Review - Frank Body Coffee Scrub and Frank Body Body Cream

Hello gorgeous!

Today I’m going to welcome February with a dose of caffeine. Last month, Benscrub kindly send me two products to try and review. I was utterly excited as the beauty package arrived at my doorstep. Not only because it contained a wonderful product, but also because the loveliness of the package itself. 

I actually took some time in opening the package and adored it. I gotta say that this is the best beauty package I ever got from an online store. The goods are carefully put inside a shoebox with a girl’s face picture on it and has a mica sleeve with a mask, so that when we put the mica sleeve, the girl’s face will look like she’s wearing a facial mask. Talking about some creative idea! Benscrub even put that box inside another shoebox that I assumed specially made for this new year due to the 2016 drawing design. It has lovely pink pastel and gold color. Look at the pictures down below and you will understand why I need to dedicate one paragraph just to elaborate the packaging for you.

Now, let’s talk about the products. I got myself Frank Body Scrub in Original and Frank Body Cream. Both are essentials for a smooth and glowing skin. One is for buffing and the other for moisturizing. As usual, any skincare that I am going to review, I will need at least two weeks to one month of trial. Why? It’s to ensure that I really feels the difference between before and after on my skin. Skincare doesn’t work instantly, it takes time to show results.

The first one is Frank Body Scrub Original. How many of you have heard about it? The infamous ground coffee scrub that claims to be able to get rid of dry and flaky skin as well as targeting other bothersome skin condition such as eczema, psoriasis, cellulite, and stretchmarks. 

I heard about this famous scrub some time ago and was tempted to try one, but since I still have some (oh not many, only four tubs *guilty*) scrub products waiting to open, so I attempt on self control and restrain myself from buying it. But when it came on my doorstep, well I just have to try it! Stat!

The scrub is packaged inside a brown paperbag with foil on the inner side. A similar bag you get when you buy coffee beans or ground coffee at the coffee shop. No need to worry about to move it to other container (you can if you wanted) because the bag has a sealant like a ziplock. You just need to scoop the scrub out (2 full tablespoons are enough for my face and body), put it on a little dish, close the sealant, and you can start buffing. 

 

I consider the scrub is dry, which the ground coffee is mixed directly with the oil instead of other liquid (water). And because the main ingredient is ground coffee, it doesn’t melt when it contacted with water such as sugar or salt, allows you to polish your body as long as you want without spending too many products wasted down the gutter.

 

The ground coffee chocked full with caffeine stimulates the blood flow helping the skin to repair the skin problems such as eczema, psoriasis, cellulite, and stretchmarks.  Another ingredient is sweet almond oil (one of my favorite oils) which high in linoleum and oleic acids that promotes skin healing. It is also hydrates and nourishes the skin while reducing the appearance of pigmentation. A plus point is all Frank Body’s product is free from animal testing. 

The scrub is quite abrasive, and as such, you who have sensitive or thin skin will feel it’s a little bit rough on the skin. You might want to buff your skin gently at first to get used to the texture. I guarantee your skin will be as smooth as baby’s bum afterwards though. I like to shower myself with water first before I start polishing my face and body with the scrub, that way, the water can help the scrub slides better and will not feel too harsh on the skin. 

As for application tips, since the scrub is going to be literally everywhere and it can be a little bit messy, better to use it inside a shower box where the mess can be contained. I’m actually wondering whether the ground coffee will clog my gutter eventually due to it. Buff your body well from your face to your feet with a circling motion. Focus on your problematic areas or the areas that is extremely dry or flaky. If you have sensitive facial skin, you might want to test it out a bit before you scrub all of your face. As for me, I have been using it on my face for several times and all is well. Let the scrubs sit for 5-10 minutes. A little tip, before you start scrubbing, put on your hair mask and while you’re waiting for the scrub, you can massage your scalp to let the hair mask is well absorbed. Other thing that you can do while waiting is to polish the sole of your feet with a foot scrubber to remove the skin deadcells.

