Beauty : A:Concept’s Make Your Concept Black Set - Christmas Edition

It’s that time of the year again, the festive Christmas season where we will welcome an abundance of good food and presents to end the year with a blast! It is also my favourite time of the year because beauty brands usually release special edition make up sets which usually consist of limited edition items or items bundled together and sold at a special price!

As it happens, I have the chance to review A:Concept "Make Your Concept Black Set" their Christmas edition which contains All-In-One Brightening A:Cushion Compact, a refill of the Cushion Compact, a lip and cheek stick and a lipstick. If you’re new to this brand, you should know that this product is used by by Girl's Generation's Taeyeon and their make-up artist Seo Ok. It’s called all-in-one because the compact has multiple features such as whitening, anti-wrinkle, UV protection and on top of which, the compact can keep your lipstick / concealer / cheek pen in it too. Read on more and I’ll show it to you.

Before I received this product, I read a couple of reviews online and I stumbled upon one blogger which mentioned that the coverage for this product is minimal even after three layers. With that in mind, I put it to test by applying the product. My initial thought is that it is a bit tricky to get the product on the air puff (the applicator). First I tried by pressing the air puff on the cushion, but I’ve only managed to get some of the product on. What I learnt after a couple times of usage is that you’ll actually need to press the air puff repeatedly until you feel that there is enough product for you to apply on. There after, I would repeat these steps a couple times more to get the coverage I wanted.

Let me share more about the design of the compact next. Its design is pretty similar to most cushion compact we have seen in the market. It houses the cushion which is soaked with the product, coupled with a dedicated compartment to keep the puff in place. The most unique and interesting part of this compact is that you can slot in your lipstick or cheek blusher or concealer to carry it on the go. This itself makes it very handy and convenient to touch up make up on the go!

Next is the lip & check stick which is a product that can be used for your cheeks as blusher or your lips, just like a lipstick! It’s aptly named as Everything in A Lip&Cheek. The shade I received is the Coral shade which is perfect for most skin type as the shade replicates that of a natural blush. It was easy to apply, although I must admit I didn’t really know how I should apply it. 

I ended up dotting my cheeks with the product (I’ll show you in the pictures) and using my fingers to then blend the colour. It definitely was easy to blend and the end result was a very natural and subtle blush!

The A:Lipstick I received was in the shade of RED ORANGE. As the name suggests it’s red in colour but with hint of orange. It appears more as an orangey undertone, which I’m personally not a fan of. Unlike your usual lipstick, this one came rounded in shape which I found to be trickier to apply. It’s managable still but you’ll need to be careful as you go on around the edges. The lipstick finish is matte, which is pretty much the trend now. The staying power of the lipstick is pretty decent, if you watch how you eat … you probably will be able to get to last a couple of hours. 

But reapplication is easy with the A:Cushion Compact because there is a dedicated compartment for you to slot the lipstick in, making it super handy to carry the lipstick around. You can also choose to bring the Everything in A Lip&Cheek instead as well. 

What I loved about these sticks are that they come with a mechanism which prevent you from accidentally twisting your lipstick by accident and ended up ruining it. To put it simply, after using the sticks, rotate until you hear a ‘click’ ! That’s the safety lock in place, because the product won’t be able to budge without firstly unlocking it. It’s very neat feature, because I lost count of how many lipsticks I have ruined.

Overall, I really loved how I can achieve a simple make up with just these products; the cushion compact, lip cheek and lipstick. If you don’t believe me, the pictures shown in this post are the results of using those three products! Of course, for the finishing touch, I dusted my face with Althea's Petal Velvet Powder to keep my face matte and looking fresh. Would you believe that I actually managed to finish my make-up using all the products above in just under 7 minutes?!

So, that’s why this "Make Your Concept Black Set" from A:Concept  is perfect for ladies who are minimal in their make-up and one, who always have that flawless face because the compact is so light and easy to carry around! I’ve been bringing them everywhere I go and pretty much loving the convenience I get. The set can be purchased from Althea for only RM106, here’s the link >> http://my.althea.kr/make-your-concept-black-set <<< ! With Christmas just around the corner, you better hurry on and grab it before it is sold out!

Shout-Out: the Beauties of Miss World Prestige International Pageant 2017

Ever since I was little, I’d always been fascinated with beauty pagents. For starters, the beautiful ladies of these pagents are always dressed so pretty, exuding grace and elegance that a 9-years-old me wished to be when I grow up. Fast forward to today, I’m no beauty queen but these pagents fascinate me still! Recently, Miss World Prestige International Pageant 2017 Grand Final Gala Dinner was held at Sunway Resort Hotel Grand ballroom, where Ms Kimberley Claire (Contestant No. 6) was crowned as the grand winner followed by Ms Gharam (Contestant No. 2) and Ms Valerie Lau (Contestant No. 5).

