[REVIEW] Yankee Candle Votive Sampler

Yankee Candle // Sunway Pyramid Outlet

There's just something about candles that relaxes the body in a very mystical way, like yknow when you're in bed and there's just one small flame releasing scents that de-stresses the body. You get the idea right?  Well, I found out that Yankee Candle offers the world's largest and most compelling selection of scented candles and other home fragrance products. FYI, Yankee Candle has a cute story of how it was found. 17-year-old Mike Kittredge was too broke to buy his mother a present, so he melted some crayons to make her a candle. A neighbour saw it and convinced Mike to sell the candle to her, so he bought enough wax to make two candles, one for his mom, and another to sell. And that you guys, was the birth of Yankee Candle!

In all kind of type and sizes

Yankee Candle was introduced to Malaysia in 2014 by Ultimate Senses Malaysia Sdn Bhd, the sole distributor of Yankee Candle in Malaysia and as of 2016, they have already 5 stores in Malaysia (Great Eastern Mall, Sunway Pyramid, One Utama, The Gardens mall and IOI Putrajaya). And since I was already at the Sunway Pyramid store, the previous photos that you've seen are some sneak peaks on how the store looks. And psst, a little bird also told me that they'll be relocating to a new store in Sunway Pyramid soon! YAY

My picks of Yankee Candle Votive Samplers

So since I was there, i just had to bring some back! The store definitely smells amazing with all these candles everywhere. I decided to bring back the sampler votive home and here are some things that you need to know about it. The Sampler Votive is produced by pressure, not pouring, which is produced by spraying wax to the air that's then dried by the cool air to make the wax look like beads. These beads are then pressured to shape the wax.

MY TOP 3 PICKS

Here are my top 3 picks!

The Votive Samplers were on sale when i was there, where it's priced at RM24.90 for any 3 scents of your choice saving you up to 40% of discounts. Not too bad, and I say why not! I got a few sniffs from the collection, and I found myself falling for Sun & Sand, Pink Sands, and Sage & Citrus. The Sun & sand and Pink Sands smells like the beach (cause I'm a beach girl) while the Sage & Citrus is more therapeutic when it comes to the scent. If you're a first timer purchasing Yankee Candles like me, Votive Samplers are the way to go as it contains the same great Yankee candle fragrance as found in their large jars, and it's a perfect way to sample a new fragrance before going BIG. hehe.

HOW TO USE

Cut at least half of the current length of the wick before burning. 

Since each Votive Samplers are individually packed without any instructions, the staff at the store was nice enough to share with me on how to use the candle. First you may need to remove the plastic wrap that's locking in the scent so that its fresh each time you use it, then you may need to cut at least half of the cotton wicks to prevent the flame from growing bigger than it should (refer to image above). Place the Votive Sampler candle in a candle holder, and burn the Premium self-extinguishing wicks, and you're good for an enjoyable fragrance filling up the entire room.

THE OUTCOME 

Currently burning the Yankee Candle // Sun & Sand

And tadaa! Here's how it looks like when its burnt, i placed this in an air-conditioned living room,and the smell just went around the room smelling line the beach. If you're a beach girl like me, give this scent ago. My living room isn't that big, so I'd say that this candle would do justice for small rooms. Psst, here's a cheat for you guys ; To make the candle last longer, put 2 drops of water inside the votive holder to moist the glass so that the candle can be easily taken out. Each Votive Sampler would last up to 12-15 hours, but in my case, I'm burning it only when i need it to make sure it last longer than it should. hehe.

SPECIAL DISCOUNT CODE 

For my readers*

Tons of options to choose from

So if i got you tempted to getting a candle for yourself, well good news cause I have a discount code for you. This discount code is only available for online purchases and each reader will receive 1 Votive Sampler with any purchase. So let's say you decide to buy 1 Votive Sampler, you'll be eligible to get another Votive Sampler for the price of one! So why not head on over to www.yankee.my to make your online purchase today!

DISCOUNT CODE: seeties_aliza

OTHER ITEMS AVAILABLE

Car fresheners // RM27

Decorative holders are available at Yankee Candle too!

