As the month of love comes to an end, we wanted to remind you that showing yourself some love will always be necessary. You can gift yourself a little self-love every night with a calming cup of tea, relaxing aromatherapy oil, or even a soothing scented candle – anything that will help you press pause and indulge in some quality me-time.
We also wanted to share our self-care must-haves with you! Treat yourself to a well-deserved break with these small gifts from some of our favourite local brands:
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A soothing blend, this herbal tea promotes relaxation, helps reduce stress and anxiety, and improves sleep.
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Lavender, Clary Sage, Peppermint – this is the perfect combination for deep relaxation, as well as the relief of headaches.
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This night serum will have you waking up with glowing skin thanks to its exfoliating AHA and collagen-boosting Vitamin C ingredients.
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A refreshing blend of eucalyptus, mint and lavender, lighting this candle will help put your mind at ease after a long, stressful day.
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This heart-shaped rose quartz gua sha stone evokes the spirit of self-love – use it give yourself a relaxing facial massage with your go-to oils.
Has your skincare routine become more lenient now that you’re working from home? Staying indoors doesn’t mean your skin is safe from environmental aggressors – in fact, your skin is exposed to new types of pollution, such as fine dust and smoke from cooking. If you haven’t been protecting your skin whilst indoors, The Body Shop has made it easier to with their new Bouncy Jelly Mist.
Here to help block your skin from the effects of environmental aggressors, including indoor pollution and blue light, the Drops Of Youth Bouncy Jelly Mist also aids in restoring your skin’s moisture, and preserving its healthy-looking glow and freshness throughout the day. It contains 96% ingredients of natural origin, including edelweiss stem cells and Community Fair Trade moringa seed oil, and can be spritzed on all skin types to protect, refresh and hydrate for up to 24 hours.*
Edelweiss? Yes, like the song from The Sound Of Music, it’s a mountain flower found in the Italian Alps. This plant is marvelled for its resilience, and power to protect and repair itself, which is why you’ll find its stem cells inside every bottle of The Body Shop’s Drops Of Youth range. A hero ingredient, it helps give your skin that fresh, hydrated feeling all day long!
*The Body Shop’s Drops of Youth Bouncy Jelly Mist does not protect from UVA/UVB rays.
Since we started in September, you’ve probably seen one of our carefully curated self-care kits that focus on pampering the mind, body and skin, while supporting local brands. We put these packages together with love to share the gift of self-love, including essentials such as calming crystals, plant-based protein powder and soothing sheet masks. It’s the best way to show a loved one that you care! Create your own personalised pick-me-ups with some of these wellness items – they’re bound to put a smile on your special someone’s face:
For the mind
- A planner from Mossery Stationery
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These planners may look too pretty to write in, but their functional layouts and fun features will have your best friend using it all the time! We love the habit tracker, inspiration board, as well as the values and beliefs page.
- A candle from Little MoomooCraft
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Available in cute shapes and different sizes, a deliciously scented candle can create a warm and cosy environment for your goal-getting friend to unwind in. Their nostalgic Christmas Special soy candles have a comforting scent for those who are missing home.
- Crystals from Shelbijou
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After everything that’s happened this year, we’re all in need of some good vibes and pleasant energy! Grab a few of these shiny crystals and gift them to someone who’s been meaning to manifest their dreams and desires.
For the body
- Healthy snacks from Kintry
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You can’t go wrong with yummy snacks! Customise their gift collection with flavours that are natural, hand-crafted and sourced from premium ingredients – we know the vegan in your life will appreciate their Pandan Gula Melaka Granola.
- Plant-based protein powder from The Fresh Company
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Treat your workout buddy to this vegan-friendly pea protein powder. Choose from two delicious guilt-free flavours – Himalyan Salted Chocolate, and Cookies and Cream, or get them both with a protein shaker when you purchase the starter kit.
- Yoga block from Karma Yoga
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Got a yogi friend? Help them enhance their poses and elevate their experience with this recycled cork wood yoga block. We are living for the positive reminder to “do good everyday” engraved on the environmentally friendly block.
For the skin
- Personal care products from BadLab
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Designed exclusively for men, this all-inclusive self-care package includes some of their best-sellers: a 3-in-1 Hair, Face, and Body Shampoo, Facial Cleanser, and Pomade / Hair Clay. Users will feel more energised and revitalised after doing this routine.
