Montigo Resorts, Batam - you know you want to!…

Over the weekend, I paid a visit to the ‘not yet officially open’ Montigo Resorts in Batam on a company trip, and just had to do a quick post on the place before I forget – the place is simply amazing even though they’re not fully open yet!

Just check out the welcoming view from the lobby…the resort is made up of three types of villas with subtle differences – Hill Side Villa, Hill Top Pool Villa and Spa Villa (I reckon you can more or less tell what the differences are from the names!)

There was a cold towel and welcome lemongrass drink to enjoy while we were checking in…even if you don’t speak Bahasa Indonesia, no worries as the staff are decently proficient in English. The standard of service is almost equal to that of Club Med in Bintan, which is really saying something.

The resort is set into a hillside, so a fair amount of walking is required – extended exploration of the resort is not recommended for old folk or those with young children, although travel can easily be taken care of by the numerous buggies servicing the resort.

We opted for the Hill Top Pool Villas, which were 3-floor, 2-bedroom villas with their own private plunge pool…and had trouble making it to our training sessions as we didn’t want to leave the villas! :D

The ground floor consisted of a spacious living room complete with kitchen facilities and even a Wii…the day beds were so comfy, some of my colleagues even fell asleep there!

And oh, the villa pool…it’s not huge, but most enjoyable – you only have to open the living room sliding doors, take 2 steps and climb straight into the pool. We made full use of it, that’s for sure… :P

The second floor was made up of the two bedrooms with attached bathrooms – the master room (which I got) has a four poster bed, while the second room has two single beds…take my word for it, once you sink into the bed and the pillows, you won’t want to budge! (explains why I was late for breakfast too…oops…)

Can I PLEASE bring this bathroom back with me?! The stone bath tub is right under a skylight, and came with a nice packet of bath salts…too bad I didn’t have time to soak in there! There’s also a separately partitioned shower stall and toilet if you have to share the bathroom with someone.

Another awesome touch – double sinks! No need to queue or fight for sink space in the morning…big plus point for me :D

I hadn’t heard about Malin + Goetz before this, but after a quick Google search (doncha just love instant info at your fingertips?) I found out they’re an apothecary based in New York. They have the most amazing smelling toiletries – rum soap, cilantro body wash, peppermint shampoo…you can just imagine those lovely scents, can’t you? ;)

Of course, the purpose of the trip was for training, so we did have to get some work done…but damn, even the entrance to the conference room was so pretty, we didn’t mind (too much!) having to go for training…

This end of Batam is just half an hour’s ferry ride from Singapore, but what a difference in view! I discovered that if I stood at the end of the balcony in the picture above, I could actually see Marina Bay Sands in the distance – a gorgeous sight at night, to be sure…but alas, rather difficult to catch on camera.

The restaurant is the only bit that looked more reminiscent of Indonesian design, but somehow I liked it – a little bit rustic with modern elements weaved in.

Look up! I had to give two thumbs up to the resort’s consideration for nature…instead of demolishing the entire area, they made concessions around some of the trees which I thought was a small step in the right direction.

From an eco-friendly perspective, the resort also made the effort to conserve as much energy as possible – the common areas of the resort are mostly white with airy ceilings and fans, while at the villas only the necessary areas such as bedrooms and living room are air conditioned (the staircase up to each floor is ventilated from the outside).

For those who cannot completely disconnect from the internet but yet don't want to pay hefty roaming fees, you'll be most delighted to know that Montigo Resorts has free Wifi throughout the entire resort (personally tested, they have awesomely fast speeds and steady signal!) - are you jumping for joy yet? ;)

Did I mention how gorgeous the view from the bedroom is? Well…now you know!