 

Buff your skin one more time before you rinse the scrub away and then lather on your favorite shower gel to clean your skin. You might want to wash your body really carefully because the scrub leaves brownish residue on your skin after you rinse them away. You don’t want to stain your towel brown, don’t you? 

My skin felt exceptionally smooth afterwards and even after washing it with soap, my skin did not feel dry. I supposed the sweet almond oil really work its charm. What’s great is my skin still feels smooth even after several days passed. Love love it!

As for its claim for reducing the appearances of cellulite and stretchmark, in my experience, it has not proven to be true, yet. Let’s just be realistic here, my stretch marks are 6 years old, which I supposed will not be gone within only 1 month usage of the scrub. And as for cellulites, the caffeine in the coffee will help the blood circulation better, but I still believe that clean eating and exercising regularly will do wonders in eliminating them (something that I have not done in a long time *guilty*). Will I continuously using Frank Body Scrub? Hell yeah, I will! Even though my main concern is not about my stretch marks (I already make peace with my stretch marks hehehe). I’m just amazed with how my skin feels with regularly scrubbing it with Frank Body Scrub. 

The next product is Frank Body Body Cream. Encased in a round wide short tub with the iconic brown font, this body cream is filled with a lot of moisturizing oils such as sweet almond oil, shea butter, and coconut oil. Frank also adds cacao butter and grape seed oil too in this cream, makes it a mean moisturizer for your body. 

The coffee scent is not too overwhelming and the texture is pretty lightweight for a body cream which makes it easy to absorb by the skin. If you are spending a lot of time in air conditioned room, then Frank Body Cream is perfect for you because it will help to keep your skin supple. I would not recommend it for you who have a lot of outdoor activity though, because the cream could melt and makes your skin feel greasy. 

I personally, love to apply it before bedtime to keep my skin smooth and supple while I’m sleeping. No more dry flaky skin when I wake up in the morning. Woo hoo!! My favorite bedtime body cream is Bliss Body Butter due to the coconut oil ingredient that is potent in keeping my skin moisturized, but the price is quite steep, so I’m glad I found Frank Body Body Cream to accompany my beauty sleep.

There you go.. my lengthy review on both products hahaha.. Hope you enjoy reading them and can help you to decide whether it is going to be a good product for you or not. Or have you tried Frank Body products before? Tell me what do you think about them on the comment section below, ok?

You could find these products at Benscrub, an online beauty shop that sells Australian beauty products. With their mission, to rethink beauty by presenting a line of essential that celebrate realness than to cover it up, Benscrub has stole many of Indonesian babes’ heart. You can find brands such as Aesop, Kora Organics, Sukin, Grown Alchemist, and etc there. Good service great product, I couldn’t ask for more. 

Check their products here:

Instagram : @benscrub

Website : www.benscrub.com

Facebook : www.facebook.com/benscrub

Until next time, gorgeous!! 

Cheers,

Stef

Unboxing - Sociolla Beauty Box January

Hello gorgeous!

Kalau kamu pembaca blog aku, pasti tahu kalau aku seneng banget belanja makeup dan skincare di Sociolla. Di akhir tahun kemarin, Sociolla meluncurkan produk terbaru mereka, yaitu Sociolla Beauty Box. Apa sih itu? Jadi, kamu bisa berlangganan Sociolla Box yang akan dikirimkan ke rumah kamu satu kali dalam setiap bulannya di mana isi dari Sociolla Box tersebut belum bisa kita ketahui sebelumnya. Seru banget ya! Rasanya tiap bulan seperti dapat hadiah hehehe (walaupun beli sendiri sih).

Sociolla menawarkan beberapa pilihan waktu berlangganan, 3 bulan/6 bulan/12 bulan. Apapun pilihan kamu, Sociolla akan memberikan 1 Sociolla Box gratis sebagai bonus untuk pelanggan yang baru pertama kali berlangganan Sociolla Box. Jadi, kalau kamu berlangganan 3 bulan, bukan hanya 3 Sociolla Box yang akan kamu dapat, tapi 4 Sociolla Box!