- LED Cleansing Brush from skiove
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Combining LED light treatment with a silicone facial brush, any skincare fanatic would be excited to deep cleanse their skin while rejuvenating it. Give them the gift of cleaner, clearer and glowing skin!
- Sheet masks from SkynSin
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For the friend who’s always on the go, a hydrating face mask is a fast and easy way to practice self-care. These Korean sheet mask sets are curated for each skin type, but their Christmas sets also include extra goodies from earrings and scrunchies to coffee and granola.
The Body Shop has your Christmas list covered with the perfect presents for everyone! Their stellar range of glorious gift sets include Secret Santa, body care, skincare, pampering, stocking fillers and a wonderful variety of vegan products to spoil your loved ones silly.
Convenience isn’t the only reason to grab your gifts from this beauty brand – in the spirit of giving, The Body Shop will also be donating 10 sen from every transaction to the Women’s Aid Organisation (WOA) all month long. The Come Together, Act Together campaign helps the WOA in their work with domestic violence survivors.
The more pressies you get, the merrier! The Body Shop’s latest limited edition season scents – Festive Berry, Winter Jasmine and Warm Vanilla are available as gorgeous gift sets with handy sustainable packaging that can be reused as a pouch (that counts as a gift too). If you’re spoilt for choice, opt for an e-gift voucher instead.
Don’t worry about delivery – it’s free with any purchase from The Body Shop’s Christmas Gifts & Seasonal Ranges until Christmas. The convenience continues with their Click & Collect, Call & Collect, Call For Same Day Delivery Service.
Get shopping on their website today!
Christmas may look different this year, but the right scents can make it feel the same. Festive Berry, Warm Vanilla, Winter Jasmine – these evoke happy emotions and beautiful memories, which is why The Body Shop and Crème De La Crème have paired up this festive season to provide you with these feelings and 100% natural ice cream flavours inspired by this year’s 100% Vegan seasonal range.
To spread Christmas cheer in these times of uncertainty, The Body Shop’s exclusive collaboration with the all-natural ice-cream brand, Crème De La Crème, looks to mend the heart and heal the soul with ice-cream. The collaboration features specially crafted ice-cream flavours inspired by The Body Shop’s festive gift collection.
Tantalise your taste buds with the Festive Berry flavour; a creamy tangy, cream cheese ice cream swirled with mixed berries sorbet and crunchy crumble, Winter Jasmine flavour; a sweet light white peach sorbet infused with jasmine flower and Warm Vanilla, the perfect balance of Madagascar vanilla ice cream swirled with spiced almond crumble and salted butterscotch. The special edition ‘O Christmas Tree!’ petit gâteau is a delicious cream cheese ice cream, paired with fig ice cream, swirled with dried fig on a dark chocolate fig crumble base.
Gift your loved ones with these mouth-watering treats, packaged with festive gift sets from The Body Shop – the hand creams and body butter smell just as delicious. These exclusive flavours will also be available at Crème De La Crème.
On top of that, The Body Shop has been giving back in an effort to support Women’s Aid Organisation through the Come Together, Act Together campaign. Happening all through December, 10 sen from every transaction at The Body Shop will be donated to Women’s Aid Organisation to assist WAO in their work to help survivors of domestic violence.
Pre-order these festive gift sets on The Body Shop’s website from 1st to 18th December, 2020.
2020 has almost everyone suffering from end-of-year fatigue. After months of feeling anxious and overwhelmed, we’re exhausted! If you’re struggling to pull yourself together, it’s time for some serious self-care. Homegrown beauty brand, Vase Creation, is determined to help with their new Organic Stress Relief Pillow Mist and Caramel Collection: Crème Brûlée Flavoured All-Natural Luxe Lip Gloss. These self-love products are part of their purpose to enhance lives by creating safe, worry-free products for everyone.
Year-end stress is both tiring and harmful to your health, which is why Vase Creation is encouraging everyone to rest with their Organic Stress Relief Pillow Mist. Carefully hand-blended with organic pure essential oils, it helps with insomnia and improves sleep without the use of synthetic fragrances. The calming combination of lavender, patchouli, sweet orange, roman chamomile, vetiver and cedarwood is well-known for its relaxing benefits. Just spritz it on your pillows and linen to relax, recharge and wake up feeling refreshed!
