I want more Lip Fushion

I am wondering what I'll do without my Lip Fusion colour shine. This is definitely the best plump, lip gloss I've ever used. My cousin used it and after trying it, I just had to have it. (Thanks Amori ;-).

It really does give you a perfectly plump, full-out pout. I've been using it very sparingly over the past 6 months, but I'm afraid it is not going to last much longer.

I paid R300 (approx $37) in South Africa which is also why I use it sparingly. "The most expensive lip gloss I've ever owned". But so worth it.

Here is proof that it does work:










Left: My lips with Lip Fusion on Right: Without

Can you see the difference?

Unfortunately I haven't seen it in Jakarta so I'm hoping my friend, going to SA soon can bring me one. But this is one product that I just have to have!!

Time for a wax

Waxing - Something we all loath but can't live without doing. I still think the laser hair removal sounds like the perfect solution to the "hairy problem" but of course it is pricey and there are a lot of other things I'd rather do with the money. Hopefully, one day!

So until then I have to, like most women put myself through the painful and in my opinion demeaning waxing episodes at least every 4 weeks. I always thought that a gynecologist would be the only person that would ever see me in such a compromising position. But like most girls will attest a bikini wax is right up there with a visit to the gyne as far as embarrassment goes (well, for me at least). "Can I use that towel to cover my face with rather, pleeeeeeease"? And, "no...it doesn't burn so you can please stop blowing on it now"! LOL! Will never forget that, Edith!

Philips Epilator

Over the years I've been for many waxes but I have also been using an epilator in between. Many of my friends ask if it isn't painful to use, but I really don't mind it. I do think that a wax is a lot better and leaves my legs a lot smoother but, I figured that it's not always convenient to go to the salon and when needed I quickly do a 10min epilator job and I'm good to go for another week or so. I even use the epilator under my arms...I know, I'm mad! It really works though. The 1st time is very painful but once you've done it once and keep doing it, it is actually not that bad. You just shouldn't shave in between because that makes the hair grow back coarse which of course hurts like hell when you epilate after that. I can go for up to 2 weeks without epilating under my arms. The hair grows back soft and has become a lot less over the years. I would definitely recommend it to those of you with a high pain threshold.

So back to the waxing and the embarrassing bikini waxes. I have actually been waxing my own bikini line for some time now. It is not just because I feel uncomfortable, I also just figure, why pay someone to hurt you! I'd much rather use that money for a different spa treatment that I actually enjoy :-)

I used hot wax and paper strips for the past 2 years and even brought the wax pot (thanks Jacqueline) with me to Jakarta. Many different kinds of waxes were available in India and it was really cheap. About $1.5 for a pot that would last you about half a year.

I've been to a lot of Apoteke's (pharmacies), health and beauty stores in the South of Jakarta but I haven't been able to find any wax or wax strips.

I finally decided to just go for a wax. There are many beauty salons in Jakarta and I decided to try Puri Santi in Cipete.

It is a lovely salon and I will definitely go back to try one of their other treatments but definitely not for a wax!

I asked for a full leg wax and said that I will decide if I want a bikini (Luckily I've learnt). Long story short, she started waxing (luckily she didn't start with the bikini) and I realised that there was no way I could put myself through an hour of what I can only call a amateur "patch work" wax. I apologised for perhaps being rude and explained that if it's alright I'd rather not carry on with the wax job. I just couldn't get myself to pay $25 for a wax (legs and bikini) that I could do better myself.

Note: I hope to have more positive reviews about their other services soonest. Watch this space!
The only problem was that I still didn't have any wax to do it myself. I did one of my quick epilator jobs on my legs and I managed to find:

Sally Hansen Extra Strength Brazilian Bikini Waxing & Shaping Kit


I ended up spending $20 on the kit which I should get at least 3 bikni waxes out of. "Still not sure what the mirror is for" LOL ;-)

It worked well. Like with a lot of products it doesn't work exactly like the instructions indicates though. I had to microwave it for longer than the indicated 20 seconds and 3 times during the wax as it goes thick again quickly. I still prefer the bekini strip wax though but beggers can't be choosers. Over all this product is actually very good. It got rid of the hair easily and left my skin feeling soft and smooth and didn't irritate or leave my skin red at all.

Products with Coconut oil

I've always known that coconut oil is very good for your hair and skin and I have used a lot of different products containing coconut oil. Having lived in India coconut oil hair treatments with a Indian head massage was available at all the salons and were of course very popular an very inexpensive. O, how I miss that.

I used (still have one bottle) the Parachute Advances coconut hair oil occasionally.

The great thing about this product is the price. It is no more than Rs.80 (approx. $2).

It was recommended to leave it in over night, which I did and it definitely made my hair shiny. However I found that it took a while until it felt like I had washed all of it out of my hair. It left a residue and my hair felt heavy and not really soft at all.

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My first week in Jakarta I attended a bazaar and naturally (being a product junkie) I went home with guess what.........another coconut oil product.


Cocona, Virgin Coconut oil - Hair SPA Nourishment

I may well have found a replacement for my L'Oreal absolut repair masque, and it is a lot cheaper ($5). I love this product. So much so that I actually purchased another tub (the big one this time) and I've only been here for 4 weeks.

This really does: revitalize and penetrates to the roots providing nourishment and hydration for silky, shiny, strong and manageable hair.

I haven't tried any of their other products yet, but they also have a Face care range, Mark Solution, Foot Scrub and more which I will have to try next time.

