Bright Little Dot

Choosing an outfit for a day out here has been really challenging lately. The weather is super hot but I feel I should not keep wearing denim shorts on every occasion. I will be turning a year older in a month and it's time that I should be more mature in what I wear every day. 

Changing the whole style has never been easy, especially when it comes to buying the whole new wardrobe. Thank God for Pomelo. I can not stop buying from them! There is always something new that I need to buy. And what I like about them the most, the materials are just perfect for this city.

Pants - Pomelo | Shoes - Charles & Keith | Bag - Dior

See you!

Sas Wardani

A Day Out with Estée Lauder

“Sweet dreams are made of these…who am I to disagree? I travel the world and the seven seas…everybody’s looking for something…” and I was definitely looking for the perfect make-up for a day out!

Over the years, I have tried numerous make-up products but I have not managed to find just the right balance needed for my sensitive and acne-prone skin. Lo and behold, and after a couple of hours of searching on the internet – you know, we girls can multi-task – I decided to test out something different from Sephora! To be fair, it has been quite tiring to search and try different types of make-up, and hoping that it will suit my sensitive skin, but I was totally bought by the Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Make-up and High Cover Concealer!

“This remarkable lasting, yet lightweight makeup wears comfortably up to 15 hours, even in high humidity. Won’t smudge or come off on clothes. Oil-free. Fragrance-free. Non-acnegenic.”

Which girl does not love shopping at Sephora? And, plus, who can resist the discounts available with the Sephora Black Card? Sephora has a large variety of products ranging from foundation, bb cushion, to concealers. I decided to purchase the Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Make-up in 3CO Cool cream and the High Cover Concealer in 2C Light/Medium on hope to make myself look irresistibly gorgeous, and, of course, to tempt my boyfriend to bring me out on a date! #wishfulthinking

There have been times when I have gone on a shopping spree - and later had a shock when I saw my bank balance – in search for a suitable solution to my sensitive skin but ended up with make-up products that made my acne problems worse and even caused itchiness! It was like Meghan Trainor was telling me: “My name is no, my sign is no, my number is no, you need to let it go!” But, obviously, I could not let it go and I decided to try the Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Make-up in 3CO Cool cream, which came in a glass bottle with an open cap that definitely made it easier to pour out. Although, depending on how careful you are, it does run the risk of applying too much. The texture had a powdery feeling, was very liquid and settled pretty quickly. Despite having a very light coverage, which does not cover one’s blemishes or acne scars perfectly, it has a very smooth matte finish, which makes a great base for concealers and other types of make-up. And, what’s the best part? The foundation works really well, even without a primer. First thing that came to my mind, "I think I just found the best foundation for my skin!" 

The concealer came in a pot and required a brush (or your trusty finger) for application. There is a mirror attached to the cover, so it’s very convenient. It does have a very high coverage, just like its name. It covers everything perfectly and hides any flaws that the foundation may miss out! So to me, it balances out the light coverage from the foundation. I really love the finishing of this combination. It covers all the flaws without feeling putting on too much on the skin. The texture also makes it easy to blend, so mixing the two different colors requires no effort. 

Now, ladies, you must be thinking to yourself, should I save money and just use one and not the other? That’s possible but I would recommend having the best of worlds. The light coverage of the foundation and the high coverage of the concealer, allows me to fool others into thinking that I have perfect skin. What’s even better? It also makes other make-up sit perfectly on the application.

Well, after all the troubles I have had with make-up, I decided to put Estée Lauder’s products to the final test whilst I was on a day out in Kuala Lumpur. Given the humid and hot weather, it was not surprising that my skin was oily but to be honest, I did not expect much. I had done my make-up at 10.30am and by 11.30pm, I did not even have to make any touch-ups! Yes, none! Hooray, three cheers for Sas! I am thrilled with how the foundation makes even my powder stay, especially, since I have been using the same powder for some time now and other make-up products tend to make it smudge on my clothes – yes, I might get to go shopping for new clothes, but it’s not really worth it!

The matte finish lasts for quite long and another reason why I did not have to do any touch-ups was because my skin still looked matte-ish even at the end of the day. The foundation has a SPF 10 and the concealers an SPF 35, so I was worried that it would not be photo-friendly – who doesn't love taking selfies or ootd right? – with all the light-reflected formula. But guess what? Yes, I was snapping away as I did not experience this issue with the Estée Lauder Double Wear. The product is definitely great for keeping your skin safe under sun, and for taking pictures at the same time! 

