What to do in Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam

Posted on April 4, 2014 by CelesteDeJesus

The mummy blogger went shopping, eating and sightseeing in Vietnam

Early last month, I got to spend a 5-day holiday in Vietnam with my family. This was my first time to see Ho Chi Minh and I was really excited to explore this country, or at least the city of Ho Chi Minh. This is also a first for my son so it’s very memorable and thrilling for all of us. The trip included my husband, my in-laws, my brother-in-law and his wife and daughter. Well, yeah, it was a big family trip.

The plane ride from LCCT to Vietnam is just short, around 2 hours (but I actually hate plane rides as I get headaches so 2 hours is already long for me). Luckily, my son slept half the time and he only had a minor fussy moment when we were almost there. For those who will travel with kids, it helps to have some sweets to curb off the uneasy and nauseous feeling for toddlers. I also had some entertainment stuff like small toys and a small picture book.

We stayed at a small, cozy but convenient hotel named Dream Hotel located at District 1 of Ho Chi Minh. The location is great if you want to be near market shopping, street food and tourist spots. At that time, the hotel was undergoing some renovation so there are a few inconveniences but overall, it was worth it staying here mainly for its location and friendly staff.

Excitedly, of course, my first agenda is to explore Ben Thanh Market and do some first day shopping!

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Ben Thanh Market, Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam (photo from Wikipedia)

This is very near the hotel, which only takes a 3-minute walk to reach. The weather outdoors at that time was just nice — warm and sunny but not scorching hot. The Ben Thanh Market is very popular among the tourists because this is where you can find good souvenirs, local handicrafts and good local food, too. But take note, bargaining is a must at this place. Lucky I have a very competitive hubby who is still my best shopping buddy.

Colorful merchandise of all sorts inside the Ben Thanh Market

There are so many things to see inside the Ben Thanh Market. Colorful items will capture your eyes. Different textile items are for sale such as bags, hand-painted cloths and other decorative materials.

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Beautiful collectible dolls in Ben Thanh Market

I saw these really cute, adorable dolls with hand-stitched clothes and hand-painted face. Yes, you’ll see a lot of creative handiwork in this market and if you are the type who loves to collect beautiful items and use them to decorate the house, this marketplace is a good shopping destination.

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Various choices for coffee lovers

Vietnam is also famous for their delicious coffee and the Ben Thanh Market has a lot of coffee sellers. Wow, just look at these choices. This is just one of the sections of rows and rows of stalls selling coffee.

There are stalls selling sweets and other different dried fruits. Here you see some bargaining action between a customer and a seller. It can get very stuffy and hot inside this market so if you’re not comfortable, you can explore night “marketing” instead. At around 8PM, the Ben Thanh Market will close but the sellers will be setting up outside so tourists and locals can continue shopping. There will be fewer stalls, definitely, but you can still find good buys at the night market.

Ho Chi Minh Fine Arts Museum

Another place to see is the Ho Chi Minh Fine Arts Museum. This is also just walking distance from our hotel. Of course, if you don’t want to be exposed to the sun and if you don’t want to fight your way through the busy streets, you have the option to take a cab. The thing about the streets around where we stayed at District 1 is that crossing the streets can be very challenging and scary.

Sculptures

The Fine Arts Museum has 3 floors of historic collections of different art pieces that reflect Vietnam arts and culture. It showcases paintings, relic items, sculptures, potteries and furniture.

What do you see?

Check out this painting. Do you see several figures, too?

Chinese Furniture in Fine Arts Museum

The craft of the Chinese wooden divider on the left is so intricate and yet this piece has been well taken care of. The table on the right consists of well-made inlays and very fine designs. It’s amazing to see a product of much creativity and hard in one magnificent piece of work.

Entrance fee to the Fine Arts Museum is very affordable. If I remember it right, it was only around RM3-5 per person.

Walking on the streets, you’ll find fresh fruits sold almost everywhere. Look at this enticing display of colorful fruits…

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Fresh fruits, anyone?

Exploring the culture of Vietnam won’t be complete without reminiscing the Vietnam War. The War Remnants Museum, located at District 3 of Ho Chi Minh City, is quite famous among tourists. This museum primarily showcases exhibits relating to the American phase during the Vietnam War. My son was so excited when he saw those real-life helicopters, planes and tanks displayed outside the museum building.