Since the resort has only done a soft launch, they’re offering a 25% discount on their rates until the official launch in March 2013. Prices range from SGD$273.75 (2 pax) to SGD$413.75 (5 pax) for the Hill Side Villas – obviously you get a better deal with more people as each villa can fit up to 5 pax. Time to start planning! :D

Montigo Resorts

Jalan Hang Lekir Nongsa

Batam, Indonesia

Tel: +62 778 776 8888

PS: Am being spoilt travel-wise these couple of weeks – as if Indonesia wasn't enough, I'm off to Bangkok on Thursday for a post-birthday holiday with the fiancé. Can’t wait! :D

Get a Vanity Trove box with Watsons Singapore…

Beauty boxes, sample subscription boxes…whatever you call them, they seem to be here to stay. However, if you’ve been wondering about them and wanted to try it before you subscribe, Vanity Trove has made it easy for you by simply shopping at Watsons.

This is the promotion that just started – if you purchase above SG$80 at selected Watsons stores (list of participating outlets at the end of this post!) from 2-29 August, you’ll get a special Vanity Trove box. And if you’re a Watsons card member, the spending amount required goes down to SG$60.

Since I had a couple of items to pick up for some friends yesterday, I managed to pick up a box from the outlet at Raffles City. So here’s a look at what’s inside, together with my thoughts.

The box looks to be pretty much the standard Vanity Trove size and packaging – can’t comment on this since I don’t subscribe to Vanity Trove. Perhaps someone who does can shed some light on this? Nevertheless, I’m sure it’s the contents you’re more interested in, right? :)

Ta-daahhh!! This is just part one though – suffice to say, the box was packed to the brim!

And here’s part two…basically whatever couldn’t be fit into the first pic.

The contents of the box are arranged as clearly as I can manage given that there are a LOT of items in the box, so I’ve broken it down in the list below to trial sizes and sample sachets in the box I got:

Trial/ Full Size Items:

• Beauty Buffet White Tea & Gingko Facial Mask (full size)
• Beauty Buffet Vitamin C & Neroli Facial Mask (full size)
• Biore Cleansing Oil Cotton Facial Sheets (2pcs)
• Biore Aqua Jelly Makeup Remover
• Cristalle21 Skin Solace
• Garnier Men TurboLight Oil Control Charcoal Foam
• Montagne Jeunesse Pressed Aloe Blemish Mud
• Pure Beauty Youth Restore Essence with Black Pearl
• L'Oreal Paris Dermo-Expertise White Perfect Laser Anti-Spot Brightening Essence

Sample Sachets:

• Bio-essence Bio Platinum BB Cream
• Watsons Bird's Nest Whitening & Firming Facial Cream
• L'Oreal Youth Code
• Hada Labo Super Hyaluronic Acid Lotion
• DHC Deep Cleansing Oil
• DHC Mild Soap
• DHC Mild Lotion
• DHC Olive Virgin Oil
• Pure Papaya Ointment with Calendula
• La Roche-Posay Anthelios XL SPF 50+
• Vichy Normaderm Tri-Activ Anti-Imperfection Hydrating Care
• The Nature Lab Collagen Makeup Removing Serum
• Rachel K Mineral Colour Control CC Cream
• Bio-Oil
• Skin79 Super+ BB Cream
• Banana Boat Ultra Protect Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50 PA+++

There’s also a voucher for 15% off storewide on Zalora, which is quite common nowadays. So there you have it – definitely a LOT in one box for you!

Personal Thoughts:

As a GWP for Watsons, this is fantastic – it’s a decent size, and there are plenty of trial sizes and sample sachets of new products which will please any beauty fan. There’s also a promotion for Watsons card members where they can get a 20% discount off a 3-month subscription to Vanity Trove, although taking into consideration that Vanity Trove retails at a SG$25 subscription per month I’m not sure this would make me want to subscribe to Vanity Trove. I might be the only one thinking this though…any differing opinions out there? :)

If you want to get your hands on one of the Watsons Vanity Trove boxes, you can hit up the following Watsons outlets in Singapore:

Ang Mo Kio Hub, Bugis Junction, Causeway Point, Compass Point, East Point, IMM, International Plaza, ION, Jurong Point, Lot 1, North Point, Parkway Parade, Raffles City, Serangoon NEX, Suntec City, Takashimaya Shopping Centre, Tampines Mall, Tiong Bahru Plaza, Toa Payoh HDB Hub (Blk 190) and VivoCity.

