Organi: Organic Honey Peel

When I was in Australia in October last year, I had an appointment with a friend who is currently taking his PhD at Macquarie University. We met in the middle of Marsfield and Sydney city center, which is in Chatswood – it’s in the North Shore area of Sydney. I came too early, and then I killed my time by exploring Westfield shopping mall. When I looked around this mall, I found the Organi booth – the booth, displaying skin care products in green containers, is so attractive. So I approached this booth and I was served by a lady – I guess she’s in early 20s, and she was attentively explaining about Organi as well as demonstrating how to use different Organi products. Oh well, I was living in Australia before and this is the first time I heard about this brand.

This brand and product are developed by Mr. Nicholas Urquhart, the former President of the Australian Society of Cosmetic Chemists. Organi skin care products claims to use only natural and organic ingredients even though I don’t notice the symbol or logo of Australian Certified Organic Skin Care. Organi has different types of product from face to body and even you can find men skin care products under this brand. I tried to find more information about this brand, but it’s quite difficult. The only resource I used is from Organi website (link).

Anyway, one of Organi products I bought is Organi Honey Peel – a peeling for dry and sensitive skin.  I have used this product more than 6 times – I use it once or twice per week. So, here is my review:

Ingredients: 

Benefit: Totally un-abrasive exfoliant, powered by manuka honey

Detail:

Exfoliating dead skin cells is part of my weekly beauty regime – especially I have whiteheads and blackheads around my nose area. This clear orange gel has no scent whatsoever – love this!! Before using this product, I cleanse my face using facial cleanser. Then I apply this gel in to my face and massage it gently to all over my face and neck. When I massage my face, I find kind of residue from my face– it’s like the residue from pencil eraser.  I believe those residue are from the product that manifest because of the friction. After cleanse that entire residue – using warm water please, be patient, it’s a little bit hard to get rid of that residue, my skin feels so clean, fresh and soft. I love the way this product clear my pores from annoying whitehead. It’s really a gentle yet effective exfoliant and it’s fun to use!

Drawback:

·         It’s a very pricey great product _ it’s AUD 150 per jar!!! OMG!!!

Ogawa Foottee

As a reflexology addict, visiting reflexology place once a week is a must. Nevertheless, to find a consistent good and reliable reflexology place is not easy. I totally understand the difficulties of having so called “standardize” service in reflexology places. As a part of services industry, reflexology places face the challenge of variability and inseparability. Variability means the treatment service at reflexology place depends on the therapists, when (depends on time when we visit the reflexology place) and where (just in case there are some branches). Meanwhile, inseparability means the treatment at reflexology place greatly depends on – again - the therapist.  No wonder most of the time people are looking for the therapists, even people will follow their favorite therapists to other reflexology place where the therapists move. 

Well, to avoid such of frequent bad experience of having inexperience or unskilled therapist, I’m looking for a reflexology machine. This is not the first time for me buying reflexology machine. I received a reflexology machine back in 2008 as my b’day present from my husband. Then in 2010 I bought another reflexology machine as it was discounted in an exhibition. Then, they were broken and it’s been more than 1.5 years for me not having this practical reflexology machine at home. A new year of 2013, it’s time to buy another one.

I was shopping around at Kota Kasablanka Mall when I saw this kawaii reflexology machine – aka foot massager – at Ogawa store. First I thought Ogawa is a Japanese company – and the shop assistant also mentioned that Ogawa is Japanese, but after I googled it, it’s Malaysian. Anyway, I had 30 minutes trial and I was sold! This cute massager has heat, turbo (and air intensity feature. By default, this machine will run a 15-minute massage program. Heat feature is to enhance shiatsu benefits and to improve blood circulation. Ah, this machine has duo massage program: relaxation and guasha (more intense massage).

Am I a happy customer? Absolutely!! I use this cute foot massager almost every night for 30 minutes. This machine helps to relieve tension and fatigue. It also helps kneading my knots. One thing I love from this machine is its capability to give pressure on the right reflexology points on my soles! It’s fantastic!! I don’t really use the heat feature but I like the air intensity feature as it cocoons my feet with kind of airbag to make my feet feel relaxed. Now I can have good and consistent reflexology at any time at home. This foot massager really works for me!!

PS: Yes of course I will still go to have reflexology treatment but not as often as once a week.

Alila Living: Pure C Facial Serum

The benefits of vitamin C in maintaining the health of our skin has already well-known.  Vitamin C  - known as ascorbic acid is a great antioxidant  that prevent skin damage from free radicals as well as ultraviolet radiation. Vitamin C also helps our body to produce collagen and to repair the wound and damaged skin tissue. No wonder we can see many different skin care products containing vitamin C!!