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War Remnants Museum in Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam

Inside the building are more items such as the potteries below, old photos, ammunition and other historical materials.

After walking and enduring my son’s tantrums, I definitely needed to have good food to eat. People might find it weird that I didn’t crave for local food. I’ve always been enamored by the French culture as well. And since I was in a country that has some French background, I have to take advantage and enjoy some French food!

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French Cafe in Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam

My husband brought my son, my mother-in-law and me to a French café called Une Journee a Paris, which is located near our hotel back in District 1. The pastries and the bread are all so mouth-watering.

Mouth-watering French muffins and bread

French cakes

Well, the French names alone are enticing: Citron Meringuee, Chocolat, Pain Au Chocolat Amande.

The best omelette I’ve had in my life!

I ordered this delicious omelette: Omelette Jambon – Fromage with French Ham and Cheese, and loads of freshly cut tomatoes. Served with bread, this omelette is amazing. I was so amazed at how such a simple-looking dish can be sooo good. The tomatoes had some sauce and olive oil that made it taste amazingly sumptuous. The omelette itself is so tender and the cheese just blended so good with the French ham and egg. OMG, I am lost for words. I just wish I know how to cook, hahaha!

Quiche Lorraine from French Restaurant in Vietnam

My mother-in-law ordered this Quiche Lorraine served with the same freshly cut tomatoes and some green vegetables. I tried a bit and it was just heavenly.

Enjoyed my hair cut, wash and blow dry in Ho Chi Minh!

Hair salons are also conveniently accessible to our hotel. I barely have time in Malaysia to do my haircut so I took my chance here in Ho Chi Minh. I had my haircut then had my hair washed, which came with good head massage, too.

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To complete our Vietnam holiday, we went for some authentic local food at a hawker center called 155 Nha Hang Sinh Thai. The place was full of customers but we were lucky to find a place to sit and order. Ordering was a challenge as not a lot of them can understand and speak English. My husband and brother-in-law struggled for around 20 – 30 minutes for our orders to be taken.

Well, it was worth the struggle and wait, I guess. These were some of the dishes (or at least half of it).

I didn’t have much time to go around, as my son got sick on the second day. But I still managed to do some shopping, mostly for shoes (!), slippers and souvenirs to bring back to KL. I had a wonderful time, spending most of it with my naughty but adorable son. My husband was even busier than me, going out with the rest and then buying back food for me, and of course, taking me for some shopping when we have the chance.

Overall, Ho Chi Minh is really a wonderful city to visit. There are lots of good food, French pastries, value buys and amazing places to see. So if you’re thinking of another city to visit nearby Malaysia, consider Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam. It’s worth your time and shopping money.

Oh, and by the way, I shopped for 2 pairs of ALDO shoes while in Vietnam. I’ll share the photos and prices soon!

M.A.C. Rihanna Viva Glam Red Lipstick

Posted on March 25, 2014 by CelesteDeJesus

This will be shocking for a lot of women who love M.A.C. Cosmetics…but I haven’t tried or purchased any M.A.C. Lipstick until now. I have a few MAC brushes but I guess I didn’t pay much attention to lip color before. I only have 2 or 3 shades and that’s it. Those colors will last for the year.

I’ve been interested in exploring lip colors recently and have been trying different brands as well. While reading my monthly copy of Women’s Weekly, I came across MAC Viva Glam Rihanna collection. The color is incredibly striking, beautifully furious. I was captivated and I knew I gotta have one.

So, yes, I explored it at the MAC boutique during one of my visits to Pavilion. I loved it.

M.A.C. Rihanna Viva Glam Lipstick – RM68 for 3g

The lipstick tube is in a sexy red color with matte finish. With the cap off, the tube features Rihanna’s signature in red color against black.

M.A.C. Rihanna Viva Glam Lipstick box

The box is adorned with Rihanna’s signature in metallic red against MAC’s standard black packaging. Truly a celebrity style. Though, of course, we’re not going to use the box, I like that the brand paid attention to it and incorporated the signature.

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M.A.C. Lipsticks – Rihanna Viva Glam and Matte Lipstick

The lipstick is using the exact shape and size of the standard MAC lipsticks in the same bullet-like casing. And another good similar thing, MAC Viva Glam Rihanna has the same price as the other MAC lipstick at RM68.