** One box per receipt per customer and while stocks last.

Happy Friday! :D

The ArglyDuckling – a name (and retail service) too cute to ignore!

A couple of weeks back, I received an invitation from the nice ladies at ArglyDuckling to attend a introductory session to some of the ranges they carry. In a nutshell, ArglyDuckling is an online retail site in Singapore carrying some great niche brands (and they’ve got a super-cute name to boot! Rinnah has already drawn the connection to the Ugly Duckling tale, so I'm sure I won't have to go into that too)

During the session, we were introduced to quite a number of brands, so I’ll just leave you with some of my choice picks and a short preamble about them.

Nature Girl – looking beyond the fun outlook, this brand carries a whole range of botanical products. There’s body lotion, body wash, cleansing milk, cleansing gel, exfoliating face mask, salt scrub, facial mist, shampoo and conditioner! *whew*

They smell great...personal picks would be the Patchouli Orange, Blood Orange and Orange Blossom Botanical Body Lotions (simply because we only got to try the body lotions that evening, and I’m partial towards citrusy scents!). There’s a huge variety of scents to pick from though, so rest assured there’s a scent to suit everyone.

Kaia – the Kaia Bamboo Facial Cleansing Cloths are brilliant for removing makeup and grime. It’s infused with 8 pure citrus essential oils, organic Canadian honey, sunflower seed oil and oat amino acids…it’s got a mild scent that I’m ambiguous about, but the brand has definitely gone all out for natural packaging. The cloths themselves are 100% biodegradable!

Blinc – what they’ve brought in is the lash primer, mascara, eyebrow mousse and eye shadow in a number of colours. I’ve come across this brand in the past but have never had a chance to try it, so this might be a good time, eh?

Ciracle is another brand that has caught my eye over the years but somehow never got around to trying them…until now. The two that caught my eye was the Jeju Water Sleeping Mask (above), which contains gold flakes (you can probably make out a few if you look at the pic closely). The texture for this mask is similar to that of jelly, which I’m looking forward to trying out!

The other one which I currently have and am going to test out is the Blackhead Cotton Mask, which claims to remove sebum, blackheads and whiteheads without irritation. As for me, I’m more interested to see how this will stack up against my current Skin Food Egg White Pack fave.

Benta Berry is another fun brand that smells exactly like berries (Rinnah likens it to Ribena!). The kit you see above is made for both boys and girls, and even comes in a transparent pouch so that you can pack it in your cabin luggage.

For those that have been raving over Lucas’ Papaw Ointment but don’t like that it’s petroleum-based, this Pure Papaya Ointment with Calendula may be your answer. Personally, I prefer the smell of Lucas to this one, but in the end it boils down to personal preference since Rinnah seems to prefer the smell of this one!

I think most people would be familiar with at least one of one of the salves and balms from the Rosebud Perfume Co. Smith’s range. There are a number of varieties available that come in cute vintage tins…and yes, I’m such a sucker for cute packaging!

If you’re not into the tins or need them to be more travel- or handbag-friendly, some of the salves and balms now come in tubes – easy peasy to tote around.

I guess I kind of saved the best for last, because these are pretty awesome! Move over Sally Hansen, there are now some pretty awesome designs out from Rebel Nails originating from jolly old England. They’re retailing at an affordable SG$15 and come with a guide to help you select the correct size for your nails. Just check out that gorgeous floral print! (and no, I’m not just saying that because it’s *cough* purple…)

Our of all the items above, my absolute favourite of the evening would have had to be Rosebud Perfume Co. Smith’s Menthol and Eucalyptus Balm in a Tin. This salve smells exactly like rootbeer!! *swoons*

Other brands carried by ArglyDuckling include Butter London, Deborah Lippmann, Laqa & Co and Pangea Organics.