Some of you might be wondering, is it really non-acnegenic? Well, good news for you! I ended up going back at 4am that day - thanks to Genting for being so irresistible - and I couldn't wait to see what it's done to my skin. When I took off my make-up, I was surprised that it really didn't affect my skin. I put acne cream on a few pimples I got that day and the whole foundation and concealer let it heal, just like how it is when I stay at home with nothing but acne cream! When I woke up in the morning, I can see my skin was clearer and I had no new acne. For someone with a very sensitive skin like me, you know it really matters! Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Make-up and Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place High Cover Concealer are really the best foundation and concealer for acne-prone skin. 

The next time you’re at Sephora, make sure you grab these make-up products for yourself but if you feel like having a lazy Sunday, Sephora’s website is a click away! 

xoxo,

Sas Wardani

Hello Singapore!

Hello hello!

I am back to Singapore and I have been staying here for awhile now. It's very hot in here, but I have to be commute and be outside for most of the time (I mean, outside of malls!). I can say my whole wardrobe has changed within such a short period. I now wear less color, more light-weight but covering clothes. And most importantly, no more big bags and high heels! That is a big change.

Anyway, I have been shopping from Pomelo lately and I am very very happy with their products and service so far! I once called the customer service in panic because I realized my flight was in a few days and I might not be able to get it on time, and they helped me to speed up the delivery. I consider the price to be reasonable for such quality. And my 'reasonable price' is relatively low, if you dont know yet. The pants I'm wearing here is one of the latest purchase I got from Pomelo. Check out their SALE section (of course) and if you're lucky you can grab one for yourself too!

Top - Temt | Pants - Pomelo | Shoes - Charles & Keith

See you soon!

Sas Wardani

Phillip Lim Mini Pashli : Why Is It a Must Have?

Phillip Lim may have introduced the Pashli series for the A/W 2012, which is years ago, but I only now I feel the need to write the reasons why everyone should get themselves at least 1 Mini Pashli after I got my 4^th bags since the first one in 2013.

1.  It’s actually very light!

My first ever Pashli comes in Cobalt in medium size. I was all over big handbags, and I thought a Pashli would be better if it comes in the larger size too. But I was (slightly) wrong. Everything else was perfect, except the weight of the bag. It was heavy for a medium-sized sling bag, and way too heavy for a handbag. Sure it would be nice if you just put it on the chair next to you at the restaurant, but I would not bring it for a shopping day. Uh uh!

I was introduced to the Mini Pashli by my sister as she wanted to exchanged the Pashli with a darker color, so I got myself another Cobalt Pashli in Mini. I put my essentials, the same thing as I put in the Medium Pashli and other bags, and holy moly! I felt nothing, in a good way! It is very comfortable to walk around with. The strap holds the bag perfectly and stays on the shoulder. It feels like the weight on my shoulder has been lifted, fashionably. ;)

2. It’s stuurdddyyy

Okay so maybe everyone has talked about it somewhere somehow. Phillip Lim chose this shark-pattern embossed leather for the signature pashli and it is somehow the best idea ever. The leather is so thick (maybe that’s why it’s abit heavy for the larger sizes) and scratches free. I’ve used my bags in the tube, to the market, on the bus without feeling insecure that someone or something gonna leave a scratch on it. And really my bag is still in the perfect condition even until now.

The side of the bags may bend, but in the general pashli holds its shape. This is the kind of bag that you can re-shape just with paper fillings. My pashli has been in the bottom of my luggage, crunched and what not, but I always manage to bring back the shape effortlessly. Who doesn’t love this kind of bag?

3. Comes in a perfect size and style

Personally, I’ve tried quite a lot of small bags in my life (at least I think) and I have a reason why I had a period when I HATE small bags; its size. Most bags I’ve seen is either too small or too big. I wanted a small sling bag that doesn’t hurt my shoulder yet fits everything I need; wallet, phones, small beauty case and a power bank. The Mini Pashli magically fits everything, and leave a space too! When I first came to London, I brought everything said above plus an umbrella. And so I knew, from that day onward, the Mini Pashli would be my go-to bag.

Another reason for it being my go-to bag is the style. The Mini Pashli can transform from a casual bag with its strap on and zipper down, to a more classic one without the strap and its zipper pulled up. Love love love!