Swatches of M.A.C. Rihanna Viva Glam Lipstick

The texture of this lipstick is beautiful. It glides smoothly on the lips and has a buildable finish. You can start with lighter red color or swipe a few times until you have that ‘Rihanna’ red effect on your lips. I swipe around three times until I reach that deep red color since that is the shade that I fell in love with in the first place. This Viva Glam item is a frost lipstick so it has that light shimmer finish. Here’s a closer look:

M.A.C. Rihanna Viva Glam swatches

The color is just so defined and creates an immediate impact to my makeup look. You can probably get away with having very simple eye makeup or no makeup at all then just swipe this MAC Viva Glam lipstick and you already have a fashion/ makeup statement. Oh, that red, red lipstick is to die for.

Love, love this MAC lipstick and I’m predicting I’ll have a few more. In fact, I bought this item together with a MAC Matte Lipstick in another deep red shade.

My current lip color collection top picks…(yeah, my last splurge was a Dior lipstick)

About MAC Viva Glam

Rihanna launches the new M.A.C. VIVA GLAM with two strikingly bold shades of red frosted Lipstick and Lipglass, perfectly capturing her fearless, confident style. Every cent of the selling price of VIVA GLAM Rihanna goes toward helping women, men and children living with and affected by HIV/AIDS. Limited-edition, soft-touch red packaging features RiRi’s signature.

GUESS Blogger Awards for Denim Lovers – presented by Female

Posted on March 23, 2014 by CelesteDeJesus

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Can’t live without denim? Love your jeans with all your heart and style? Then you stand a strong chance to win wonderful prizes including a GRAND Prize worth over RM4,000!

Denim jeans are still my most comfortable and most prized type of pants. Well, if only I can wear jeans all the time, I’d probably be sporting different cuts and styles of jeans everyday! There’s just something timeless about denim that makes it an ultimate fashion must-have for both boys and girls. Now this contest especially dedicated to denim and to bloggers is definitely an exciting one!

Guess Jeans Blogger Awards presented by Female

Just share your fashion thoughts and inspirations

How can you participate? Guess Jeans and Female Magazine invite bloggers to simply share fashion thoughts and inspirations. All we need to do is follow the 2 steps below to be shortlisted for this contest:

STEP 1

Snap a photo of yourself wearing your favorite pair of denim and tell why denim completes your look in a maximum of 50 words.

GUESS Denim Jeans

STEP 2

Include your full particulars: name, NRIC, blogspot, occupation, address, telephone and email. Email it to promotions1@bluinc.com.mybefore 30^th April 2014 (please state ‘female GUESS Blogger Awards’ as your subject header)

Click HERE or on this link to send your entry to Guess Blogger Awards 2014:

http://female.bloggeraward.my/enter-to-win/

And that’s it, you’re on your way to winning prizes!

PRIZES UP FOR GRABS:

Grand Prize

A two-page feature in the September 2014 issue of Female magazine
RM2,000 cash
GUESS voucher worth RM2,000
An award badge to display on the winner’s blog

Top 3 Prizes

RM500 cash
GUESS voucher worth RM1,000
An award badge to display on the winners’ blogs

4x Consolation Prizes

GUESS voucher worth RM500

Terms and conditions:

This contest is open to all female bloggers aged 16 and above
Must be residing in Malaysia
Must be actively blogging for the past 6 months
The judges’ decision is final and Female reserves the right to reject or disqualify incomplete entries. No correspondence will be entertained. Staff of Blu Inc Media Sdn Bhd and all sponsors, and their immediate family members, are not eligible for entry.

We still have until 30th April 2014 to submit our entries so start capturing your fashionable denim moments now!

Gotta love those denim jeans!

NARS Volumizing and Lengthening Mascara for Thicker & Longer Lashes

Posted on March 20, 2014 by CelesteDeJesus

I’ve recently been trying a lot of new brands for the first time. This is really exciting!

We all want longer, thicker eyelashes, don’t we?

How many of us ladies would want to have those beautiful, long, solid black, rich lashes? Truth is every woman would want to have captivating eyes. After all, our eyes say a lot more even when we don’t speak. Did you know that in ancient Rome, Roman women should have long and thick lashes as a sign of beauty? Not only do eyelashes signify beauty but it was also believed that “eyelashes fall out from excessive sex”; this meant that it was very important for women during those times to maintain beautiful, long and thick lashes to prove their chastity. That’s a lot of pressure to have nice lashes!

