primes the skin for anti-aging regimen
Device has 2-speed control, is water-resistant and easy to hold

What results to expect:

Skin is instantly cleaner, feels fresher
Skin texture is improved and smoother with continuous use

I like that Duracell batteries are already included in this boxed set. Don’t you just hate it when you discover that you need batteries for something you just bought or received? It’s also easy to install the 2 batteries on the device. Gently rock the battery compartment (on the base) side to side while pulling to release battery cover. Then insert the 2 batteries and push back the cover. Reminder, do not mix old and new batteries.

olay-skincare-facial-cleansing-device-and-batteries

The device has 2 rubber buttons, 1 to switch it on or off and 1 to control speed. I prefer to use basic speed versus the faster one but this will depend on your personal preference.

This set comes with 1 brush head, which is easy to snap onto the device. It is recommended to replace the brush head every 3 months. I haven’t replaced mine after more than 3 months, haha, but it still works fine and, don’t worry, the brush head is not disgusting or dirty-looking (yet).

A 20ml skin renewal cleanser is packed inside this set but you don’t necessarily need to use it together with the device. We all have our preferred cleanser so feel free to use the device with your favorite brand. I have a habit of trying new brands and products every now and then. I’ve used the Olay Cleansing Device with different brands like Garnier, Neutrogena and Shizens.

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For the past 6 months, I’ve been using this device every evening to cleanse my face. Initially, I tried using it day and night but I developed a few pimples, around 2-3 (oh yes, I will count them coz I rarely get these!), so I decided to slow down and use it at night only. For someone who has not tried cleansing devices before, it probably ‘surprised’ my skin. When I limited use to once a day, the pimples stopped, yay! And the fun starts.

My skin does feel instantly cleaner, in a different way than it feels with normal deep cleansing without a device. And though it’s not Clarisonic, I’d say it does a good job in complementing my skin-cleansing regimen. So if you want to start exploring facial cleansing devices and you’re on a tight budget, the Olay Regenerist Advanced Cleansing System is good bet.

Where to buy: www.luxola.com.my / www.watsons.com.my

Replacement cleansing brush heads are available at www.watsons.com.my – RM29.90 for a boxed set of 2 pieces

Celeste de Jesus

Beauty, Lifestyle, Health, Fitness and Other Addictive Stuff

Author Archives: CelesteDeJesus

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SK-II Pitera Facial Essence Product Review

Texture: This lightweight miracle water is quickly absorbed into the skin.

Make Up For Ever Pro-Finish Multi-Use Powder Foundation

Olay Regenerist Advanced Cleansing System