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

COMPARE HERO

Hello!

I wanted to cheat by changing the post date to last weekend since I missed my own "weekly favorite" post, but I decided not to. So here it is my late "weekly favorite" update!

I always collect informations and compare few sources before I decide what to buy, what to get, where to go, and stuffs like that. I know it is very troublesome, but I think students like us would need that, especially living in an environment that forces us to be a better buyer/consumer. However, I worry no more, because I have found a website that can help me with this deals, COMPARE HERO! As a finance student, I really think a website like this is very helpful. Not only to help me decide on good deals, but also help me to realize finance is not 100% boring. It is everywhere. And reaching a financial goals is not an impossible thing to do. 

Chris Sheward from Compare Hero has helped me with this special post on how to save money, and of course how a comparison site like Compare Hero can lessen the burden. :)

Top 5 fun ways to save money 

Saving money can be one of the most difficult things to do especially if there are so many pretty little things from Zara, Forever 21, Mango; the list is endless really. So how do you manage to keep some extra cash if you are constantly tempted to splurge?  

Have financial goals, it won’t hurt  

Financial goals; sounds fancy right? Start off by asking yourself what exactly it is you are saving for, maybe it is for a trip to go to an exotic island or that fancy Burberry bag? 

Thereafter, move on to drawing a timeline of your expectations from yourself.  This will be your motivation if temptations seem to be getting the best of you.  

Make sure that you have your goals on a piece of paper; if it is inked down it is hard to forget. Now that that is done, let the saving begin! 

Start saving as soon as NOW! 

Procrastination is a vice and the minute you start thinking that you will wait until you earn more money - kill that thought right there. 

Start from saving as little as 10 percent of your total earnings, it may not seem like much but it will make a huge difference.  

Waiting for the day you earn more will only lead you to waiting for a long time. It is a proven fact that the more each person earns, the higher their expenses. So ladies, the time is NOW! 

Eat out and hang out with friends 

My boyfriend and I decided to stop having food delivered to our doorstep – with all those tips and extra delivery costs we had to bear, our laziness was certainly not paying off.  

Not only do we now enjoy quality time out, we also have an excuse to have a good meal with all our friends where we all always end up sharing costs.  

A little reward every now and then will do 

If you can manage to stick to your saving plan, you definitely deserve a reward; take it as motivation to achieving the bigger goal. Rewards make the journey more delightful, so why not indulge? You certainly deserve it for getting so far. 

Make the internet your new BFF 

Ok, ok, this does not mean that you have to forget about all your girlfriends but the internet is a place where you can find all the financial tricks and this includes financial comparison sites which will help you save heaps on credit cards, debit cards, phone and broadband plans. 

Not only will comparison sites save you money, they will save you time – after all you have a social life to keep up with.  

All in all, saving is not easy, it takes time, practice and tremendous self control – the trick is to stop thinking of it as a chore – make it your new hobby and you will be surprised at how fun it can be. The best part is discovering unconventional ways of getting to where you want to be financially. Good luck!  

Sastya Wardani

Current Favorite : Bare Minerals Powder and Sephora Kabuki Brush

Hello,

Today I am going to write a review of my last week's purchase at Sephora; Bare Minerals Loose Powder and Sephora 2in1 Kabuki Flex Brush. Loose powder and kabuki brush have been on my list since forever, until last week I decided to get it from Sephora. 

If you are looking for a middle range price loose powder and kabuki brush, these two could be your first choice. Bare Minerals Loose Powder is priced RM 109 while the Kabuki Flex is priced RM 69.

#1 Bare Minerals

This is simply my favorite because of its effect to the skin. It seems like it doesn't add up another layer of make up, yet it hold the whole make up perfectly. Its translucent finishing touch is just what you need for the perfect flawless make up.

The powder comes in 2 kinds; mineral veil and the spf25. If you are the type of person that applies sun block before your make up, then the mineral veil is good enough. But if you don't, better take the one with SPF 25. Better to protect your skin, right? The powder is very sheer and ideal for all skin tones. It also absorbs oil and cover up imperfections, such as lines and pores. Packaging wise, the powder comes pretty handy. It is not to big, totally can fit in your beauty case.