But before you snooze, slap on their Luxe Lip Gloss, which doubles as an overnight lip mask to repair chapped and dry lips. It’s specially formulated with all-natural and safe ingredients, such as plant-derived squalane, castor oil, jojoba oil essence, Vitamin E and menthol, for a cooling sensation and glittery finish (it is Mariah Carey season after all). Fun fact: the crème brûlée flavour was inspired by everyone’s favourite guilty pleasure, Emily In Paris. Remember the scene where a sad Pierre Cadault practices self-care by cracking open the tops of crème brûlée?
Shop them now on Vase Creation’s website.
Cleanse, tone, moisturise, sunscreen – done. But what if you want to zhoosh it up – make your skin look more glowy? The key is to hydrate, especially in this hot, hot heat! We’re always reminded to stay hydrated by drinking water, but what about our skin? Dehydrated skin causes more than just dullness and dryness – it may be the reason behind your oily skin, uneven texture or fine lines.
But living in the tropics does have its perks – we get to enjoy the sun all year round! Our sun-kissed looks just need to be accentuated with a glow-inducing skincare routine. We turned to local skincare brands because they definitely get our dilemma – check out these Malaysian-made game-changers to help you hydrate and get that healthy glow:
- Aloe Hydrating Face Mist from Kuleet Organics
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We love a good face mist! It’s a quick fix you can just toss in your bag and whip out whenever your skin starts to feel dry. Kuleet Organics uses aloe vera as a refreshing ingredient to help you cool down and hydrate your skin. The dewy look you get after is always a win! - Lock & Stay Rice Serum from Skinned
View this post on InstagramBefore you moisturise, add this yummy-sounding serum to your skincare routine to lock in the moisture and plump up your skin. It’s packed with antioxidants and self-repairing ingredients, which is a must for a healthy skin barrier and nourished skin. Plus, it’s vegan, and free of parabens, cruelty and everything toxic!⠀⠀
- Squeaky Clean Double Cleansing Pads from Skinfuel Beauty
View this post on InstagramInstead of investing in two cleansers, grab a tub of these 3-in-1 pads – they act as an exfoliator, makeup remover and face wash! All you’ve got to do is give your face a good wipe down and emulsify it with water. Your skin will be left feeling soft, supple and super hydrated.
- 10% Niacinamide + HA from Ruruberry
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Niacinamide has been a skincare wunderkind for all skin types – think of this form of Vitamin B3 as the supportive bff every skin barrier needs. Ruruberry has combined the super ingredient with hyluronic acid for a gentle booster drop that has an ultra-hydrating, illuminating effect. Talk about ultimate skin goals! - Hijau Face Oil from The Minimal Skin
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Made up of hemp seed oil (not to be confused with hemp oil) and grape seed oil, this lightweight facial oil won’t clog your pores as it heals and hydrates your skin. The Minimal Skin proves that less is more with minimal yet effective ingredients. They also keep it hijau with their recyclable packaging! - Rose Brightening Moisture Mask from Lumi Beauty
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Slap on this soothing sheet mask to give your skin the boost of radiance it needs! Made out of 100% soft cupra cotton, and with a hint of fresh rose petals, it’s super calming and the perfect companion for your self-care ritual. Your face will be shimmering and healthier by the end of it.
Has your skin been feeling dry lately, but your bottles and tubs are starting to run dry? Here’s how you can plump it up without draining your wallet: Lazada’s 11.11 Biggest One-Day Sale!
Featuring hydrating favourites such as Clinique’s Moisture Surge Hydrator and Laneige’s Water Sleeping Mask, Lazada Malaysia‘s Crazy Flash Sale offerings bring down the already-discounted deals to unbeatable prices. Up to 50% off on beauty products? Count us in!
The sale starts at 12AM on 11.11 with a Lowest Price Guaranteed* promise. Stocks are limited, so make sure you click the ‘Remind Me’ function on the Lazada app now to snatch up the deals tomorrow. More information can be found here.
Happy shopping!
There are two nights in KL that has everyone out to celebrate – Halloween and New Year’s Eve. Clubs, bars and even the streets are packed with people in high spirits and celebratory gear. You finally get to see the friends who usually pass on a night out, as well as find yourself bumping into others you haven’t seen in a while.