Review: Arissto Premium coffee maker–the happy maker!

I know of friends whom I’m allowed to talk to only after they had their morning coffee, because coffee is a good pick-me-up especially if you’ve had a long working night the day before. In fact, coffee is pretty much good to be taken any time of the day. If you’re a coffee lover, I think it would make sense to have your own coffee machine. With your own machine, you’ll be able to enjoy a cup of handicrafted beverage at the comfort of your home. 

Shout-Out : This weekend, Catch Harry Potter in Concert!

So, I received some news from sources who told me that there will be a Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone in Concert performance this weekend. The original film was released 16 years ago in 2001, which remained one of the most memorable movies I ever watched as I was growing up. It is after all the first movie of the Harry Potter series. 

Out & About: Malaysia, Are you Ready for UberEAts?

With the launch of UberEATS in Malaysia, we are welcoming yet another food delivery company except that this one originates from the ride-hailing app, UBER. UberEATS, is a standalone app that is powered by the same pioneering technology that made ride-hailing a norm around the world.  Malaysians can now enjoy a myriad culinary experiences and greater dining choices at the comfort of wherever you’re located at, be it the home, office or even a friend’s house during a party! The possibilities are pretty much endless, all this with just a touch of the button.

For this initial release, there are only three areas which they deliver to — KL’s central business district, Damansara Heights, and Bangsar. Of course, we should expect the coverage to expand further in the coming days, so fret not if you’re not located within these region. I’ve had a browse on the restaurant partners of UberEATS and within seconds, I’m already salivating at the thought of having so much choices available. Can you believe that there are about 200 restaurants already on the platform, offering foods, beverages and desserts of different cuisine?

During the launch we were given a chance to sample the food from Stika Studio, a fine dining restaurant with the chef preparing the dishes right in front of us. There was also Inside Scoop ice cream for us to sample, along with the servings of Nasi Lemak Antarabangsa. It was definitely a fun night, filled with delicious meals as Malaysia have always been famous for - the variety of food choices available! And now, with UberEATS hopes to bring this food experience right to your doorstep, minus the hassle of queues and the jam!

If you’re wondering how long your order would take to arrive, it will be approximately 35 minutes from start to finish and the service will be available from 9am till midnight. Presently, there is only option to pay via credit or debit cards with the delivery charges at RM5 with no minimum order required. Additionally, UBER have also ensured that the delivery process satisfy the Halal requirements for both restaurants and consumers by working together with JAKIM. Halal and non-Halal food will be delivered in different carrier bags, which is a good initiative for our Muslim friends.

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To get​ ​the​ ​UberEATS​ ​app, follow these few simple steps

1. Go to Google Play or App Store and select “UberEATS: Food Delivery” to install

2. Register your details: Name, email address, mobile phone number and login password

3. Verify your details with a verification code that will be sent to your phone ​ ​ ​ ​

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How​ ​to​ ​use​ ​UberEATS: 

1. Tell​ ​us​ ​where​ ​to​ ​deliver​ - add your home, work, or any other address or location you’d like

2. Browse​ ​local​ ​restaurants​ - search for your favourite local spot or select from a list of restaurants available.

3. Check​ ​out​ ​with​ ​a​ ​tap​ - pay with your card already on file and enjoy free delivery during the introductory period.

4. Track​ ​your​ ​order​ - watch as your order is prepared, picked up, and delivered straight to you.

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Till next time,

xoxo

Review : Royal Bride Spa Package at OSTA Salon & Spa, Publika

Days leading to the big event, the wedding itself are one of the most stressful times that any bride will vouch to that. With that thought, came an inspiration to design a Royal Bride Spa Package by the ladies at OSTA Salon & Spa, Publika. The Royal Bride Spa Package is a 2 hours long package which consists of 60 minutes body baume massage and 20 minutes body bamboo scrub , both of which uses products from the Arise Swiss Alpine Cosmetic. This is then followed by a 20 minutes sauna with rose essential oil and 20 minutes floral milk bath with coconut milk. By reading the description, I could already visualize how amazingly pampered I would feel through out the experience.

| Double boiled Body Baume |

| Bamboo Scrub |

True to that, it was the best 2 hours I ever had in the longest time! My masseuse , Fieza is a petite, skilled lady whose skills are in the traditional Malay massage type. Combined with the body baume from Arise Swiss Alpine Cosmetic,  all the tensions from my body was relieved and it felt so relaxing! The body baume feels rich, yet it doesn’t leave a sticky feeling on your body. Body baume is double boiled to be liquidated before applying onto the skin for the massage session.This is followed by the body bamboo scrub which has bamboo beads that works to eliminate dead skin leaving skin soft and supple.