#2 Kabuki Brush

To be honest, I bought it because of its cuteness. I am obsessed with pink, so I know this is the right brush for me. However, I am not disappointed. It is made of natural goat's fur, very soft and smooth. I don't feel anything when I'm applying powder using this brush. Its fullness and denseness are just perfect for such a small brush, giving a heavier make up coverage for such a sheer powder like Bare Minerals. The angle made it even better when it comes to applying make up.

This is a 2 in 1 brush for a reason. You can open it like a book, and it becomes a blush brush. It might not be the best blush brush due to its length and thickness when it is opened, but it is very handy when you are traveling and prefer not to bring a lo of brush.




Hope this review is helpful for you. See you another time.


Sastya W 

Getting Ready for Surprises

My parents came last week for my sister's birthday! I could not wait and was so nervous as it was to surprise my sister. In the end everything went well. And I was very excited. Great weekend indeed.

Cropped Halter Top - New Look, Outer - Old Navy, Necklace - New Look, Bangle - H&M, Watch - Guess, Skirt - H&M, Shoes - Unbranded, Bag - Balenciaga Velo

Oh, and congratulation to Lin Hui for winning the MAGNESS x GlassesOnline giveaway!

xx,
Sastya W

Something Blue

I am currently obsessed with Michael Kors. I can even say I'm crazy over it. I have been purchasing Michael Kors Bag since I saw the beautiful Hamilton in Pearl Grey in May, and I still can stop ordering one. The brand's collection is priced reasonably, worth it with the quality it offers. Michael by Michael Kors collection also comes with various colors, makes the rainbow seems less colorful.

My latest purchase is the Michael Kors Selma in Cadet Blue. It is so hard to capture the real color of the bag, but I can guarantee it is actually very pretty. I searched high and low until I could get one in hand as it is sold out fast. But the bag worth all the wait and effort. I am one happy girl.

The bag comes with one attachable sling, allows me to go all casual with the sling on, or at times more shopisticated carrying it on hand.







I am one happy girl! :D

PS : if you find it hard to get authentic Michael Kors Bag in Malaysia, head over to Saszch Store on instagram :)

xx,
Sastya W

Current Favorites : Daily Make Up

Hello!

Starting form this month, I will be writing a post of a review of my favorite items of the week. The purpose is not other than sharing what I like and why I like it. I know in this modern days we look for information from the internet, including review of things before we decide to buy it. And as I do that a lot, I find people's unbiased, non-advertorial reviews are really helpful. So I'm gonna do it to return the favor. :)

First is my daily make up. I am really into make up recently, though I am still learning how to ace a perfect look for day or night. I do not use a lot of colors in my make up as I would rather not to ruin the look, so you might not find shades other than brown and black here. However, I would stick to what I know for the moment; neutral look. 

On days when I am not too lazy to do make up before class, I use several make up products to look fresher. Or some people say, no make up make up look. Not to waste your time any further, let's get started!

#1 BB Serum

I am loving this Body Shop Shiso BB Serum to the max! Since I first found it, I cannot give my heart to any other BB product. The texture is very smooth, as smooth as baby's butt. And the color blends naturally to any shade of your skin. Me and my mom have different skin color, yet we both can use it. It gives the flawless look anyone would die for. What's better is, this BB serum helps to maintain your skin and whiten it at the same time. So far I could only find it in Body Shop Indonesia, but last time I checked, Body Shop Malaysia has started to make the Shiso series available. 

#2 Loose Foundation

If you have been reading my blog for quite awhile, you might find out that I used to have a major problem with acnes. So, I am suggested to only used loose powder or loose foundation so that the make up won't clog my pores. I searched high and low for the perfect one; in price and in coverage. Then I decided to take this Sephora Mineral Loose Powder Foundation home and got carried away with it. It is so far the best, most satisfying loose powder foundation I have ever got. I was not sure which shade should I get as the color collection was similar to each other. But then I decided to get it in no 30 (medium). It gives the fresh and flawless look. It also lasts long, like all day long - long. With this, you would not have to keep touching up your make up. The price tag was also great for such a nice product. You can get it only for RM65. 

#3 Mascara

I can say I am a proud mama for getting the last baby of Maybelline Rocket from the Guardian on the first day it was launches. Cause this is the best mascara they have ever invented! I always dream of a long, full eye lashes like my all time favorite, Kendall Jenner. And with this mascara, I even close to have her beautiful eyes! Okay I am a bit exaggerating, but this is seriously good. The brush is abit round and full, it helps to apply mascara effectively. Maybelline is famous for winning the best mascara every year, at least as stated by the magazines here, and this Rocket is the best so far! So if you find any store that still have this in stock, better grab it fast cause I can tell you it is worth it. As far as I know it costs around RM40 in Malaysia, not sure about in Indonesia.