The price ranges of Yankee Candle's would start from RM13.90 for votive samplers to RM124 for large jar candles. There's also car fresheners, which are priced at RM27 for one month usage. Not too bad ey? Currently available in 1 Utama, Sunway Pyramid, IOI City Mall, The Gardens Mall and Great Eastern Mall, or if you want more details and updated, head on over to their facebook at www.facebook.com/yankeecandlemalaysia or their Instagram at www.instagram.com/yankeecandlemy. Thanks for dropping by, do not hesitate to leave a comment below if you have any other inquiries.

Sara xx

[Review + Giveaway] Body Buddy Aloe Vera

Hello everyone! So today i'll be talking about a product that i've received recently to fight the hot harmful heat wave that has been haunting our skin. I present to you the Body Buddy Aloe Vera Range, that has a cute tag line which says 'your body, best buddy'. Which is pretty much true, cause your body and you are practically un-separatable. And by having your body as your best buddy, we tend to forget to pamper the body, and as a thank you for always being there for us.

A little introduction on the Body Buddy Aloe Vera Range, it specialises with its 98% extract base of pure aloe vera that has been well known to provide moisture in the form of gel. Aloe Vera has been well known to be the most gentle ingredient to suit any skin type, making it a must-have for days that our skin feels sensitive after a hot day in the sun. The Range has a fair range of variety, but for today, i'll be reviewing more on the ALOEVERA Moisture Real Soothing Gel, the ALOEVERA Moisture Real Soothing Gel Spray and the ALOEVERA Moisture Real Foam Cleansing.

Aloe Vera Gel // Price; RM18.90

So the first product up would be the ALOEVERA Moisture Real Soothing Gel, and from the packaging, you can actually see the Aloe Vera through the transparent tube bottle. I thought it was pretty cool cause you can actually see the condition of the Aloe vera before using it. A plus point would be that since it comes in a tube bottle, it minimizes on unhygienically contact. There are also English instructions on the stating that it can be applied on your body, face and hair. So whenever you need a boost in hydration, the ALOEVERA Moisture Real Soothing Gel would be there for you!

Its really easy to control the amount of the ALOEVERA Moisture Real Soothing Gel with the tube bottle. Upon application, it was actually very cooling and it doesnt leave sticky residue (major plus points) as its easily absorbed by the skin. Not that my hands needed a boost in hydration, but i did manage to try it out on some dry areas to see how 'hydrating' can the gel be. From the image above, i had shared a photo of a before and after impression on my dry skin, and as expected, it hydrates the skin pretty well, making sure there are no dry skin flakes.

Aloe Vera Cleansing Foam // RM27.90

Next would be the ALOEVERA Moisture Real Cleansing Foam where its used to cleansed the face from dirt and impurities. It doesnt come in a transparent tube bottle, but at least its easy to differentiate the purpose of the range. Even though the instruction says that it can be used over body, face and hair, i personally think that it would be more advisable to use this as a gentle cleanser.

And tadaa, i managed to give this cleanser ago, and i was really surprised on how gentle the formula was. I have oily combination skin, so i wasnt exactly expecting much from the product to balance out my oil balance, but to my surprise, it cleanses my skin pretty well! It felt very refreshing too after I rinsed the cleanser off. It foams up really well too!

Aloe Vera Mist // RM29.90

And last but not least would be the ALOEVERA Moisture Real Soothing Gel Mist. It comes in a spritz transparent bottle, and this might most probably be my favorite product among all! Mist are usually very convenient cause it doesnt require two hands to spritz away. Personally, i love bringing aloe vera mist around, especially when im travelling. When the environment is dry, the soothing gel mist is just a spritz away for a cooling refreshing sensation.

I think using this mist can be based to your own creativity, in my case, i'll spritz this bottle of ALOEVERA Moisture Real Soothing Gel Mist almost anywhere! But a personal secret to fix frizzy hair would be to spray some aloe vera on to give it some nutrients to hydrate. Otherwise, you can spray it around your arms, legs, feet, face for a boost in moisture. It's cools the skin without any limitations of ways to use it.

VERDICT? 

As a verdict, i would say that the range and the products to serve their purpose of existence. It effectively soothes the skin from burns, UV rays while providing moisture to the skin. After about a week of using this, i realized that it encourages the skin to regenerate to heal scars. Each product also is sealed tightly to ensure that the content is kept fresh too! Would i repurchase? I'd say its a yes, but if i had to choose just 1 product from the range, i'd get myself the ALOEVERA Moisture Real Soothing Gel Mist, but that doesnt mean that the other products are not as good.

SPECIAL GIVEAWAY! 