Sadly, that isn’t the case this year with everybody confined to their homes (for the better!). But that doesn’t mean it can’t be celebrated! Dig up your eccentric makeup palettes and get inspired by these mind-blowing looks from some of the most talented makeup artists in town:
1. @vvnloll
3. @fyi.khoo
4. @muhd.aniqqq
5. @hammadart
6. @afierhm
7. @_syaart
Make sure to support these local creatives by giving them a follow. Happy Halloween!
Did you know that your phone could be housing ten times more bacteria than the average toilet seat? Yup, you’re carrying around a germ-ridden device all day, every day, everywhere. Ew!
How, you ask? Toilet seats are often associated with germs and because of that, are cleaned frequently while other commonly touched devices such as phones, laptops and tablets are left out from the cleaning routine. This is based on research carried out by scientists at the University of Arizona eight years ago – imagine how much filthier our devices could be now given that we’ve become increasingly more attached and reliant on technology?
With the Coronavirus outbreak, this gives us some food for thought towards our personal hygiene, especially when we can’t keep our hands off these germ magnets, but hold on! Before you start freaking out, phones aren’t the main cause of spreading disease. Coronavirus, like most respiratory viruses, are primarily spread through coughs and sneezes. But if respiratory droplets were to land on your phone, the virus could possibly live up to 96 hours on it.
Sanitising your phone regularly might not be such a bad idea after all, but most importantly, wash your hands regularly. If not, you’re just re-contaminating your phone and other devices as soon as you touch them again.
Time to pickup some good tech hygiene habits
Regardless of a pandemic, your devices are in need of some serious cleaning. But how do we clean them when they’re sensitive to cleaning products? Don’t worry, we’re not asking you to soak them in soap and water or pour gooey hand sanitizer over it.
Below are some steps that will keep your devices as clean as possible without damaging them. Do these steps regularly and make it a habit for a more hygienic lifestyle!
- Cleaning your phone and tablet
Antibacterial wipes or rubbing alcohol are great for sanitising your phones and tablets and can be easily found at the pharmacy. If you’re using rubbing alcohol, apply it to a cotton pad and gently rub along the screen and chasis of your phone. If you have a case for your phone or tablet, be sure to take it off and clean it separately – you can use the same method to clean your case or you can wash it thoroughly with soap and water for extra reassurance.
2. Cleaning your laptop and desktop PC peripherals
As laptops travel with you more, so does its chances of picking up unwanted dirt and germs. But that doesn’t mean your desktop PC is safe – just like a laptop, a desktop PC can still collect dust from our surroundings, grime from dead skin cells, and germs from our own hands.
Start by turning off and unplugging your laptop or desktop PC.
Keyboard: Turn the laptop or keyboard upside down and gently shake it over a bin, then wipe down the remaining dust with a microfibre cloth. A great way to help you remove dust gently in hard to reach crevices is by using a soft brush, like a large makeup brush.
Once you’ve given it a proper wipe, we recommend using rubbing alcohol to disinfect them instead of antibacterial wipes as you need to use as little moisture as possible, but it’s still fine if that’s your only option. Another secret is to apply rubbing alcohol to cotton buds to reach those crevices between your keys.
Screen/monitor: Just like the keyboard, wipe off dust using a microfiber cloth before rubbing it down with rubbing alcohol or antibacterial cloth.
Mouse: Your mouse spends most of its time in your hand, skittering across the desk. This causes it to pick up a lot of dirt – especially at the mouse feet – from your desk or your hand. Use the same rubbing alcohol or antibacterial wipes, run it over the surface and feet of the mouse. Don’t forget to clean the cords as well! FYI, a toothpick works great at picking out dirt from cracks and crevices.
3. Cleaning your earphones and headphone
For earphones, use a blue-tack to stick to and remove dirt from it or a toothpick to gently scrape off dirt – a fine brush also works great. Don’t forget to apply rubbing alcohol to a cotton bud and give it a final wipe after that.
Headphones, on the other hand are different, as they sit over your ears instead of inside. Unfortunately, the material used for the ear cups isn’t always the same, so we recommend referring to the manufacturer’s instructions to avoid damaging them. However, in most cases, a quick wipe on the ear cups using antibacterial wipes is enough to clean it. As for the solid surfaces, buttons and cables – rubbing alcohol will also do the job.