Luckily, we don’t have that kind of pressure now. But, of course, we still desire beautiful lashes. It just makes a lot of difference on how we look. To some, it boosts their confidence. We cannot do much on how big or small our eyes are but we can definitely ‘influence’ how our eyes look, especially the lashes.

In continuation of my journey into trying new things, this time around, I tried and tested a set of volumizing and lengthening mascaras from another new brand that I haven’t tried before…NARS!

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NARS Mascaras for me!

I was advised to use 2 mascaras together. First step is volumizing.

NARS Larger than Life Volumizing Mascara

RM95 for 0.21oz

Color – Black, Made in USA

This mascara comes in a nice, matte finish black tube. The applicator or wand is quite easy to use. The bristles are thick, which is good for volumizing effect. I like the look and feel of this tube, simple but chic. There’s just something about black packaging for cosmetics that give a posh appeal.

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NARS Larger than Life Volumizing Mascara

NARS Volumizing Mascara applicator/ wand

The mascara itself has a nice texture, easy to apply and is not prone to smudge. Application is done evenly with the brush, convenient and fast to use. But if you do accidentally smear some on your eyelid, just quickly rub with your ring finger and it will easily blend with the eye shadow.

The name itself tells you what it does for your eyelashes: VOLUMIZE. This means thicker-looking lashes. Just what I need for my thin ones!

Second step is lengthening.

NARS Larger than Life Lengthening Mascara

RM95 for 0.21oz

Color – Black, Made in USA

Like a twin of the volumizing mascara, Larger than Life Lengthening Mascara also comes in the exact matte finish black tube. The wand consists of fine bristles meant to maximize lengthening effects of the product.

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NARS Larger than Life Lengthening Mascara

NARS Lengthening Mascara applicator/ wand

The mascara has a good texture, not the type that makes your lashes feel heavy. One of the reasons why I’ve stopped using mascaras for years is that “heavy feeling” that stays with the eyes during the entire day. But this one is very light on the lashes, even with 2-3 layers.

I have “okay” lashes but I wouldn’t mind having the extra length. Oh, why do our lashes get shorter when we age? Nah, don’t answer that.

Before I applied these mascaras, I actually did a small test. Another concern that I have with mascaras is its resistance to water. I hate black smears from mascaras as the day wears on. Let’s see if this one passes…

NARS Mascaras under water resistance test

I let water run through it and it didn’t budge or smear. In fact, I rubbed it afterwards and it still didn’t smudge. I used a makeup cleansing lotion then it finally came off. NARS Larger than Life Volumizing and Lengthening Mascaras passed the water test!

So I applied the 2 mascaras together. And voila! See the difference…

Before (left) and after (right) application of NARS Volumizing + Lengthening Mascaras

My lashes do appear longer and thicker, although not really “larger than life”. But it still does make a difference on how my eyes appear. When you need to remove the mascara, be a bit more patient as it won’t wear off fast. What I do is I gently massage the makeup cleanser (mine is a lotion type) longer than my usual. Then I use another eye makeup remover on a cotton pad then place it on my eyelashes for several seconds to soak the mascara off.

So how was my first set of NARS products? It was good! The mascaras were comfortable to use and make a noticeable improvement on my lashes. They were waterproof so I don’t need to constantly check my eyes on the mirror. The mascaras don’t feel heavy at all even with several layers. NARS mascaras make a stylish final touch to my eye makeup!

The NARS effect on my lashes

Where to buy NARS cosmetics?

NARS Cosmetics opened their first store in Pavilion, Kuala Lumpur last year, located at Level 3.

NARS Cosmetics store in Pavilion Kuala Lumpur, Level 3

About NARS Cosmetics (via www.wikipedia.org)

NARS Cosmetics is a Shiseido-owned cosmetics and skin care company founded by François Nars, make-up artist and photographer. The cosmetics line began with twelve lipsticks sold at Barneys New York. Since then, NARS have created various multi-use beauty products. The minimalist packaging was created by Fabien Baron and has been hailed as a modern design icon. In 1996, Nars started his first advertising campaign doing the photography for the ads himself.