Contact: PT. Trimatari Bio Persada Recovery
Jl. RS. Fatmawati 39,
Jakarta
Tel: +62-21-7590 6715
e-mail: trimatari@dnet.net.id

L'Oreal Serie Expert

Let me start by reviewing some of my products that I am currently using:

The first thing is L'Oreal shampoo, conditioner and masque. I switch between:

L'oreal Professionnel Serie Expert - Shine Blonde Shampoo & Conditioner

This is an excellent product to eliminate yellow from highlighted hair. I couldn't live without it. The only thing I found is that you have to leave it on for the desired time or you won't really notice the difference. Also, be careful not to leave it in for too long as it may turn the highlights a little purple, which results in the hair looking a bit dull.

L'Oréal Professionnel Serie Expert - Absolut Repair Shampoo

This is a really good product for color treated hair and it does leaves hair feeling silky and soft. However, unlike some other products, where a little goes a long way, I find that I have to use a lot of shampoo to actually feel like I'm washing my hair. For some reason it lathers up a bit better with the 2nd wash (meaning: wash and rinse and then wash it again). Maybe it is because my hair is long but it doesn't foam (maybe it's not suppose to) but it just doesn't feel like I have anything in my hair which results in using a lot more, so it doesn't last me very long.


L'Oréal Professionnel Serie Expert -Absolut Repair masque for very damaged hair

This is a fantastic hair masque and I could see the difference after the 1st wash. My hair was silky soft and shiny and more manageable. I also think that the condition of my hair has improved since I've started using this product. I do think that leaving it in for only 2-3 minutes as recommended doesn't really help though. I use it once a week and leave it in for about 30min. I know, it is of course not always practical as people don't have the time but if you can set aside some "me time", you will definitely notice the difference.

Why not start blogging about it...

It is not just now, I realize that this has been an eternal search with me. I am always looking for the next best beauty buy and this has been going on for years. If it’s not skin care products, it’s hair products (which silicone, anti-frizz, putty etc. will give Jennifer Aniston hair), make-up (which lip plump lip gloss gives the perfect pout, which Mascara lengthens and thickening, but not curl the lashes) and while I know I’m probably a fool believing that any of this stuff actually works (or does it?), I love it and I can’t wait for the next new soft skin scrub, anti water retention gel and other delicious beauty products to appear on the shelves of my favorite stores.

I’ve been blogging for 2 years now and besides the blog (www.marcadele.blogspot.com) being a journal of sorts it has also become a travel review blog, reviewing places we’ve stayed, restaurants etc. over the past 2 years.

The skin care product predicament I’m in, made me realized that I’m a “product junkie” and I’ve decided to start blogging about it.

Beauty is subjective, but "citizen journalism" is definitely something we all do every day without realizing it. Think about the last time you recommended your favorite restaurant or store to someone, letting them know about your good and/or bad experiences and a good or bad deal. All of us endorse products or places we love and advise against the ones we don't.

This is a product review blog, sharing opinions about matter "in the eyes of the beholder. In this case a true Health/Beauty obsessive "product junkie". I will review Make-up, hair products, skincare, salons, spas, lifestyle products, health and wellness approaches etc.

In addition to reviewing products I have decided to also review and recommend stores (where to find what e.g. food stuff, shoes, clothing – “bule” size pants, if I can find any), Spa’s/Salons (which spa is good for which service, price comparisons etc.) and other stores, services of interest around Jakarta.

Watch this space!

Let the search begin

I’m looking at purchasing new skin care products but I’m not sure what to get. As you know, good products are not cheap. I have used so many different products over the years. I of course started with the less expensive ranges way back then, like Johnson & Johnson, Ponds, Nivea, L’Oreal, Garnier etc. etc. then through the years, moved on to Environ, Estée Lauder, Clinique, Clarins, Dermalogica, Neutrogena, Shiseido, Uriage…You name it, and I’ve probably tried it.

The older one gets it definitely becomes more expensive, I guess because you no longer just buy skin products to keep your skin clean but you start investing in your skin by purchasing more expensive night repair creams, day moisturizer, serums, eye creams, sun screen etc. I guess one can argue that you don’t really need all this stuff, so let me rephrase…I have to have it. Vanity is a terrible thing, I know but I just love it. Call it my Fetich. And even though I’m all for growing old gracefully I also believe prevention is better than cure.

So the quest for my over 30’s miracle creams have begun, yet again. After many years of trying all these different products I can’t say that I’ve found something that has made a dramatic difference. Beauty houses always advise consumers to not to mix products. So what I find often happens is that you buy the range of products and then find that the toner burns your skin, but you are happy with the moisturizer. It is a chance you take, the luck of the draw, as you don’t really know how your skin will react to specific products.

All the well known products are available in Jakarta; Lancome, Shiseido, Kanebo, H2O, Biotherm, L’Occitane to name a few. These products are all high-end and come at a price. I don’t like the idea of spending money on yet another expensive product and then complain that the moisturizer makes my skin oily (especially in this climate). I went to all the cosmetic counters at one of the big malls in Jakrata hoping to get some info on which product will best suite my skin type and pocket. But unfortunately most of the Beauty consultants couldn’t speak English so besides just managing to get the prices they couldn’t really consult with me to try and establish which range of the specific house is best for me. Some of the houses did provided me with samples but most of them don’t hand out samples. And even with a cleanser sample, I would still use a different toner and moisturizer which mean I won’t really feel/see the full effect.

I’ve been researching the different products on the internet, hoping to find some reviews that will help me make up my mind on which products I should buy. But, alas no luck. I am on the last of my Uriage, Hyséac products that were prescribed by a dermatologist in Bangalore (hasn’t really worked for me) and have finished all the samples so I should decide quickly.

Any recommendations, reviews on any of the above products will be helpful!