Bonus: Cleaning you game controller
A game controller spends its entire time in your hands whenever in use and becomes a magnet for dead skin cells. Just like the mouse, give it a quick wipe over the surface, buttons and cable with antibacterial wipes or rubbing alcohol. Then use a toothpick to remove any gunk stuck in between the crevices.
Clean regularly
It’s less work to clean your devices if you do it regularly as you don’t give the dirt time to settle in and get caked into the grime. Let’s not forget that it’s also more hygienic, especially for devices such as smartphones, tablets and laptops as they are regularly exposed to your hands.
As we continue to wear masks to protect ourselves and others from the coronavirus, our skin is starting to see the side effects of it with the occurrence of “maskne” and other skin irritations. “Maskne” is caused by the friction of the mask against your skin and the humidity that gets trapped in between them – it doesn’t help that we live in a hot and humid country!
Although these breakouts are also concealed under a mask, leaving skin problems untreated can cause it to get worse or even lead to an infection. Masks compromise our skin’s protective barrier, which makes it crucial for us to attend to it and maintain a stronger, healthier skin barrier.
Don’t use this as an excuse to not wear a mask – keep it on and try these calming treatments instead:
Sulfur is a famous acne-fighting ingredient with the power to reduce the appearance of pimples and prevent future breakouts. This foam-activated mask also gently exfoliates the dead skin cells that clog pores and cause irritation.
A rinse-off formula, this face mask also eliminates dead skin cells and draws out other facial impurities. Salicylic acid helps keep your pores clean and will have your skin feeling refreshed after a hot and sweaty day.
3. Klairs’ Midnight Blue Calming Sheet Mask
Specifically designed for sensitive skin, this sheet mask contains calming ingredients that reduce redness, irritation and inflammation. It has a cooling effect to lower the skin’s temperature and relieve sensitivity.
4. Chuck’s Glow On Brightening Peony Mask
Niacinamide is beneficial in balancing sebum production and treating acne, as well as moisturising for those dealing with rosacea. This sheet mask packed with anti-fungal and anti-inflammatory properties that help protect the skin’s barrier.
5. Benton’s Snail Bee High Content Sheet Mask
Snail mucin can be used to repair your skin’s protective barrier as it is a humectant with healing properties. The high moisture content of this sheet mask will help soothe damaged skin and improve skin vitality.
We understand that “maskne” can be discouraging, but it is more important to keep wearing a mask. If these facial masks don’t work for you – make an appointment with a dermatologist or esthetician. Stay safe, stay selfless and don’t forget to sanitize your hands!
Known for their fashionable brands and fast delivery, Zalora is a treasure trove of lifestyle products, including Korean beauty. The global skincare phenomenon has become a new norm with their gentle ingredients and radiant results. We found these seven best-sellers for your shopping bag, which will hydrate your skin and give you that signature K-beauty glow:
Boom, pow! This ultra-lightweight, oil-free gel cream creates an explosion of hydration followed by a sensation of freshness for all skin types. Other than lock in the moisture, it also helps minimise the appearance of pores for smooth, supple skin.
With aloe to soothe and moisturise, this exfoliating toner also contains salicylic acid and snail mucin to hydrate and prepare all skin types for the rest of your skincare routine. This aids in the absorption of the following products.
Formulated with 96% snail secretion filtrate, the benefits are more attractive with the lightweight essence transforming skin through intensive reparation and hydration. Don’t worry, it’s 100% cruelty-free! (No snails were harmed in the making of this product.)
For those with sensitive skin, this magic cream is known for effectively soothing irritated skin and calming red complexions. It can either be used as a spot treatment or as a protective layer over your face to shield from dryness and environmental stress.
The nostalgic fruity fragrance will remind me of your old favourite lip gloss, but this lip mask isn’t sticky – it smoothly glides on your lips and melts away the dead skin cells. It will have you waking up the next day with soft, smooth lips. #IWokeUpLikeThis
For the first step in double cleansing, this gentle oil cleansing foam quickly dissolves makeup, sunscreen and other impurities with its rich lather. Your skin will feel nourished after, not necessarily needing another step with its one-and-done formula.
An easy and convenient way to exfoliate, these gauze pads are a gentle introduction to both chemical exfoliation and anti-ageing. Its standout ingredient, Resveratrol, is a powerful antioxidant that comes from naturally fermented red wine. Clink, clink!
Which of these cult-favourites have you tried? Let us know in the comments!