Product shades carry provocative names like ‘Orgasm’, ‘Deep Throat’, ‘Striptease,’ and ‘Sex Machine’. NARS ‘Orgasm’ blush is one of their most top-selling products, being Best of Sephora’s Best Blush for 2006, 2007 and 2008. They have developed an entire “Orgasm Collection,” including blush, lipgloss, multiples, illuminators, and even nail polish. In addition, NARS product shades are also named after geographic locations such as ‘Iceland’, ‘Kalahari’, and ‘Kuala Lumpur’.

Some of the most popular NARS products are blushes, bronzers, lipsticks, and their world famous eye-shadow palettes. The shadows are highly pigmented and come in an array of beautiful colours. They have been known to release products inspired by artists such as Andy Warhol using colours from one of his famous paintings ‘Marilyn Monroe’. (for more info, log on to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NARS_Cosmetics)

Shizens Shui and Replenish Nutrient Expert

Posted on March 17, 2014 by CelesteDeJesus

Shizens Hydro Anti-Aging Skincare Regimen (part 2)

Thanks for your interest to read on after part 1 – Shizens Hydro Cleanser and Hydro Enhancing Lotion product review

After application of the Hydro Enhancing Lotion, the skin is now well prepared for the following skincare products.

Shizens SHUI

Shizens SHUI comes in the same elegant gold and pearl color scheme as the other Hydro products but SHUI has a screw cap instead of a pump. The bottle has a double layer of white and clear acrylic, which is also evident in the screw cap. Even without a pump, dispensing is very controllable and the liquid is easy to pour on the palm.

Shizens Shui on my palm

The product itself is also water-like in viscosity like the Enhancing Lotion. Using the palm, it is delightful to apply on the face. Some prefer to apply serums or essences with the palm or fingertips since there’s no wastage left when using cotton pads. And it’s nice to feel the product from skin to skin. This essence is definitely one of my favorite skincare items now.

SHUI acts like an enzyme to prepare your skin to accept other nutrients easily. By activating the cells, it will improve the skin blood circulation. The more rapid the blood circulation, the easier for the skin to detoxify the negative substances such as pimples, oil seeds and etc. By replenishing the missing nutrients, skin will be restored to its best texture, tone, and luminosity while strengthening its immune system. Shui detoxifies negative substances and replenishes nutrients to make the skin healthy and flawless.

SHUI is enriched with the Ganoderma Lucidum extract, which comes from a type of mushroom known as Ling Zhi (in Chinese) or Reishi (in Japanese). The mushroom has been used as a traditional medicine for centuries. The extract, also known as the “medicine of eternal life”, inhibits the formation of melanin, so this means brightening efficacies for the skin.

How to use:

After applying the Enhancing Lotion (or your normal toner/ lotion), dispense SHUI onto your palm or on a cotton pad. Apply all over the face, pat gently.

Shizens Shui price: RM588 for 180ml

Shizens Replenish Nutrient Expert

Shizens Replenish Nutrient Expert (RNE) comes in a square-ish jar with the same gold and pearl color as SHUI. The jar features the double-layer container elegantly (yeah, I’m very amused by the nice pearl and transparent layers of the containers huh). It also has a secondary cover after the cap for better hygienic purposes and to prevent the product from spilling to the inside of the cap when accidentally kept upside down.

Shizens Replenish Nutrient Expert on my hand

The cream itself has a light peach color, not your traditional white or off-white color for a moisturizer. Surprisingly, for its yoghurt-like texture, it was not greasy at all and doesn’t make my face sticky. During the day, it blends well with my sunscreen and liquid foundation. I love how it makes both my face and neck feel supple even after my first overnight application. Amazing. This is a must-have-stock moisturizer in my vanity cabinet.

Various botanical extracts were used in the formulation of Shizens Replenish Nutrient Expert. These botanical extracts synergize perfectly with each other to deliver the best result to the skin and stimulate the collagen production and restore elasticity of skin. It contains natural herbs that are proven to have anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic, anti-oxidant and healing properties. RNE helps to hydrate the skin and keep it moist and supple.

Replenish Nutrient Expert works synergistically together with SHUĬ, the perfect essence to detoxify negative substances as well as strengthen skin immune system. SHUĬ motivates the absorption of Replenish Nutrient Expert that supplies sufficient nutrients to our skin. Visible changes can be seen with combination usage of SHUĬ and Replenish Nutrient Expert. Skin looks healthy and luminous after few days of continuous use.

