REN Clean Skincare in Malaysia

Last month, 24th May 2013 I finally got to meet the rest of the Lilac Bloggers at the REN Clean Skincare Event at KENS apothecary, Bangsar Village II. Yes it's the same Lilac as the beauty box called "The Lilac Box", they have awesome products in their box so do subscribe to them! You may do so at www.thelilacbox.com.

Although this was a blogger event but it was different and felt more like a VIP event. The people in charge of the Lilac Box/the Lilac Bloggers gave me a very friendly welcome as well as provided us some delicious food, with coffee and tea! <3 Have I mentioned how much I love coffee?

I've not had my first coffee of the day, hence my sleepy eyes. 

The bloggers having their brunch, looking through the products, mingling as well as posing for the camera (Jennie and Jennifer).

Terry here explaining the product REN Clean Skincare. 

REN Skincare was founded by Robert Calcraft and Anthony Buck (London-based founders) in a photograph with Buck pouring a giant canister of skincare product over Calcraft's head to show how skin-friendly it is.

How this product came about was when Buck's wife developed adverse reactions to almost every skincare product she used during her first pregnancy. Both men later found out that “clean skincare” products were “incredibly difficult” to make. But fired by enthusiasm and having garnered the expertise of French cosmetic pharmacologist Dr Colette Haydon, Ren began to take shape.

In September 2000, Calcraft and Buck launched the new skincare range that was free from synthetic fragrance and colours, petrochemicals, propylene glycol, animal ingredients, GM (genetically modified)
ingredients, sulfates and parabens

The brand’s skincare products are formulated with “cutting edge, clinically proven bio actives” that free skin from unfriendly ingredients.

What makes REN Skincare unique?
REN Skincare has 5 principles and they are right ingredients, right science, right product experience, right environmental experience, and right attitude.

1) The right ingredients such as the use of preservatives - airless packaging, and citric acid from Grapefruit.

2) Right science - Pioneer new ways of applying the latest discoveries in Bio Active technology to produce skincare formulations that boost skin's natural process of protection, repair, and renewal.

3) Right product experience - Nothing beats the beauty and power of natural ingredients, would you rather use products that are made natural or products that contain various types of chemicals? Of course no products are 100% natural, but the more natural the better it is for our skin. REN confidently stated "try it and you will never be able to go back to synthetic fragrance".

4) Right environmental experience - The packaging and FSC cartons are recyclable, greener earth huh? Customers are able to send their used packaging to Freepost UK. REN skincare's packaging are printed using vegetable and soy ink, and the electricity supplied is generated from wind power. REN as it is being environmental friendly, does not test on animals and they support various charities. Inventing products while being considerate towards the environment and animals... I support. :)

5) Right attitude - REN sticks closely to their principles even if it costs more money, and being positive. To them, a gorgeous skincare is able to make the world a slightly nicer place to be.

Their Range of Products

Sensitive Range

• reactive, red, and blotchy 
• feeling of tightness
• blushing or permanent flushing can be lead to couperose

Sensitive skin is difficult to take care because some products may have affect, well yeah cause your skin is sensitive. But REN Skincare sensitive range is one of the best selling range in Malaysia, so if you are still searching for skincare products to fix your problem do try this one out.

Normal Range

• Even textured, problem free
• Smooth, healthy and clear
• May have slightly large open pores
• May be slightly congested

If anyone of you are thinking of getting this range, i'm so envious of you! However even with normal skin you have to maintain so that it does not get worse. Some people with normal skin (non-oily nor dry) may still have open pores and skin congestion is very common especially at times when you do not remove your make-up properly and double cleanse. 