With good things in hand, its always better to share the good things in life right? So now, the conditions to my BODY BUDDY GIVEAWAY. All you need to do is : Leave a comment below by telling me why you need to get your hands on the Aloe Vera Gel and Aloe Vera Mask with your Name and Email. And that it, you'll be on your way to win yourself an Aloe Vera Gel (500g) worth RM38.60 and a pack of Aloe Vera Mask (10 pieces) worth RM59.00. So what are you waiting for? Join now as the contest ends on the 7th of May 2016.

CONGRATULATIONS TO RENAE TEO

 for winning an Aloe Vera Gel (500g) worth RM38.60 

and a pack of Aloe Vera Mask (10 pieces) worth RM59.00!

And well, thats about it! I hope that my review was informative cause i absolutely put a ;pt pf effprt to honestly share to you my opinions on the product. For more information on the Body Buddy Aloe Vera, do check out their website at http://buddiesthatcare.com or do check out Caring Pharmacy as they're currently having a 10% off for every purchase of the Body Buddy Aloe Vera. Thank you for dropping by my blog, and do come back to check out my latest post :)

Regards,
Aliza Sara xx

[REVIEW] C20 Natural Vitamin 21.5 Enhancing Sheet Mask

A surprise from Natta Cosme! 

Have you been neglecting your skin lately? Well, here's a beauty tip on Vitamin C: We all know the benefits and the importance of consuming enough vitamin C for the body right? But did you know that you can also pamper your skin externally too? Vitamin C provides antioxidant protection, shielding skin from damage making it incredibly essential in our daily routines. So today, I'll be talking about a special mask that enhances the skin that barely takes you more than 20 minutes.

C20 Natural Vitamin 21.5 Enhancing Sheet Mask

Orange = Vitamin C X Sheet Mask

For an extra boost of vitamin C, Natta Cosme has introduced to me with the C20 Natural Vitamin 21.5 Enhancing Sheet Mask. It's an antioxidant mask containing 21.5% natural vitamin extracted from all natural Hippophae Thamnoides Water and Boseong Green Tea water. It's designed to improve skin tone and prevent oxidation of the ampoule while replenishing hydration for the skin. Talk about perfect timing, Malaysia has been hit with the heat wave, and it has been encouraged to keep yourself hydrated internally and externally. (& yes, that includes your skin)

Packaging

Front cover

Back cover

The packaging comes in a bright Orange individual pack. Basically, all the details you need to know is stated on the pack where it says that the mask is anti-oxidizing, improves skin tone, calming and moisturizing. It's hard to believe that one mask can cover so many concerns, but since it says that it's made in Korea, it should be pretty good cause it's coming from the land of K-beauty. It also has an easy tear on the pack so that it's easy for you to get your mask out too!

How To Use 

Texture: Soft with a very natural fragrance.

Sticks to skin very easy

I don't think that you would need much explanation on how to use this, but basically, first you would need to take the mask out from the pack, apply it around your face and fit nicely on cleansed face. The texture of the mask was definitely different than usual, and I love how it sticks to my face really well without feeling like its falling off. Upon application, I have to say that the ampoule within the mask is really cooling on my skin too!

After 15 to 20 minutes! 

Remove after 15 to 20 minutes

*pat pat pat*

After 15 to 20 minutes, gently remove the mask and lightly pat face until ampoule is fully absorbed by the skin. Thanks to the anti-oxidant feature of the mask, the ampoule did not oxidize, and that it really got my skin feeling extra moisturized than the usual face mask.  From the image above, I think you can pretty much tell how the mask works dramatically when it comes to hydrating.

Verdict?

BEFORE

AFTER

As a verdict, I have to say that I approve that this mask is not your usual face mask. It contains 21.5% of natural vitamin complex to provide only the best nutrients for your skin and even though it was only my first application, I have to say that it's really calming as the mask feels very cooling on my skin without making my skin feel any irritation. Some face mask can be very stingy, but this was not stingy at all, making it suitable for those with sensitive skin too! It would be advisable to use this mask for 1 or 2 times a week for best results.

C20 Natural Vitamin 21.5 Enhancing Sheet Mask // 23ml

And there you have it! During this really dry weather, if your skin is flaking or dehydrated, the C20 Natural Vitamin 21.5 Enhancing Sheet Mask might just do the trick! Get it from Natta Cosme white its still in stock, or you can always hover over this link here. Thank you for reading my humble review, and I have to just let you know that whatever I say is based on my own experience on using the product. Do visit Natta Cosme for more amazing products in stores today! Leave a comment below if you have any thoughts on this too *wink* Thanks for reading!