Di dalam Sociolla Box tersebut akan ada 3-4 buah trial size products dan 1 full size product. Tidak perlu khawatir dengan ongkos kirim juga, karena ongkosnya gratis alias free shipping (yeayyy who doesn't love free shipping?).

Aku mencoba berlangganan yang 3 bulan dan minggu lalu Sociolla Box bulan Januari aku sudah datang. Mau lihat isinya? Yuk cek gambar-gambar di bawah :)

Sociolla Beauty Box dikemas dalam satu kotak putih yang bertuliskan Pretty Things Inside berwarna emas. Kotaknya terbuat dari karton tebal dan kokoh. Menurutku membuat tampilan keseluruhannya sangat elegan dan cantik. Seperti biasa, semua produk di dalam box tersebut masing-masing dibungkus bubble wrap sehingga terjamin aman tidak bocor atau pun rusak. Potongan-potongan kertas berwarna pink juga ditambahkan untuk memastikan produk-produk di dalam box tidak berlarian kemana-mana di dalam box pada saat pengiriman.

Berikut detail dari isi box nya:

• L'occitane Hand Cream Iris Bleu & Iris Blanc (Full Size)
• Vitacreme B12 Day Cream Sun Protection SPF 30+++ (3ml)
• Lavie Lash False Eyelashes in Amaryliss
• Cottage Gentle Exfoliating Shower Gel in Violet Sugar (50ml)

Aku senang sekali melihat warna produk-produknya senada, yaitu ungu. Foto-fotonya jadi terlihat tambah cantik hehehe

Sekian pengalaman unboxing Sociolla Box bulan Januari dari aku. Postingan ini sama sekali tidak disponsori oleh siapapun dan aku berlangganan Sociolla Box secara pribadi. Mau sharing aja mengenai pengalaman aku selama berlangganan Sociolla Box ini karena aku suka sekali dengan pelayanan dari Sociolla. So, stay tune di blog aku untuk postingan unboxing selanjutnya ya. Kamu berlangganan juga? Sharing komen kamu di blog aku atau di IG account aku, @stefaniecarolina

Untuk keterangan lebih lanjut mengenai Sociolla Box ini, silahkan langsung menuju websitenya Sociolla ya di www.sociolla.com


Cheers,
Stef

Review - GlamGlow ThirstyMud Mask

Hello gorgeous!
How is your first week of 2016? Mine is a bit slow because it was still school holiday for my son. So, I was unable to do a lot of work because every time I touch my laptop, my son's radar catches it and he will start to cling on me hahaha

I'm glad that I could squeeze a little time to write about a review on GlamGlow ThirstyMud Mask today.
It's a sample review, the one that I got from Sociolla gift box, so it might not provide you with a comprehensive review since it's a one time trial only. But at least it can give you an insight on what you are going to experience when you use GlamGlow ThirstyMud Mask.

This mask claims to be able to hydrate, moisture, restore, replenish, and calm your skin.It sounds really interesting. I was glad that I got this sample because my skin is pretty dry lately and I would love some extra hydration to bring back the suppleness to my skin.

I never use GlamGlow before and only see some pictures of people apply it to their faces. And because they name all the mask with mud at the end, I was assuming that the mask would be mudlike consistency and color. But ThirstyMud doesn't. The texture is gel like and smells like a caramel pudding. The color is light caramel brown with some black specks in it. It smells so delicious I have to restrain myself from licking it hahahaha

I applied it using my fingers, smooth it out evenly on my face and neck area. One sachet is enough for one time thick application on my face. Please note that I have a small face, so if you consider that your face is wider or bigger, you might want to apply it thinly.

After the first few minutes,my face started to feel a tingling sensation like minty feel on my skin. I wonder if it is because of the ginger extract. Unlike other mask that will dry up as the time goes by up until 15-20 mins, GlamGlow ThirstyMud will not. It stayed gel-ish and just keep doing its job hydrating my skin. It is advised after the time is finished, you just wipe off the mask from your face and let the remains sit on your skin overnight. The next morning your will wake up with a not only hydrated skin, but also better texture and glow. 