How to use:

After applying SHUI, dab amounts of Replenish Nutrient Expert on the face and neck using your fingertips. Massage gently until fully absorbed.

Shizens Replenish Nutrient Expert price: RM148 for 10g/ RM380 for 30g

So what’s my overall VERDICT?

O.M.G. This regimen is amazing for me. I’ve felt the difference in just a few days. It is not easy to show the improvement on the photos but I think most important is how a person feels about her/his skin. Within 3 days, my skin feels great, feels supple and smooth. Within 7 days, there’s improvement on the texture and clarity of my skin. My pores are less noticeable and there’s reduction in redness on some areas of my face. Waking up to refreshed skin is also a great plus! Now, even if I had less sleep, my skin still looks clear in the morning as long as I don’t skip my regimen in the evening.

See my before and after photos below, taken right after washing, no other product applied (ignore brightness/darkness as it’s difficult to maintain lighting consistency on photography and I didn’t want to edit).

Before (left) and after (right) 3 days of using Shizens skincare regimen

Third day (left) and Seventh day (right) of using Shizens skincare regimen

This experience has revealed confidence for me to use Shizens products. I think I should explore more Shizens items soon!

Here are the Shizens products that I used:

shizens-hydro-anti-aging-collection-price-malaysia

Stay connected to Shizens, visit their FB page at:

http://www.facebook.com/ShizensMalaysia

Discover more skincare and cosmetics from Shizens at

www.shizens.com

Shizens Outlets:

Pavilion – Lot 6.47.00, Level 6, Pavilion KL, 168, Jalan Bukit Bintang, 55100 Kuala Lumpur

Times square Outlet – Lot-04-20B, Berjaya Time Square, 1 Jalan Imbi, 55100 Kuala Lumpur

Wangsa Walk – Lot GK-03A Wangsa Walk Mall, 1 Jalan Wangsa Delima 12, Wangsa Maju, 53300 Kuala Lumpur

Isetan KLCC – 1st Level, Suria KLCC, Kuala Lumpur City Center, 50088 Kuala Lumpur

Isetan Garden – 2nd Floor, The Gardens Mid Valley Lingkaran Syed Putra 59200 Kuala Lumpur

Metrojaya BB Plaza – LG Floor, Bukit Bintang Plaza 111 Jalan Bukit Bintang, 55100 Kuala Lumpur

Metrojaya Mid Valley – Ground Floor, Mid Valley Megamall, 1 Lingkaran Syed Putra, Mid Valley City, 59200 Kuala Lumpur

Parkson Festival Mall –1st Floor, KL Festival City, Jalan Taman Ibu Kota, Taman Danau Kota, 53300 Setapak, Kuala Lumpur

Parkson Sungai Wang – LG-111, Jalan Sultan Ismail, 50250 Kuala Lumpur

Parkson Pavilion – Level 3, Pavilion KL, 168, Jalan Bukit Bintang, 55100 Kuala Lumpur

Parkson KLCC – 1st Floor, Suria KLCC, Kuala Lumpur City Centre, 50088 Kuala Lumpur

AEON Maluri – Jalan Jejaka, Taman Maluri Cheras 55100, Kuala Lumpur

About Shizens

Shizens is a skin care and cosmetics brand, propelling its expansion in Malaysia as well as regional market. Inspired and infused by bountiful natural ingredients, Shizens offers a wide range of products, from make-up, skin protection to skin care, all created to revive and nourish your natural beauty.

Combining eastern values emphasizing benefits from botanical extracts and the advancement of western technology, Shizens products are enriched with natural ingredients selected from different part of the world.

Shizens offers a comprehensive range of cosmetic and skin care products. Eye Charm, Lip Painter and Liposome Fair Refining Essence are Shizens best-selling products. Additionally, Shizens offers products such as Natural Pore Nutrient Foundation, Pore UV Essence BB cream, Double Auto Eyebrow (eyebrow pencil), Mascara, Silky Renewal Gel, Moisture Cleansing Balm and many more to help individuals exude personal glamour with a natural look.

As a growing cosmetics and skin care company in Malaysia, Shizens will keep improving by bringing more excelling products to benefit our customers.