Now the good news – ArglyDuckling is currently having a storewide offer of 20% off plus free shipping for all orders above SG$50. New shoppers will need to register to enjoy the offer, while existing customers will be sent a code via email. This is a limited time offer so if you want anything you’d better high-tail it over there! :D

Shins Kings & Queens Promotion…

To commemorate the Kings & Queens Chinese Princess Jasmine shower gel winning the AKU Cosmopolitan 2010 award, Shins is having a promo of RM88 for any three (3) Kings & Queens shower gels from now until 2 January 2011. (RRP: RM35 per bottle)

Haven't personally tried out the Kings & Queens shower gels yet, but some of them do smell quite nice - there are 10 variants in the whole range, so you would be likely to find one that suits you. :)

Sweet Contemplation Accessories Mid Year Sale…

Some of you would have remembered my previous post on Sweet Contemplation Accessories sometime in October last year, along with its opening promotion. Well, for those that happened to miss out on picking out something nice that time, here’s your chance…

From now until 31 July, everything at Sweet Contemplation Accessories is 25% off with the promotion code MIDYEAR2010. If you’re in Australia shipping is free, while international shipping is free for orders over AUD$100. If you can’t hit the AUD$100 mark, it’s a flat rate of AUD$6 so still pretty affordable.

I’d suggest you join up with some friends and make a joint order (the more the merrier right?) – I’ve already made mine with some of my colleagues…can’t wait for it to arrive! :D All the jewelry on the site is gorgeous, plus Tine can do custom orders as well - I already have a few pieces, and dammit if I'm not expanding that collection even further!

Drooling yet? You can hop on over to Sweet Contemplation Accessories by clicking on the link or image above.


** Incidentally, today’s also the last day for my 3rd Blogoversary Clinique Happy or Bonanza Giveaway as entries will close tonight. If you haven’t joined already, better hop to it! :D I’ll be selecting the winners over the weekend, so check back afterward for the results. Good luck to everyone who's taking part!

L’Occitane Peony Makeup Collection hits our shores…

Has anyone noticed L’Occitane has brought in its new makeup collection Peony? If you’ve seen a burst of pink at your local L’Occitane outlets, it’s there…side by side with their new Peony fragrance range.

No prizes for guessing what flower this entire range is modelled after – the Peony of course! (got it wrong? Oh dear…) I must say though, although I’m not particularly a big fan of pink (the overuse of it by some people in the past has killed my liking for the shade) I’m quite taken by the look of the Peony range, particularly the eco-friendly cardboard packaging.

But I digress – back to my two cents thoughts on the makeup collection! :D

Peony Faceolour Powder Duo (RM60 each) – available in 3 shades. These remind me somewhat of the Stila eyeshadow duos but with prettier packaging. Personally, I’m really liking the look of that aubergine hue in Jolie Therese…

Blush Like a Peony Lip & Cheek Tinted Water (RM60) and Peony Lip Balm (RM53). Why am I reminded of Benefit’s Benetint when I see the Tinted Water…does anyone else share my sentiment? The lip balm on the other hand would be great for using to layer under/ over any existing shade of lipstick, seeing as it has tiny pink & gold shimmer in it.

Peony Lipstick (RM56 each) – available in 4 shades. These lipsticks are meant to be semi-sheer, which I like in my lipsticks. Colour-wise I would probably be more inclined towards Paeonia. I’m surprised there are no corals or peach shades in this range though.

Peony Liquid Shine Lip Colour (RM56) – available in 4 shades. Good news for sticky gloss haters, this is a non-sticky gloss. I likened the texture to that of Revlon’s Superlustrous lipgloss, although with a fair bit more glitter. I love this particular selection of shades…can I has all of them, pretty please? :)

Peony Facecolour Powder (RM60 each) – available in 4 shades. Besides its obvious use as a blush, the Facecolour Powder can also be used as eyeshadow as well an all-over powder to brighten complexion. I felt the colours were a bit light in general, particularly Helene which to me looks like more of a eyeshadow base or all-over colour rather than a blush. The rest are okay, but dark-skinned girls may have a problem finding a colour that suits them.