Combination Range

• Oily and shiny, especially at T-Zone area
• Congested skin, prone to open pores, blackheads and a few whiteheads
• Dull, dry cheeks and jawline

For my skin I'll need to use this range because I have crazy oily skin especially at T-zone and sometimes at cheeks too. Have humongous pores and crazy lots of black and whiteheads. During the event, I actually bought the "Invisible Pores Detox Mask" because other than scrub I have no other way to get rid of my blackheads. Like everyone says, never extract yourself because it'll cause scar but gosh it's so tempting sometimes, hence I got this product (RM99 - Original Price) and so far am still using it. Will review it soon! :) 

Dry Skin

• Tight and uncomfortable
• Tendency to flakiness
• Lacks oil
• Lacks Moisture
• Lacks Radiance

If you have dry skin, you have to take extra care of your skin because dry skin is more prone to fine lines and wrinkles. Make sure to keep your face moisturized, do not be lazy to clean, tone, and moisturize every day and night!

Radiance

• Dull and sallow complexion
• Uneven tone
• Skin Lacking in smoothness
• Open Pores
• Prone to Congestion

The radiance range is one of the best sellers in Malaysia.

Anti-Ageing

• Deep lines and wrinkles
• Loss of tone and elasticity 
• Dehydrated, dull complexion,
• Age, hormonal imbalance

During the event, we were told that it is better to use anti-ageing products earlier before the wrinkles appear. The reason being is because, well they are called "anti-ageing" which means it's more like a prevention. Although it does help reduce appearance of fine lines, etc, but like most doctors say, "prevention is better than cure". With that I have already started using anti-ageing eye creams because my eye area is not as oily as the rest of my face, and yes one of the benefits of having oily skin is that my skin ages slightly slower than normal skin. So if you have oily skin, be thankful. The anti-ageing range is also one of the best sellers in Malaysia. 

All Skin Types

Their all skin types range can be used for any skin types, and it can be mixed with other ranges as well. For example if you use the Combination cleanser, you are able to use the all skin types eye cream. 

Moroccan Rose Range

Moroccan Rose Range is also another award winning range. The bloggers were given the travel sized like you see in this picture. I've tested it and I LOVE IT. I'm not even kidding! The body wash smells amazing and relaxing, while the body cream moisturizes like heaven! Even with first time usage I could feel the difference on my skin.

(full sized)

The next day my skin still remained smooth and it is just so amazing that I do not know how to express. I tried not using the body lotion for a day or two, but my skin was still as smooth, for about one or two days. Well for people like me who don't drink a lot of water that's what I'll get. But anyways, i am so in love with this body lotion. <3

A product this awesome, how can it not be one of the best sellers in Malaysia right? ;)

Top 5 REN Best Sellers

1) Hydra Calm Cleansing Milk - Sensitive Skin

2) Max Moisture Concentrate - All Skin Types 

3) Frankincense Revitalising Night Cream - Normal Skin

4) Keep Young and Beautiful SH2C Serum - Anti-Ageing

5) Glycolactic Radiance Renewal Mask - Radiance

REN Skincare is available around the world and they are on board on British Airways first class flights all around the world. Get a closer look of the products at. KENS apothecary, Bangsar Village II

Also check out and 'like' their facebook page. :)

This was definitely a wonderful Lilac Encounter with Ren. :)

Having Fun with See by Chloe Fragrance

It was an honour to be given the opportunity to review the new member of the Chloe's Fragrance family, See By Chloe Fragrance. I would like to give a shout out to the Lilac Box and Chloe themselves for this opportunity. Not only do I get to review and test this product out, i'm also able to keep it! You have no idea how happy I was when I on my way to collect this product. 

Before I proceed, please take a look at these four cheeky videos. 

Remember to watch them on HD. :)

Dare to Sing

Funny Trouble

Crazy Love

Dare to Kiss

The uniqueness of this perfume is that the scent is all about being fun, young, sophisticated, playful, and feminine all in one. This fragrance is addictive enough to wake up my senses. This new see by chloe fragrance was created by perfumer michel almairac (robertet) and it reveals an addictive floral scent that is sweet like a smile. In an accord of apple blossom, the grace of jasmine caresses this natural seductress, an olfactory game of hide and seek uncovers sensual notes of sandalwood and vanilla.