Shizens Hydro Cleanser and Enhancing Lotion

Posted on March 17, 2014 by CelesteDeJesus

Shizens Hydro Anti-Aging Skincare Regimen (part 1)

Well, this is totally new to me. I’ve never tried any Shizens product before, not even their very famous mascara or lip products. Not that I didn’t want to try but I guess I’m more comfortable with brands where I can do beauty shopping at my own pace and time. When I have really made up my mind to purchase a certain item from a brand’s beauty counter, yes, I do approach one. Or when I was doing competitor checks while I was still managing skincare brands. But, most of the time, I prefer going around and exploring different brands and products myself with less intervention from beauty consultants until I ask for it.

With special thanks to Shizens, I had the opportunity to try some of their products and what I’m about to share is a revelation. I do respect the brand but I wasn’t quite sure if the products are suitable to me…before.

shizens-anti-aging-skincare-hydro-collection

Shizens Hydro Anti-Aging Skincare

Shizens has an anti-aging skincare range, the Hydro Series, which combines hydration and anti-aging. I had 4 products to test and try: Hydro Cleanser, Hydro Enhancing Lotion, SHUI and Replenish Nutrient Expert.

Being a skincare addict, I’m one of those people who are particular in making sure that the first step of the skincare regimen is done right. I don’t compromise on cleansers; my cleanser should have the efficacy to thoroughly remove dirt and yet good enough to nourish my skin.

Shizens Hydro Cleanser

Shizens Hydro Cleanser comes in this beautiful gold and pearl colored bottle (you might have noticed in my previous posts that I have a weakness for gorgeous packaging). I love the color combination that makes an elegant statement. The bottle itself is a double layer of white and clear acrylic, with highlight of gold pump and gold strip on the removable cap. Pretty gorgeous, isn’t it?

Shizens Hydro Cleanser on my palm

The cleanser product itself is a shimmering gel with tiny reddish micro-beads if you look closely (you can’t see it here, though). With addition of water, it turns into light foam that spreads nicely on the face. I really fell in love with this item; it has a feel of soft cushion on my skin while I was massaging. And after rinsing, it leaves a smooth, lovely feel on my face, almost “babyskin-like”. There was no dry or stinging feel, just soft and tender. The scent of the cleanser is just mild and pleasant to the senses.

Shizens Hydro Cleanser removes dirt and impurities without stripping off the skin’s essential moisture. It helps in increasing the moisture level of the skin to make it hydrated, healthy and radiant. It is gentle, non-irritant and suitable for most types of skin.

How to use the Hydro Cleanser:

Pump a pea-size amount on your palm. Add a bit of water and rub between your palms to create light foam then gently massage all over the face. Rinse thoroughly. (For those who use heavy and waterproof makeup, like me, it’s best to use a makeup remover/ cleansing oil or lotion prior to face cleanser)

Shizens Hydro Cleanser price: RM158 for 100ml

shizens-anti-aging-skincare-hydro-collection-price

Shizens Hydro Enhancing Lotion

Shizens Hydro Enhancing Lotion also comes in the same gold and pearl color bottle as the cleanser. The pump makes it easy to dispense just the right amount of the product on a cotton pad. You also have the option to use your hand to apply this on your skin if this is more convenient or comfortable for you.

Shizens Hydro Enhancing Lotion on my palm

The lotion product itself is a clear fluid with water-like viscosity. Like the cleanser and other products within this range, it has a mild, pleasant scent that does not linger. It is easily absorbed in the skin and does not leave any sticky residue. My skin feels clean and refreshed after applying the lotion.

Shizens Hydro Enhancing Lotion serves as a second cleanser to further cleanse the face for better absorption of following skincare products. It works to repair skin cells and decelerate aging of the skin. It contains anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties for youthful skin.

How to use the Enhancing Lotion:

After cleansing your face and wiping it dry, dispense the lotion on a cotton pad or on your palm. Pat gently all over the face. Apply day and night.

Shizens Hydro Enhancing Lotion price: RM188 for 100ml

So that’s the Hydro Cleanser and Enhancing Lotion. After applying these 2 products, it’s time for Shui and Replenish Nutrient Expert. For purposes of not making this post too long, I’ve split it into 2 parts. To read on about Shui and Replenish Nutrient Expert, click HERE and discover Shizens results on my skin within 7 days.

Stay connected to Shizens, visit their FB page at:

http://www.facebook.com/ShizensMalaysia

Discover more skincare and cosmetics from Shizens at

www.shizens.com

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Shizens flagship store in Pavilion, Kuala Lumpur