Sara xx

[INTRO] 14 Days Challenge with Physiogel Calming Relief Face Care Range

The Physiogel Calming Relief Face Care Range.

I don’t know about you, but the weather in Malaysia has been smoking HOT lately due to the heat wave. I got a little worried about my skin not surviving this hot weather, but since I was introduced to the Physiogel Calming Relief Face Care Range, it got me to ease out on my worries. Pysiogel is well known to provide skincare that is suitable for sensitive skin, and has been recommended by dermatologists for their innovative advanced formulation, which has revealed to an inner circle of beauty influencers across Southeast Asia recently.

I took up the 14 days challenge with Physiogel Calming Relief Face Care Range

As an introduction to this the Physiogel Calming Relief Face Care Range, its suppose to hydrate and calm skin irritation, visibly reducing dryness and redness of sensitive skin. The secret lies in Physiogel’s BioMimic Technology where the formula contains an advanced complex of essential lipids. Inspired by the skin’s natural processes, Physiogel BioMimic Technology contains lipids that are similar to those found naturally in the skin and can replenish lipids missing from dry skin. The Physiogel Calming Relief Face Care Range comes with 3 types of face cream that has been clinically proven to strengthen and repair the skin’s moisture barrier. Too good to be true? Well, lets find out!

Physiogel Calming Relief Gentle Cream Cleanser 

The packaging of the Physiogel Calming Relief Gentle Cream Cleanser.

Close up shot of the product.

First up for review would be the Physiogel Calming Relief Gentle Cream Cleanser and it comes in a 200ml sized bottle. It’s a creamy cleanser that gently cleanses the skin without disrupting the natural moisture barrier, leaving the skin feeling clean and soft. On the bottle, it that has no preservatives, perfumes or colorants. 

Texture test

After spreading it out on skin

I decided to test out the cleanser to find out about how good it is, and I personally think that it does removes make-up, dirt, and impurities without harming the skin. I don’t usually use cream based cleansers, but after using this, it might just be my favorite makeup remover for being so gentle on my skin. It definitely beats your usual oily make up remover at home *wink

Makeup test

After 1 swipe

Physiogel Calming Relief Face Cream 

Next, would be the Physiogel Calming Relief Face Cream that comes in a bottle of 40ml. This product claims reduces redness and restores comfort for more soothed even toned skin. It claims to also visibly reduce dry skin too. If you haven't heard, based on research, 93% of women saw a reduction of redness within 2 weeks after using this face cream, which got me really excited to try it out. 

The packaging

Details at the back

I tried it on to my skin, and I realized that its fast absorbing, and I could pretty much tell that it's very long lasting when it comes to moisturizing my skin. It does leave a slightly sticky residue on my skin, but at least it felt very moisturizing! Not too bad for dry skin, but I'll keep you updated on how well it works on my skin after consistently using it in my blog after 2 weeks. 

Texture test

Creamy texture on skin

 Physiogel Calming relief Face Cream Rich

And last but not least, would be the Physiogel Calming relief Face Cream Rich that comes in a 40ml bottle. I have to admit that I got a little confused with the product. WHY? Cause it sounds and looks almost the same with the Physiogel Calming relief Face Cream. But after thoroughly doing research, I found out that this face cream is more suitable for VERY dry skin [alert yourself]. It claims to provide immediate and long lasting intensive hydration that is clinically proven to restore the skin's natural moisture barrier.

Packaging

Whats written at the back

The texture was rather similar to the Physiogel Calming Relief Face Cream, but I sense that this was extra moisturizing as a face cream. I reckon that this face cream would be more suitable for severely dry skin cases, but at the moment, I might not recommend myself to use this every day since its super hydrating. Not that it's bad, but I believe hat too much a good thing, isn’t entirely good too.

And as an introduction, I believe that, THAT’S about it for now. And as mentioned, I’ll be challenging myself for 14 days challenge of using the  Physiogel Calming Relief Face Care Range, so be sure to expect another blog post from me as a continuance for this post. Hehe. For more information on the product, visit http://www.physiogel.com. I’ll be bakch!

Sara xx