Peony Illuminating Powder (RM111). This is the “fix-it” powder for the collection – green to correct redness, mauve to correct dullness as well as pink and white to brighten the complexion. Again, this reminded me of a product from another brand…NYX’s mosaic powder (although much prettier with its flower motif). I find this a little pricey…I might be biased, but I’d splash out a bit more to get Guerlain’s Meteorites (roughly RM185).

For some reason, many of the products in this collection reminded me of products from other brands, but to be fair it happens quite often. Overall I’d say it’s a very pretty collection with bonus points for the packaging. L’Occitane has also come up with a little quiz on its Malaysia website to help people find their perfect Peony look – you can try it out for yourself here.

L’Occitane’s Peony Makeup collection is available from 1 June 2010 at all L’Occitane boutiques. Plus if you’re in Malaysia, there will be a Peony Roadshow at Midvalley Megamall from 21st – 27th June at South Void 2 in front of Zara where you can pick up some special buys like Peony Body (RM250) and Petite Peony (RM138).

Every purchase of a Peony Face Colour Powder and Lip Colour (excluding lipbalm) will get a free Peony makeup pouch, and if you purchase above RM350 inclusive of a Peony product, you’ll receive a 4-pc gift (plus an additional Peony Tote Bad and 75ml Beauty Milk if you purchase above RM450).

*phew*…that was a long list. Have you tried out the new Peony makeup yet, and what are your thoughts on the collection? :D Come on, share your thoughts!


** Have you entered my 3rd Blogoversary Clinique Happy or Bonanza Giveaway yet? Better hurry - both giveaways close 30 June 2010! :) Click on the links to find out more.

inuovi ivoluxe lippie love...

I was first introduced to inuovi early last year, which finally got me sorted on wearing false eyelashes, and during one of their previous sales I picked up a ivoluxe lipstick which funnily enough, I only started using a month back. :D

Description:
inuovi ivoluxe lipstick is moisturising intense colour for lips that plumps up your lips for a seductively full and luscious look. Intense and wet shine colours with 3D lip plumping complex glide onto lips like silk for a full and glossy effect. Contains Evening Primrose Oil, Squalane and Sweet Almond oil.

The Verdict:
The shade I picked up was Flirt, which is a light pink shade with a hint of glitter. Now that no longer have the luxury of toting huge bags to work (no more car!) I had to seriously streamline the contents of my makeup kit – which means that this baby has the job of moisturising my lips as well as working as a lipstick.

I have to say, I actually quite like this – the colour’s rather sheer, but as I don’t really wear strong colours for work it serves my purpose. What’s more, it contains Evening Primrose oil so my lips look and feel smooth even after it’s worn off. I haven’t tried any of the other colours, but you can also check out Connie’s take on it as well.

inuovi ivoluxe lipsticks come in 40 shades and retail at RM55 each at all inuovi counters and standalone stores.

Incidentally, inuovi Malaysia is currently having their warehouse sales which were supposed to end tomorrow, but I was just told that the sale is being extended to Saturday per the above flyer. Discounts are up to 90%, plus a free lipgloss palette if you spend above RM50. I’ll be doing my inuovi shopping by proxy through a friend this time, so no impulse buying for me!

Has anyone gone for the sale already, or planning to go? If so, do share what you got or are planning to get yeah! :D

Off to a right interesting start in Singapore...

Sorry for the sporadic posts people...the adjustment to getting stable internet connection to blog has been rather intermittent, plus I was such a ditz – I could have sworn I packed my camera transfer cable before I left, but it’s nowhere to be seen amongst the stuff I brought so had to borrow a friend’s card reader for the time being to get my photos out.

That aside, the first week’s down...I can SO see all the predictions I made in this post coming true already – shopping wise, it’s been ermm...rather dangerous. Will have to exercise a lot more restraint when it comes to shopping, that’s for sure!