On the picture, you can see my before and after applying GlamGlow ThirstyMud. My skin looks fresher and plumped a little bit compared to the before pic. My skin feel hydrated but not too much, it did not make my face looks puffy. Due to the hype from a lot of people said about this mask, I was actually expecting more from it. But it's just it. I did not feel anything else. I did not feel that my skin is replenished nor restored or even reach that glow that they promised. So, somehow I felt kind of bummed that this mask did not deliver a significant result on my skin. Then, I thought, I would leave the mask overnight after I wiped it away and use it as a sleeping mask. Who knows, it will work its magic throughout the night and when I woke up, my skin will experiencing a better result from it. But when I woke up, my skin was not really enjoying a significant result either. 

I still love SK-II Whitening Mask more for its instant brightening and glow that it gave me before. But then again, everybody has different skin and every skincare reacts differently, right? I supposed GlamGlow ThirstyMud works just okay for my skin. The tingling sensation was fun though hahaha

Will I buy the full size? I don't think so. Will I try the other GlamGlow Mask? I would love too! They still have other types of mask such as PowerMud, SuperMud, and YouthMud. 
How's your experience with GlamGlow Mask? Please do share it with me. Which GlamGlow series that's your favorite?

Cheers,
Stef

Happy New Year 2016

Hello gorgeous!

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2016!!

Another year has passed and I'm very grateful for everything that happened in 2015. I have ups and downs of course but I take that as a learning process to be a better person. One of the thing that I'm really grateful for 2015 is we finally able to move to our own house. Since we married, we have moved to different places several times. So, to own a house has not been an apt choice at that time. But this time, we took the courage and opportunity to buy our own house. It took us one year to get it ready. But it's all worth it. It is going to be a new challenge managing our own household but I believe that we will do well.

While in 2014, I have to say goodbye to some very good friends and a city that I will always love, 2015 on the other hand is the year where I settled back in our hometown and made new good friends. 

I also have the opportunity to develop my love for beauty world by do more writing in this blog and a chance to get to know many talented and wonderful new friends that share the same passion like I do.

New year is the moment where we reflect on our life. Where have we been, where we are right now, and where are we going from now on. For some people they look at it as a new fresh start, a new beginning. Starting a few years back, I started to look at new year as a moment where I have to motivate myself to do better. I have a dream and I will strive to make it happen. I will still make new year resolutions even though some people say it's a cliche. But at least you have something that you aim for. It gives you a direction, a guidance, and a reminder that there are things that you want to achieve. Without it, I would feel lost. That is why it is important to write down your resolutions so it will be easy for you to check it from time to time whether you are still on track or not. 

I hope that 2016 will be a year where you are able to build your dreams and walk on the path that you are destined for. Don't forget to always spend your time well with your loved ones too. Let's spread love and peace. Be compassionate towards every living being, keep on dreaming, and stay positive!
Thank you for reading my blog and I wish you all the best.

Cheers,
Stef

Holiday Gift - Beauty Story Indonesia Holiday Gift Set

Hello gorgeous readers!!

Sorry banget kalau di bulan ini aku kurang aktif nulis blog. Soalnya aku lagi sibuk pindah rumah hehehe.. Banyak banget yang harus diurusin dan diberesin. Tapi akhirnya di hari terakhir di tahun 2015 ini aku masih bisa sempat post entry terakhir. 

Hari ini aku mau sharing mengenai peluncuran Holiday Gift Set dari Beauty Story Indonesia.Di awal bulan, aku diundang untuk datang ke Media Gathering yang diadakan oleh Beauty Story Indonesia, di mana mereka meluncurkan Beauty Story Holiday Gift Set. Sebetulnya ini bukan peluncuran produk baru dari Beauty Story, tapi Beauty Story memperkenalkan tiga Holiday Gift Set untuk akhir tahun ini. Apa aja sih Holiday Gift Set nya? Yuk kita lihat satu-satu detailnya.