4. It’s affordable (for a designer bag)

Some may say it is, some may say it is not. Let’s just agree to disagree. If you compare 3.1 Phillip Lim to Michael by Michael Kors or Kate Spade, okay maybe it is a little bit more expensive. But in general, I think this Pashli series is considered an affordable bag from a high-end designer. The Mini costs only about $695 (and the Medium $895) and so far I can’t find any other designer bags this good, this stylish, and this practical within the same price range.

5. Comes in every shade of the rainbow

I love the size, the weight, and the quality, so what else, right? Well, Pashli comes in every color possible. Black, many shades of blue, many shades of red, neutrals, pastels, you name it. It is totally the bag for every occasion and outfit. My Phillip Lim Mini Pashli in Cobalt has been the everyday bag because of its color. I can’t tell why, but it seems Phillip Lim himself has discovered the perfect shade of Cobalt. It just blends in with everything. The Crimson Red is also not bad, but I usually use it for that dark colors day. I can’t decide on what color should I get next but I think the fuschia pink is soooo prettyyy! (*hint hint! anyone?*)

If you are looking for the perfect small bag for everyday use, I really recommend getting a Mini Pashli bag. It won’t break your bank but will last you a long time. I am sure you will love it!

Have one on your own? Let me know if you’re agree ;)

X,

Sas Wardani

Hidden Gem : Villa Aman D'Sini

(Petunjuk jalan dalam bahasa Indonesia di bawah ;)

Hello peeps!

My birthday is coming soon and I've been busy planning for a little celebration since after 6 years I finally could celebrate it with my sister from another mother again. The last time we celebrate together was our sweet 16 birthday, and we are excited about another one.

This year our plan is to just have a small gathering/sleepover since we all have been busy with work (yes, work! 22 this year, duh!). A short quality time is always a good idea, isn't it? So we were looking for villas near Bogor and Jakarta to spend the birthday weekend, and we came across to this villa which is said to be in Sentul City. I heard about it from a friend of mine and so we tried to google about this one villa. I thought Google knows everything, but apparently this villa is not really on the map (at least Google's map). We only managed to find only one blog with one picture, but we fell in love with the idea of a Balinese like villa with countryside atmosphere. 

I got so curious, I dragged my mom the next day to explore Sentul City, and ask around about the villa, as we only knew the villa is in Bojong Koneng. After asking few people, we managed to find the way:

From both directions of the highway (either Jakarta or Bogor), exit on Sentul Selatan to Sentul City. Just go straight all the way towards Taman Budaya. Right after Taman Budaya, there will be a sign saying La Vanoise, then turn right. La Vanoise will be on your right, but go straight. You will see a small bumpy road towards village area, and don't worry, you're on the right way. Just follow all the way, there will be no right and left turn yet. Pass Kampong Koneng restaurant, and still go straight. After around 15 Minutes drive, you will start to see huge villas on your left, and when you see a small signboard on your right with food menus written on it, look to the left, you have reached your destination.

You will see a huge gate upon entering the villa. The carpark could easily fit up to approximately 10 cars. The carpark and the villa area is divided by a small wooden door, typical Balinese villa. The garden is very spacious, great for little picnic or yoga with bunch of friends or maybe a team building activities. Look forward you will see the pool, which I think is very very beautiful. The pool reminds me of a luxury hotel in Bali, I could pretend I was in Bali for a short getaway. On the right is an elevated living room area, and if you go forward, you will realize there is a patio where you can sit down and chill. Right under the living room is a kitchen and Villa Aman D'sini opens their kitchen everyday from 8am to 5pm. They offer simple homecooked foods and drinks for affordable price.

The villas is on the left of the pool, right beside the dining area. The whole villa only has 3 rooms in total, 1 on the top floor and 2 below. The room is very clean and comfortable. It is managed by the owner himself but the rooms are kept nice as if it was an international chain villa. I only checked one room but I think each room has a queen sized bed, TV area and undoubtedly spacious bathroom. Damn, I would love to stay here for a getaway!

This place is great if your looking for a short and private getaway near the city. It is very quiet, so I think it's better for couples or families. If you're thinking to go with friends but you all cannot stay off the phone, better not go to this place. Reception is bad, does not matter if you use the best provider in Indonesia. Plus no wifi too! And so, also don't go with someone you don't feel comfortable in silence. No one likes awkward silence, right? 

PS : better go NOT on rainy season as it is an open area kind of villas. It is a bit troublesome (and muddy) if you need to keep going from your room to the patio or carpark or any other room in the rain.