#4 Bronzer

I am not a big fan of blusher or any product that I have to put on my cheeks other than powder, but I'm in love with Benefit Dallas Powder. It is meant to give an outdoor blush for an indoor look, and it works perfectly for that. It helps to make a darker shade on your face, gives a thinner look. At the same time, it freshen up the look. No more flawless-but-boring look!

#5 Eye Shadow Palette

Urban Decay Naked 2. Should I say more? But if I should, I would just say, Naked 2 has the best neutral shades for daily look. That's all!

#6 Lip Balm

Body Shop Born Lippy Lip Balm has always been my favorite. My lips get dry easily here but I don't want to keep having chapped lips, so I keep carrying this around. Not only moisturizing, the smell and taste are also good. I have tried one brand of lip balm that is very famous for therapy or maintenance but I hate the taste on my lips. So I keep coming back for more of this.

#7 Lip Stick

I still have not found the best lipstick for my but I have been sticking to this one. Body Shop Lipstick no 55. It is pink in color, but not to bright for school day. I find it very nice!

#8 Travel Make Up Kit



I got this for my birthday from Sephora. And I keep carrying it every now and then. It has 4 colors of eyeshadow, 2 lipglosses and 1 blusher. Everything in here is just what I need for traveling or just touch ups on outing. You might not get it in their store, but look out for their Small Make Up Kit. It has more colors available, but still come in compact size. 

#9 LIQUID EYELINER



Wet 'n Wild is not available yet in Malaysia, nor Indonesia. But you can easily find it from online stores. It comes with really good price tags, so even after the mark up, it would still be affordable. However, the quality of their product is not questionable. For example, this liquid eyeliner by the brand lasts long and waterproof. The brush is also very durable and flexible. I like flexible brush so it suits me well. It is also not hard to double-apply the eyeliner; it allows you to make different looks with one liquid eyeliner.

So that's all what I use for my daily make up. Stay tune on the blog for another post :)

xx,
Sastya W

Doubtful Warrior

I have been having doubts on myself. At times, I become very unsure of myself and my capabilities, especially when I realize the future is very scary.

But God is good, He gives me people who love me unconditionally. And their love and support to me keep me going. They believe in me more that I believe in myself, and that something I do not think I deserve.

Top - Zara, Skirt - unbranded, Sandals - Charles&Keith, Cuff - Forever 21, Necklace - unbranded, Bonnet - Bali

So I would like to dedicate this post to thank the people I love the most; family, friends, and boyfriend. And not to forget, all of my readers for all the time you spend to read my posts. And do not forget to join my giveaway contest!

Wish me luck,

Sastya Wardani

MAGNESS x GlassesOnline : GIVEAWAY

Hey all!

I have a great news for you!

MAGNESS in collaboration with GlassesOnline will be giving away my favorite brand of contacts:

1 box of GEO, Phantasee or Charme

monthly wear contact lenses 

The amazing GlassesOnline makes it an even more amazing giveaway by letting the winner to choose the color and power of the contact lenses. How cool is that?

All you have to do is to follow these simple steps :

1. Follow my instagram on @sastyaw for updates on the winner

2. Like GlassesOnline.com.my facebook page

3. Send me an email to sastya.wardani@hotmail.com stating your name, instagram id, preferred color and power

T&C:
1. This giveaway only opens to readers who is currently staying in Malaysia
2. The winner will be chosen randomly on SEPTEMBER 2nd, 2013
3. I will announce the winner through email on Sept 3rd, 2013

Good luck!

Love,

Sastya Wardani

K&K vs S&S

Went out around Kuala Lumpur with my little sister, we finally could get a break from uni life and hang out together. Started with Ikea for lunch, then we headed over to Publika at Solaris Dutamas just to see around. The weather was just perfect to sit outside and chill, it was not too windy, but not to hot at the same time. We had a crave for cakes, so right after Publika we headed to Alexis Bangsar for some sweet treats. Along the way we found this alley with graffiti all over the wall. And so as always, our little hang outs would always filled with crazy photo session. Today, the theme was  Kendall & Kylie as we are currently obsessed with them. Kendall and Kylie are the Kardashians half-blood sisters. They are still young but so talented. Both are models and they have launched their own fashion line with Pacsun. If you guys have not followed them on instagram, go follow them. You will be in love with their pics.