 
Yang pertama, Beauty Organizer (349.999 IDR). Holiday set ini dikemas dalam bentuk kotak dari bahan karton keras berwarna pink dengan motif lace keunguan. Kotaknya cantik sekali dan bias digunakan sebagai Beauty Organizer di meja rias kamu. Kotak tersebut memiliki tiga sekat yang bisa kamu gunakan untuk menyimpan kuas makeup, eyeliner, atau pun lipstick. Holiday set ini terdiri dari:
Beauty Story CC Cream
Line Up So Black Liquid Eyeliner Pen
Midnight Dream Mascara
Sweety Fruity Strawberry Lip Balm
Lip & Cheek in Sweet Pea

Kedua, Eye Like This (349.999 IDR). Holiday Set ini dikemas dalam satu pouch makeup berbahan vinyl berwarna hitam dengan tulisan Eye Like This di atasnya. Pouch ini juga memiliki aksen zipper emas yang menambah tampilannya jadi lebih edgy. Holiday set ini terdiri dari:
High Brow in Brown
Romantic Creamy Eye Shadow Pencil in Sky
Midnight Dream Mascara
Line Up So Black Liquid Eyeliner Pen 

 
Ketiga, Dazzling dan Sparkling (@120.000 IDR). Holiday set ini masing-masing berisikan lima (5) buah kuteks Beauty Story yang dibagi menjadi dua pilihan, yaitu Dazzling dan Sparkling. Di setiap set terdapat 2 buah kuteks dengan metallic finish dan 3 buah kuteks dengan matte finish. Warna-warna dalam set Dazzling lebih mengarah kepada warna pink dan keunguan dengan aksen putih dan silver. Sedangkan set Sparkling menurut saya lebih festive karena ada warna merah dan gold di dalamnya. Cocok sekali untuk digunakan pada saat acara atau pesta akhir tahun. 

Aku sendiri sudah menggunakan produk Beauty Story Indonesia sejak mereka meluncurkan brand mereka pertama kali di bulan Januari 2015. Brand local ini benar-benar patut mendapatkan dua jempol karena selain kemasannya yang manis, Beauty Story juga memiliki kualitas yang tidak kalah dengan brand-brand impor. Harganya pun sangat bersaing. Ramah untuk dompet deh hehehe..
 
Kalau kamu ada waktu, silahkan baca-baca review aku mengenai beberapa produk Beauty Story yang aku punya, yaitu Sweet and Chic Lipstick, Nail Polish, CC Cream dan Luminous Primer.

Aku senang sekali mengetahui bahwa Beauty Story pun tidak kalah dengan brand-brand impor yang sering meluncurkan Holiday Gift Set pada saat menjelang akhir tahun. Sering sekali kan kita bingung mau kasih kado apa untuk keluarga atau teman-teman kita pada saat Natal dan Tahun Baru. Nah, Holiday Gift Set dari Beauty Story ini bisa menjadi pilihan kamu. Selain mendapatkan produk-produk yang manis, kamu juga bisa menggunakan kembali kotak dan pouch nya untuk menyimpan produk-produk makeup yang kamu miliki. 

Untuk membeli produk Holiday Set ini, kamu bisa cek di www.mybeautystory.com untuk keterangan lebih lanjut. Di tahun 2016 nanti, Beauty Story juga akan meluncurkan produk-produk baru yang semakin lengkap. Produk apa ya kira-kira? Stay tune terus di blog aku untuk mendapatkan update nya ya.
 
Terima kasih Beauty Story untuk Holiday Gift Set nya. Semoga selalu sukses dan semakin dicintai oleh penggemar make up di Indonesia. See you on 2016! 


Cheers,
Stef

Review - Three Ultimate Protective Pristine Primer and Three Flawless Ethereal Fluid Foundation

Hello gorgeous!
Today I’m going to give you a review about my current favorite primer and foundation. It’s Three Cosmetics, a Japanese brand that is well known for using organic botanical oils in its products. I knew this brand for quite some time since I was in Bangkok and heard many good things about it. So naturally, I was so excited when they opened their counter in Indonesia at Central Department Store, Grand Indonesia.