One of products of Alila Living that I currently use is Pure C Facial Serum. I guess this serum is exclusively made by Sensatia Botanicals for Alila as I can’t find this product listed in Sensatia Botanicals website (link).  Ok, lemme share my experience using this product.

Ingredients: 

Benefit: Stimulating and replenishing facial serum, powered by nature

Detail:

I use this vitamin C serum twice a day after cleanse my skin. After using this serum, I apply Indian Fig Finishing Cream (link to previous article).  This watery and non greasy serum easily sinks into my skin. I have tried different skin care products with vitamin C before but this one is different. It works wonderfully on my skin. This serum gives significant improvement to my skin. My skin looks brighter, glowing and more vibrant. I’m happy to see that my dark spots on my face somewhat fading.  This vitamin C serum in pipette glass bottle smells a little bit like tamarind – acidic. In short, I love the way it works!!! I would definitely buy again!!!

Drawback:  nope

Alila Living: Indian Fig Finishing Cream

Last October I visited Bali and eventually managed to buy Alila Living products in Alila resort at Ubud. (link  Alila Ubud website).  One of the products I bought is Indian Fig Finishing Cream – it’s a day and night cream. I thought this product is made by using Indian fig as the main ingredient (note: Indian fig is a species of cactus with edible fruit. The medical and cosmetics uses of Indian fig are very well-known).  When I read the ingredients carefully, I don’t really understand whether this product is using Indian fig or not.  Anyway, I have been using this product for more than 2 weeks and it’s time for me to share my experience:

Ingredients:

Benefit: Daily nourishing cream powered by nature

Detail:

I use this nut-brownie cream day and night after applying Pure C serum from Alila Living. When I open the jar, I immediately smell the herbal scent. The herbal scent is kinda powerful and it lingers quite long. If you like herbal scent, this would not be a problem. This light cream provides heavy and rich coverage – uhm…how to explain..this cream is light, I can feel it on my fingers, but when I apply it on my face, this cream is a bit difficult to spread evenly, but it sinks quickly into my skin. What I love most from this cream is that it works wonderfully on my skin. I wake up with fresh and glow skin. My skin is nourished and soft. This cream, packed in an elegant black container and box, helps to reduce the appearance of my acne scars. Love it!!

Drawback:

• Yes I have to say, even to my dry skin, this cream makes my face looks  a bit oily. I use BB cream and loose powder to cover-up oily effect of this cream and they work!!

• I just do expect that in the future there will be an indicator of shelf life on the packaging.

L’Occitane: Shea Butter Hand Cream

Salah satu produk yang selalu ada di tas saya adalah hand cream – as I always believe that hand is our second face. Ketika saya akan traveling ke Australia dengan perjalanan 8 jam di dalam pesawat, I cant resist to try L’Occitane Shea Butter Hand Cream – with 20% shea butter. I read reviews on this product and I believe this hand cream is perfect to carry for my trip.. Here is my review…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x3neRy1PTJ4

Ingredients:

Water, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter), Glycerin, Dimethicone, Cetearyl Alcohol, PEG-100 Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Polyacrylamide, Linum Usitatissimum (Linseed) Seed Extract, Honey Extract, Propylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Brassica Campestris (Rapeseed) Sterols, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Ceteareth-33, Alcohol Denat, Chlorphenesin, Methylparaben, Fragrance, Althea Officinalis Root Extract, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Fruit Extract, Laureth-7, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Benzyl Alcohol, Xanthan Gum, Benzyl Benzoate, Citronellol, Hydroxyisohexyl 3-Cyclohexene Carboxaldehyde, Coumarin, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Linalool, Hexyl Cinnamal, Alpha-Methyl Ionone, Limonene.

Benefit:

Rich hand cream to moisture your hand, powered by 20% shea butter

Detail:

It’s super creamy hand cream I have ever had. Bahkan di website L’Occitane UK (link) produk hand cream ini disebut  “the Roll Royce of hand creams” oleh Cassie Steer, beauty writer of Marie Claire. This hand cream gives you instant result, tangan menjadi halus dan hydrate. Efek halus dan moist –nya juga tahan lama, I don’t need to reapply it many times. Meskipun super moist, hand cream ini sama sekali tidak meninggalkan kesan lengket atau[un oily. Hand cream dalam wadah tube silver yang elegant dan mudah digunakan ini is a must have if you suffer a dry skin…dan it’s a perfect for winter time.

Drawback:  Nope

It’s pricey but it does work wonderfully on my hand. Perfect companion for traveling…