Since we are talking instagram here, the photos I upload below are edited and have been posted on my instagram. Oh I know I am such an instaho *wink

Cropped Sweater - Topshop, Velvet Short - A store by Althea, Bag - PS1 by Proenza Schouler


My favorite Grava Lax from Ikea!









Go follow my Instagram for more clues on the giveaway!

Love love,
Sastya W

Real Eyes Realize Real Lies

*please don't mind y bushy brow. It was before I got my eyebrows done :)*

For me, the prettiest part of someone is always their eyes. It shows what they are feeling, what they have been through; it shows something that someone cannot lie about. People try hard to emphasize their pair of beauties by putting make up, or pop the color with contact lenses. Unfortunately, some people's eyes are hidden behind glasses. And I am one of those people! :(

My eye sight got worsen since I started my uni; from -0.5 to -2.5 now. And with  astigmatism! I can no longer pretend that I do not need "help" and have to keep wearing specs. I hate specs to be honest! Especially when my little nose becomes slippery on sunny days and it can not hold my specs in place. I have to walk around holding my specs or wear it like grandmas.
One day I notice some brand produce toric lenses, special contact lenses for people with astigmatism like me. But once I know how to order it, I was just turned off by the fact I have to wait for at least 2 weeks to get it. I can not imagine going to the mall just to get that small box of lenses. Yeah, I'm lazy like that. Until one day, I was introduced to this amazing online shop of lenses and glasses. Glasses Online offers various brands and types of glasses and contact lenses; glasses, sunglasses, colour contacts, powerless, toric, to multi focal. Not only for girls, their collections are also available for guys. They have most of my favorite brands like Marc Jacobs, Rayban, Alexander McQueen and Balenciaga. What is better, they offer incredibly lower price than the market and they can guarantee that everything is original!

Shopping at Glasses Online is 100% hazzle free. You can browse their collection anywhere as long as you have an internet connection, of course. You can pay via Visa, Mastercard, and most online banking, and goods will be delivered to you by trusted courier service. What more could we all ask for?

Head over to Glasses Online and like their Facebook. You can also sign up for free to receive their newsletter and get RM10 gift card.

Do you want to get a free box of contact lenses? Keep reading my blog for an upcoming giveaway by Magness X Glasses Online and follow my Instagram for more clues.

I'll see you soon :)

Sastya W

Looking Forward

I'm currently in the middle of my final exam and I wish I could just go home. Maybe that's what has been on my mind for the past few days, especially after my third paper. The last one, which has a 6-days gap, is the hardest yet I already feel tired of being underpressure and stressed for the past one month. And I really can't wait to enjoy my holiday, going back to the beloved metropolitan city, Jakarta.

However, I try my best and try so hard to survive for this one. And I thought doing the thing I love the most could help. Since I know I can't really enjoy places outside Sunway area, I decided to put in literal "dressing up for myself" and dragged my little sister for a short photo taking session. 

I can say this post features everything new, from head to toe, from my shopping breaks in between studies during my SWOT Vac and exam period. I was trying so hard to hide all the tags, I hope I succeeded in this :)

I love this outwear from BerryBenka I got a month ago. The drapery effect when I wear it is just perfect, though I had doubt when I ordered it. But it turns out great!

Top - New Look, Outwear - BerryBenka, HW Pants - New Look, Ring - Forever 21, Bangle - Cartier, Watch - Guess, Cluth - H&M

And oh, about this wedges! I saw this almost 6 months ago from Vinci and I love it at the first sight. It feels very comfortable, and the straps make it looks edgy. The colors combination is just nice; the combination I usually wear. However, I had to let it stay on the racks as I have bought a pair on the same week, which led me to regrets as I didn't see the pair on the week after. I had to see it at VNC Jakarta with ridiculous price (I can tell you, the Vinci here has better prices), before then I see it again at Vinci, on 50% sale! Yes ladies and gentlemen, 50%! I guess good things come to those who wait :p

By the way, wish me luck on this last paper! I really need those mark.

PS : keep reading for an update on my giveaway! *real eyes realize real lies*

lovelove,

Sastya Wardani