These two products are from the brand Arise Swiss Alpine Cosmetic, a skincare brand from Switzerland with Ecocert and Cosmebio certification. Organic Edelweiss flower is the main ingredient of this brand, a herb which is known for its anti-aging properties.

After the massage and the scrub, it’s followed by the sauna treatment, in which the heat from the sauna treatment helps to stimulate blood flow and the essential oil will help in clearing the sinuses and relieves congestion. 

Then, this is followed by the floral milk bath, filled with beautiful rose petals that helps to make skin radiant along with an additional ingredient; coconut milk that nourishes the skin with richness of nutrients that the skin need to stay healthy. Ending the pampering session with a floral milk bath, is the perfect way indeed. The rose petals in the tub can be used to scrub the body too!

The whole experience left me feeling ultra pampered and luxurious, which makes me wish for a next session already even before it ended. The Royal Bride Spa Package gives the body a total anti aging massage and enhance microcirculation to nourish and improve moisture retention of the skin.  Hence, it’s definitely highly recommended, especially if you’re looking for a package which combines both masssage and scrub, as well as the sauna and the bath too!

After the treatment, T2 tea and Royce chocolate is served to end the session on a sweet note! There is also a complimentary hair blow drying after the shower which you can utilise to dry your hair. Very thoughful indeed, to include that option. :) The Royal Bride Spa Package is priced at RM368, but in the whole month of October, there is a 20% discount! The price after the discount is RM294.40. 

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Allow me to share some information about OSTA Salon & Spa, which is unique and different than other spa places because they are a FEMALE only spa which caters only to FEMALE clients. The concept behind this was to cater specifically to female clients as they believe women deserve exclusivity in every aspect in life. Women nowadays are much sensitive with their surroundings, who know what's best for them. Hence, ladies can let loose and relax yourself at this little sanctuary without worrying about bumping into men, after you’ve finished your session.

| The Garden Room |

| Traditional Malay |

| English Facial |

The OSTA Salon & Spa has four different concept rooms with different themes in each of them. There is the Garden Room, Moroccan room, Traditional Malay room and the English Facial room. The latter rooms of Traditional Malay and English Facial, each have two beds in them which allows them to accomodate friends who came in pairs. :) 

| Moroccan Room |

Besides that, all the rooms have bath tubs in them but only the Garden Room has the sauna in it. You can actually pick which rooms you’d like it to be in but for the Royal Bride Spa Package,  it’s recommended to go to the Garden Room. For ladies, who plan to have a pampering session here, there is also an option to have a spa party for a maximum number of 5 pax with treatments, food & drinks and decorations provided.

Besides that, it is also worth noting that OSTA Salon & Spa is proud to support female and entrepreneur empowerment. The core belief stems from the fact that support comes from family members and they want their clients to feel like they are at home able to share their ideas with family members. They welcome women out there to share their knowledge, thoughts and ideas with them. Every bi-weekly, a small talk for a small group of 10 guests will he held at the OSTA Salon & Spa to share their knowledge and ideas. Guests will get to know each other and that's how word spread; via recommendation. Here is the link to attend their next event on November 11, a session called Personality Enhancement & Building Your Own Brand <<<< click here to find out more!

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OSTA Salon & Spa

// Publika, A1-UG1-09, Solaris Dutamas, No. 1, Jalan Dutamas 1, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia //

Open from Monday to Saturday from 10AM to 8PM

// 03-6207 9006 //

Review : Mesmerizing Japanese Gel Manicure At Enchanted Siblings

If you think that mesmerizing is an odd word to describe my manicure experience at Enchanted Siblings, then you’ll need to read on to know why I said so. From the picture of the nails above, you can tell that their designs are unique and different than others. The designs here at Enchanted Siblings are inspired Japanese and Korean trends, with over 1,000 different designs which you can choose from. These designs are framed and displayed for the ease of the customers to make their selections.

I’ll be honest and say that I was overwhelmed by the myriad, different designs available for me to pick from. It wasn’t just the colour/shade that I needed to decide on because I could pick opt for either a plain nail base, an ombre one, a cosmic inspired or any others you fancy (they have marble too)! The most exciting part came after that, when you can also pick charms for your nails.

Before my visit to Enchanted Siblings, the only charms I know is the ones from Thomas Sabo or Pandora to be worn together with their bracelet. So, what are the charms for nails? They are actually these tiny adorable accesories placed on your nails; there are many different options like dreamcatcher, seahorse, shells, stars, ribbons, hearts and etc. Really, there are too many to list them down here. There are also option to add quartz stones to your nails as well and I was informed that these stones are shaped according to the curve in our nails, allowing it to stay in place.