The packaging is glamarous but at the same time looks playful and fun. The cover of the perfume is made from silver (yes not plastic) together with a silver ring, and pink letters are outlined. The glass pleats and the three adorable feet at the bottom creates mirror effects and transparency which creates a sparkly illusion from the lights in the surroundings. 

See by Chloe is a a call of freedom, joyful, spontaneous, full of wonders… Bette Franke, the face of see by chloé, has been caught by surprise. Unusual snapshot, stolen moment in a mischievous game of hide and seek. Natural, irresistible, she enjoys herself her defiant gaze suggests a possible escape

Here are a few pictures of me just having fun and being daring all thanks to the confidence I feel using See By Chloe. :) Oh by the way I played with their movie maker and created a video, check it out! It is very simple, just upload 3 photos and choose a caption, or write your own caption, let it load and wa la it's done!

Dare to have some fun! Stretching can be fun too okay! :)

Dare to be who I am... being silly and just having fun!

Dare to be foolish! A proper pose for pictures are over rated! See By Chloe's scent ignite my senses to be fun, confident, playful, but at the same time feminine. 

I'm not really a huge fan of floral perfumes, I've no idea why but they just don't attract me. However when i tried See By Chloe I was kinda surprised that I actually like the scent! The first time I used it i sprayed once on both sides of my neck. For me the scent seemed like really mild, but when I asked my sister, she said she could smell it. My sister likes it too by the way ;). As mentioned above, this fragrance contains apple blossom and jasmine, and what makes this floral perfume attractive to me is the sandalwood and vanilla bottom notes. 

Whenever I use See by Chloe, I feel confident, fun, young, energetic, happy, sophisticated and fresh! I am really glad that I got the opportunity to review this product all thanks to the Lilac Box or else i'd may not have known about this perfume.

If you love floral scent, you should give it a test!

The See By Chloé retail price is

EDP 30ml - RM187
EDP 50ml - RM277
EDP 75ml - RM340
Shower Gel 150ml - RM109 (Not available in Malaysia)
Body Lotion 150ml - RM137
Deodorant 100ml - RM133

You may find them at perfumeries like Sephora & SASA, and departmental stores(except for the 30ml)

Credits
Perfumer: Michel Almairac (robertet)

Model: Bette Franke

Photographer: Fabien Baron

Other photo credits to www.elevenredpaperclips.com 

I heart See by Chloe

I've seen that old lady before.

On June 4th, 2013 - Tuesday I had a strange and somewhat haunting dream that caused me to wake up in fear and confusion as I remember clearly I've seen that old lady before, but at the same time it was unrealistic. My dream was like this...

I was waiting for a lift, now when I think about it, I have no idea where I was about to go or even what building I was in, just waited for the lift. When the lift door opened, I entered and there was an old lady wearing a dirty brown long robe and a cloth over her head, and she was pushing a flat wooden trolley out of the lift, I did not dare to look at her face. The closest I can describe this old lady is the evil witch from Snow White, but no it wasn't her, just that they dressed alike. I knew deep down that she was ugly, and by ugly I mean really ugly and scary, somewhat disgusting looking. That's when I realise, I've seen this lady before, but I do not remember when, where or how. 

I knew that she was ugly because her presence reminded me of that ugly person that I once saw long time ago, and it was a horrifying sight for me at that time, i'm really glad that i've forgotten that face. 

The old lady saw me as she was pushing her trolley out of the lift, and suddenly came back in again. That's when I felt fear, felt like this isn't right, why is she coming back into the lift when she was supposed to go out? I remember I pressed 3rd floor, and when she came in she did not press any button so I assumed she wanted to go 3rd floor. At that point of time I felt like she was about to talk to me and that I should escape, so i pressed 2nd floor and immediately rushed out, and took the stairs up. 