Villa Aman D'Sini

Sentul Hill 64, Bojong Koneng, Sentul City

Contact : Mr. Abdul (please email me as I won't put up someone's private number on the web)

Number of rooms : 3

Price (as per 21 April 2015) : Rp 2.500.000 for the single room (I guess the top floor room) and Rp 2.250.000 per room for the 2 bedrooms villa

Occupancy : 3 person max

Breakfast : Included

Family package : Rp 11.000.000 - Rp 13.000.000 for the whole villa, for around 15-20 pax

Gathering package : Rp 8.000.000 per 8 hours, food not included

Restaurant : yes, 8am-5pm

Pros : great view, good location, huge and private, clean

Cons : bad network, kitchen only opens until 5 and no restaurant around the area so you have to plan your dinner properly

Petunjuk Jalan :

Keluar tol Sentul Selatan, masuk ke Sentul City dan jalan terus ke arah Taman Budaya. Setelah Taman Budaya, ada petunjuk jalan ke La Vanoise, lalu belok kanan. La Vanoise ada di sebelah kanan, lalu lurus terus. Jalan menuju villa kecil dan harus melewati perkampungan, cukup untuk 1 mobil tapi 2 jalurnya 2 arah, jadi kemungkinan harus bergantian. Di jalan kecil itu lurus terus, cukup dengan mengikuti jalan. Setelah kurang lebih 15 menit, akan mulai terlihat villa-villa besar di sebelah kiri. Saat melihat papan menu di sebelah kanan, Villa Aman D'sini ada dikiri.

Hope this would be helpful for you!

Love,

S

PS: Kabarnya mulai akhir Maret pihak Vila Aman D'Sini charge Rp 50,000 per orang untuk foto-foto di area vila. Foto-foto gratis kalau pengunjung membeli minuman di vila.

Review : Luminesce by Jeneusse

My first post in 2015 is dedicated especially to the one and only which has helped to start the year with significant extra self-confidence. The one and only Luminesce by Jeunesse.

I was given this amazing set of Luminesce Youth Restoring Cleanser and Luminesce Cellular Rejuvenation Serum at exactly the right time; when my face turned all zitsy and red (again?). This time, my doctor can't help me to diagnose the cause. Or maybe he could, but I just could not believe him cus it was something like stress or what. However, I wasn't given a proper instruction on how to use it or what is it in. I was kinda "forced" to read the booklet and found out something amazing.

The Serum contains stem cell media which could help to treat skin abnormalities. (I was like, "OMG! A stem cell treatment at home? Wow!"). It exerts a powerful rejuvenating and regenerative effect on the treated areas. So, the serum helps to smooth the appearance of fine line and wrinkles by replenishing our skin natural supply of growth factors and proteins that can become depleted with age. It also restores life to the skin by stimulating body;s natural ability to replenish, amplify and heal. So not only works best for wrinkles, it also could help with acnes.

While the Youth Restoring Cleaner is a unique facial cleanser that allows skin to protect its natural hydration while gently removing impurities from deep within pores. It works best if combined with the serum and also day and night cream.

I got these products in November but only decided to write about it this month simply because I want to see the result on me. My facial skin is so hard to maintain. It is so sensitive and I get acnes easily. I have tried so many products, but I can tell you, this is magic.

At first I could only feel my face is hydrated. But lately I've been traveling a lot, which means less make up on my face, and I could see that my facial skin radiates and looks really really smooth. Although I still need to take a good care of the acnes, the skin texture is totally different than before. I feel like I have that baby skin again :)

I am giving this set of product a 9 out 10.

Love love, 

Sastya Wardani

With Love

Maybe it has been months (or years) I have stopped writing. Same old reason, and I'm not gonna say it again. But now I have all the time I want to write; to fill this blog with things that attracts me, that draws my attention. So bear with me while I share my nonsense with you, people.

I have graduated and now I am officially unemployed. No job, no plan, and to be honest it is kinda depressing for me who basically plan everything from months before. But that is what I am facing now. I supposed to start my Master degree in the UK but one thing led to another, I had to decide to take a year off, which means another year of doing nothing. 

It is (surprisingly) heartbreaking that I can't further my study so soon. I was never a diligent student, I am just lucky it was always in the way. But now I realize, what a blessing it has always been. Sometimes I blame it to my passport that is not as powerful as the red ones, although I know I shouldn't. Everything happens for a reason, right?

In the mean time, I hope this could keep me sane.

With Love,

Sastya Wardani