The first magazine I bought in Singapore was L’Officiel – not for anything else, but because Paris told me about the free Ed Pinaud eyeshadow quad that came as a free gift with the magazine! (Paris can apparently now influence me to buy stuff even ACROSS the border! *gulp*)

The shade I got was #5 – Blue Black. Haven’t tried it out, but not bad for a SGD$5.90 magazine, no? The magazine contents are not bad as well, so I’m not too fussed. There are 6 choices available, but before you ask, no I’m not going to be going mad collecting all of them, considering the magazine is fast running out, plus there’s no way to tell the shade of the quad until you open the magazine’s packaging.

I got this on the tail-end of the usual CNY promotions at a 7-11 in Chinatown while out with the girls after dinner. It came with every purchase of 2 bags of Lays or Ruffles chips, and was available in red or gold – no doubt the general agreement was that the gold was much prettier!

The pouch is meant to organise angpows (hence the three long compartments), but the girls reckon I could use it as a brush roll instead – what do you all think? :D

Last but definitely not least was the close to the weekend with the group of girls taking our first international trip (well, we’re all originally Malaysian, so that counts, right?)...and what a way to make a splash with Chippendales! Nekkid men oh how hawt...I’ve got such a thing for Bryan Chan now (the only Asian in the troupe) Girls if you’re reading this, we SO have to go for the US version yeah...must must must!! :D (by the way, I love how our ticket number was #69...*wink wink*)

Incidentally, Singapore is smack in the middle of a warehouse spree – Charles & Keith, Pedro and Kate Spade are just a few of the ones I want to hit! And if not, I’ve also gone to quite a few outlet branches of brands like G2000, Cotton On and Levi’s that have some rather lovely finds... :D

Something tells me I’m gonna like the shopping here in Singapore (but my wallet isn’t!)

Are you getting your dad anything for CNY/ Valentine’s this year?

Valentine’s Day/ Chinese New Year is just a few days away! :D Now, I'm sure most of you would have already gotten a gift for your significant other, but what the OTHER man in your life? I'm talking about dear old dad...you could always be nice and get dad a Valentine’s Day gift too, right? :D (or Chinese New Year gift in lieu of an angpow maybe?)

Well, if you've been contemplating it and are still racking your brains, maybe these sets from Lancome could give you a nudge in the right direction.

Lancome Men UV Expert Neuroshield – RM160 (valued at RM274) and comes with Renergy 3D Yeux (5ml), Renergy 3D Firming Cream (5ml), Energiser Total Anti-Fatigue Concentrate (5ml)

If your dad is like mine and is practically married to his golf set (or other outdoor sports), this would make a good choice since it has a high anti-UV SPF50/PA+++ protection for effective UVA and UVB filtration. My dad’s still looking pretty good for his age despite his religious weekly golf sessions under the hot sun, which I attribute to his disciplined use of a really strong sunscreen! (and *ahem* a growing vanity of wanting to try new products! He actually comes and tries to raid my product stash! LOL!)

Lancome Renergy 3D Yeux – RM190 (valued at RM304) and comes with Renergy 3D Yeux (5ml), Renergy 3D Firming Cream (5ml) and Energizer Total Anti-Fatigue Concentrate (5ml)

For those in their 30s and 40s (I’m thinking this would be ideal for those men worried that they’re starting to look a little too ‘distinguished’ for their liking, or just feeling a little run-down) the Renergy 3D is designed to firm skin and help erase wrinkles…and is likened to having 25,000 micro-lifts on the skin surface.

At under RM200 each, they’re pretty good gifts without having to burn the bank. Personally I’ve given my parents a red packet each since I started working, but over the past few years it’s grown to include some products and other items as well so I might just pick up one for dad. (I’ll probably regret starting this when they start asking for cars and houses, but so far so good! >.<)

So, are you getting your dad anything for the festive season this year? :)