As I was running up the stairs, that's when I realise I was in a hospital building. From the second floor I ran up to the 5th floor, and a nurse came out and told me that I am not allowed to enter, so I ran back down to 4th floor. As i pushed the door open nurses were rushing out, I stopped one of them and asked what happened, she said they found an old lady who has just came out of a cave and has no back bone. Honestly even in my dream I felt like it doesn't make sense. 

I have no idea why, but I asked if there was a book store at the lobby, she said yes and I went down there. I knew clearly that the reason why I wanted to go to the bookstore was because when patients are admitted, they would pass the bookstore, I guess at that time part of me was curious of her face. 

I waited at the bookstore, suddenly i heard people gathering at the window, that's when I knew that old lady was passing the bookstore on a wheel chair. As she passed by I heard people making disgusting noises like "oh my gosh", "ewww", "shit that's gross", and so on. Suddenly there was a clear view for me to finally take a look at her face again. But one part of me told me to not look at her face, so when I had that one chance, I got a glance of her looking at all of us, but the glance was so quick that I only saw her eyes, did not see her face properly. I remember the way she looked at the crowd, it was filled with anger and grudge. She gave a look that says "all you people who are looking at me disgustingly, one day you'll pay, i'll make your lives a living hell". 

After that old lady passed us all, I felt relieved that I did not see her face. After that I just hung around the hospital. Honestly I have no idea what I was doing at the hospital, but I did see my mum and sister there, I think we were visiting someone. I was walking around the lobby and walked passed this lift near the reception counter. 

Then it hit me, that from where I was standing it was dejavu. That old lady will come out of that lift when she leaves. I tried my best to stay out of her way in whatever way I can, I did not want to bump into her at all. I then got distracted by a group of nurses gossiping, I headed over to ask about the old lady, and the nurses said that there was nothing wrong with that old lady at all, she'll be discharged soon. 

When I heard that news from the nurse, I started avoiding that lift. Suddenly a nurse called me and this late 30's to 40's year old guy. I have never seen this guy before, I have no idea who he was, he was short, well shorter than me, wearing a formal white-ish blue shirt. The nurse told us that we are responsible for her, because we are her children. 

Straight away I raised my voice at the nurse and said "no way!" because I was really trying my best to avoid this old lady. It is like no matter how hard I try to avoid her I just can't. I immediately walked away, and the guy called out for me and said "you can't just leave our mum like that". 

Then she came out of that lift, again I avoid looking at her face, she was on a wheel chair. The supposed "son" went up to her and called me along, but I walked away further. The guy called out for me and said "at least look at her, she's sorry for everything she has done, forgive her", and I had no idea what he was talking about. 

I went to the ladies room to calm myself down, then my "actual mum" came into the toilet. I asked her, "What's going on? How am I her daughter?". My mum said, "there was some mixed up with the documents in the past, but i've settled it, i've paid them to settle the documents, you have no more relations with her."

After my mum said that, I felt relieved and decided to go home. Just when I thought I was free to go, that guy came to me again and said, "at least say bye to your aunt". I was very pissed off and literally thought "WTF? Now she's my aunt?!". 

Seriously, no matter how hard I tried to avoid her, she keeps finding her way to make me face her and I hated that so much. I took my mum by the arm and walked away, walked out of the hospital. But there was another exit at the other side of the hospital building, so that old lady came out from there. I quickly avoided looking at her face again, and I could see she was coming towards me, but there were some leaves blocking her face from where I was standing. Then I woke up.

When I woke up, the first thought that came into my head was, I've seen that old lady before, not in this recent dream, but just somewhere. Maybe I've seen her in one of my previous dreams, because i'm pretty sure she doesn't exist in real life.

PS: I've not watched a horror movie for more than a year plus.

The pictures I've selected for this blog post is the closest to what I saw in my dream.
Pictures taken from:
www.everestelevators.com

http://www.downtownmakeover.com