I got myself the infamous combo of Ultimate Protective Pristine Primer and Flawless Ethereal Fluid Foundation. It is a purchase that I don’t regret because it worth every penny that I spent on them. Let’s go to the review, starting with the packaging because both of them have similar bottle. 

The packaging is frosted glass bottle with a white pump to dispense the products out. It has a dark gray cap made of matte plastic. While it looks good, but it gets easily smudged by the leftover makeup on your hand after you applied the product. The frosted glass is great though, it gives you the luxurious feel whenever you look or touch them. The whole design of it is minimalist which aligned with Three Cosmetics concept, minimalist and natural. The pump works well too in dispensing the product. I usually need 2 pumps each for primer and foundation to covers my face and neck areas.

Both the primer and foundation are 80% made from naturally derived ingredients and contain Inca inchi (Plukenetia volubilis) oil, Camellia oleifera seed oil, Argania spinosa kernel oil, jojoba oil, evening primrose (Oenothera biennis) oil, rosehip oil, shea butter, beeswax. Those ingredients mostly are organic certified too. They have no scent and free from parabens, synthetic perfumes, animal-derived ingredients, and mineral oils. As for sun protection, these babies have pretty high amount of sun protection than the other primer or foundation on the market. The primer has SPF32+++ UV protection and the foundation has SPF36+++ UV Protection. Since it’s made mostly from natural ingredients, I supposed Three Cosmetics is safe for you who have sensitive skin. In my experience using these two, I never experience any breakouts or acne at all.

Now, we will go on to the individual review. I will start with Three Ultimate Protective Pristine Primer.
They have two type of primer, the Glow and Translucent. I chose the Glow because it said that it will give my skin a glowy yet natural finish. The primer will help to alleviate the dullness on my skin too. The texture is a little bit gel-ish and even the shade is beige, it will adjust to your skin tone after you applied it to your face only leaving a hint of beige on the skin which might be helping to remove the dullness from your skin. The texture is lightweight too and it glides easily on my skin. It reminds me to Laura Mercier Foundation Primer except Three Pristine Primer is a tad thicker. But the funny thing is my skin seems to absorb it easier than Laura Mercier one. Three Ultimate Protective Pristine Primer gives me a good layer of well moisturized and plumped skin to receive coverage from foundation while helping my makeup to stay longer. On the picture below, you could see that the primer creates a layer of glowy canvas on your skin.

Left : Not blended. Right : Blended

The next one is Three Flawless Ethereal Fluid Foundation. The texture is not as gel-ish the primer, but it is a lightweight foundation. It glides smoothly on your face and immediately gives a smooth and natural finish to your skin. The coverage is light to medium, so if you wanted more coverage, you will need an extra layer of concealer to hide your spots and scars. I find it covers the redness on my face quite well and I love how natural the finish is. It’s perfect for that no makeup look because it gives your skin enough coverage to even out your skin tone while it gives the glow that you need. Use it with Three Ultimate Protective Pristine Primer to get the most result. The foundation last on me up to 12 hours if I use it with the primer and around 5-6 hours before I have to blot my face. I love how the primer and foundation did not dry my face but do not make it oily. It’s just the perfect balance. On the picture below, you could see that the foundation sink well on my skin and the finish is so natural like my own skin. Understand what I meant before when I said I'm totally in love with its finish?

Left : Not blended. Right : Blended

All in all, both products are extremely amazing. It has good quality ingredients and delivers wonderful result. Definitely putting them on my all time favorite base makeup products. These two has become my number one choice if I want to achieve a flawless yet natural look. Three Cosmetics also have other products that I wanted to try, such as their cleansing oil, lipstick, and eyeliner. Gahhhh so many products but only one face. The struggle of a makeup junkie is never ending hahaha..

Have you tried Three Cosmetics products before? Please share your experience down here on the comment box if you have tried them before. Have a great weekend, gorgeous people!

Cheers,
 
Stef