At that point, I was pretty much overwhelmed by the possibility of different combinations of nail designs that I had. It feels like I’m at a buffet and I just want to have everything! But with only 10 fingers, of course I had to decide on a design which I like, with a theme. This is when Munny, the Nail Art Director based in the Sri Petaling branch came to help me with my selection. Munny is also one of the founder  of En-CHAN-ted Siblings, together with her sisters Celeste and Ylinn, along with their youngest adorable brother, KW Chan. Together they are the Chan siblings and hence, their beauty nail parlour is given the name of En-CHAN-ted Siblings. Very creative indeed with usage of words there.

After a brief consultation session where Munny suggested a couple of combination of designs based on my preference of colour choices and charms, we started with the gel manicure. I’m amazed with the emphasis placed on hygiene here, as hand sanitizer is provided first before the gel manicure begins. As with any gel manicure, there are the basic steps of trimming and filing of the nails, pushing and then buffing the cuticles, followed by the cleansing of the nails.

What differentiate a gel manicure from a normal one is the application of a layer that bonds the gel polishes to your nail, ensuring that it lasts longer and maintained chip-free! After that, the gel nail polishes are applied on to the nails and for every layer applied, the nails are placed into the UV lamp to cure or in simpler words, to dry them thoroughly before applying the next layer. Because of this technique used, there are pretty much no down time after the manicure that you’ll need to be careful not to spoil your manicure.

The design I chose in the end, is a Japanese themed one which was designed in 2016 and was one of their best sellers, known as Path to the Past. It’s a cosmic galaxy themed based which is created with the blending technique. It was captivating to be able to witness the design forming right before my eyes. It started out with a white base polish and as the colours are being added, layer by layer, it was unbelievable to see the final results!

After the cosmic galaxy base is done, it was time to accessorize my pretty nails with charms! I’ve always been a fan of dreamcatcher so I picked that and the other one was a cross. There are actually more charms on it, but I’ll show it to you in pictures instead. Besides these that I have picked, there are actually many other option available.

To get an idea of what other charms there is, feel free to stalk Enchanted Siblings on their Instagram page here >>> https://www.instagram.com/enchantedsiblings/. Every month, there will be a new set of nail designs released which follows the theme of the month. So do keep a lookout for that!

Next up, it was time to bling up the nails with genuine SWAROVSKI crystals! Enchanted Siblings is certified by SWAROVSKI themselves, hence rest assured that only genuine crystals are used for your nails. These SWAROVSKI crystals have a  brilliant shine that is far superior to the shine of any other crystals. At the time of this post, a week have passed and the crystals on my nails are still as shiny as ever.

For my nails, Munny did a full tip nail adorned with SWAROVSKI with crystals of different sizes and colour on my ring finger, as an accent nail. My other nails also has SWAROVSKI crystals but with a different arrangement. The final effect was a very sparkly accent  nail on my ring finger, with complimenting arrangement of the crystals on other nails. :)

The last step is to finish off the manicure with the gel top coat, which holds everything in place! This will ensure your nails won’t get chipped and the crystals stay on your nails. During the consultation with Munny earlier, I did have my concerns of the crystal coming off, but she assured me that it takes a lot of effort for them to fall out. True enough, it’s been a week plus since I did my nails and all the crystals are intact. I must also add that I’m thoroughly impressed that I didn’t experience a single chipping on my nails at all!

This is despite the fact that I did house chores, went to gym (with heavy weights lifting too) and even helped my dad shifted items around the garden as our house is undergoing construction! My last experience with gel manicure was horrendous, my nails chipped after a couple days and kept chipping on. In contrary I’m so in love with my nails done at Enchanted Siblings, which stays intact! Everyday I’m admiring my nails and no, I’m not even bored of staring into them sparkly  nails!

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If you’re interested to have a mesmerizing manicure experience as I did, Enchanted Siblings have two different branch that you can check out the pastel home themed  one in Sri Petaling known as Erelise while the one in Publika called Lunaria Palace which is the pink heaven palace themed. The branch I visited was Erelise in Sri Petaling. Let me share with you some pictures of the beauty parlour, so that you can get a feel of what it looks like. :)

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Here are the contact numbers and addresses of both the Sri Petaling and Publika branch. It’s definitely recommended to call in to make a booking to avoid disappointment. :) I hope you’ll enjoy your experience as much as I did.

Erelise  - Sri Petaling Branch

// 11, Jalan Radin Bagus 9, Sri Petaling, 57000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia //

Open daily from 11am to 8pm

// 012-668 8717 //

Lunaria Palace  - Publika Branch

// Block A1- G2-08 , Solaris Dutamas, 50480 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia //

Open daily from 11am to 8pm

// 013 668 6688 //

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Till next time,

xoxo