Once in awhile, you come across a deal that’s just too good to pass up.
At least, that’s how I felt when I saw that luxury and lifestyle conglomerate Valiram was having a sale for brands under its wing, including Bath & Body Works. Last Christmas, I went overboard with my shopping so I still have a tub of body butter to finish, but I couldn’t resist getting more lotions – because you don’t get deals like these too often. “But aren’t you just spending money for things that you could have done without?” you ask. Perhaps, but since I AM going to use them, I don’t think they’re a total waste of money, so shush. 😛
The order came pretty fast and was nicely packaged.
Video if you’re lazy to read. Have you subscribed yet? #shamelessplug
Of course, buying things on sale means you won’t be getting the latest products or much variety, but I think that’s a fair trade – and if you haven’t tried something before, isn’t it essentially ‘new’? At their regular price, each bottle costs RM75, so 3 would have been around RM220+, but I got all of these for just RM56 (excluding shipping) – which means a 75% discount. Don’t you think that’s a steal?
The Winter Candy Apple has been a Christmas staple since 2014. If you like fruity scents, this one will be right up your alley, with fragrance notes of red apple, winter rose petals and candied orange, formulated with shea butter and added vitamin E.
My favourite among the bunch is the Lovely Dreamer, which has notes of fluffy musk, clean woods and fresh bergamot. The delectable concoction is whipped to luxurious perfection with coconut oil, shea butter and vitamin E.
Last but not least, we have Forever Red. This is perfect for those romantic dinner dates (well, when we can go out again anyway), with top notes of fiery pomegranate, rare French peach and luminous apple, mid-notes of red peony, night marigold and red osmanthus, and dry notes of rich vanilla, velvety marshmallow and oak wood. If you’re envisioning a dessert of some kind, you’re not the only one. Dabbing some on before you sleep can help with relaxation; almost like aromatherapy.
With this, I am all set with my body care needs for the next 6 months!
Or at least until Christmas sale.
If you’re keen on grabbing some lotions, body shower gels or other pampering items, Valiram’s sale is still ongoing at valiram247.com.You can also shop for other luxury and lifestyle brands under their umbrella, including Michael Kors, Montblanc, Godiva, Victoria’s Secret, Tory Burch, Swarovski, and more.
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After promising that I’d stop buying body care products after going crazy over Christmas sales … I saw an ad for a Bath & Body Works sale (items going for 60%!) .
Well. We all know what happened next.
Now I have three tubs of body butter to finish, hand creams that will probably sit on the shelf looking pretty, and a candle I don’t really need.
I regret nothing.
Ordered on a weekend night and it arrived three days later, so pretty efficient. Everything was nicely packed and sealed, although the body butter must have overturned sometime during the shipping process, because the mix was stuck to the top of the container when I opened it.
I’ve actually only had candles from Bath and Body Works before, so it’s also my first time trying their body care products. The Gingham series is one of their signatures, covering body lotion, fragrance, body cream, shower gel, and of course, body butter, which I got for RM38 (usual price RM70). Infused with shea butter and coconut oil, the butter is whipped to a fluffy consistency and it is fast-absorbing, providing 24 hours of intense moisture.
I think I like this more than The Body Shop Winter Jasmine body butter: with its fresh blend of bright florals, notes of blue freesia, sweet clementine and soft violet petals, plus a hint of sweet citrus, it smells more natural and makes you think of gentle spring mornings in the English woods, with flowers blooming all around you. The consistency is also super thick and it feels very hydrating.
The other item I got was a Leaves candle (RM38). BBW’s candles are quite expensive, and my self-restraint extended to buying the cheaper single-wick rather than the pricier three-wick candle. I had a Holiday Season 3-wick candle before and I really liked it (the throw was amazing and would fill my entire room), so I’m expecting good things from this one as well. Haven’t burned it yet, but it’s supposed to be a blend of crisp red apples, golden nectar and warm clove spice.
Video review below:
The Semi-Annual sale will be running for some time on bathandbodyworks.com.my, so if you’re looking to get cheap BBW products, now might be a good time to stock up. I think I’m set for the rest of the year lol. Until the next Christmas / New Year’s sale, then!
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Hey guys! There’s just a few more days to Christmas, and we all know what that means – Christmas promos!
Many shops, especially beauty and body care brands, are having sales and festive-season only collections. As someone with a weakness for body care products, it’s hard for me to resist the beautiful, sparkly displays and gift packages. And so it is that I finally succumbed … and got myself some treats from The Body Shop.
I like The Body Shop because they carry a wide range of really nice scents. While I only buy from them once or twice a year, I’m always satisfied with the products and customer service.
This year’s festive range is decidedly Christmas-y, and features three exclusive scents: Warm Vanilla, Winter Jasmine and Festive Berry, available across a range of items such as their body yogurt, body butter, hand and nail cream, and shower gel.
The shop was running a promo through its social media app, whereby any purchase would be entitled to a free body scrub, so I got the cheapest available item (30ml hand cream – RM25 /discounted RM22.50) and had it shipped to my house. It arrived after 4 working days.
Vanilla is one of my favourite scents, but the Warm Vanilla was a tad disappointing for me. It’s sweet and very strong, and it reminds me of cake. No doubt some people will like this, but it just smells very artificial to me.
The free 50ml Festive Berry body scrub that came with my hand cream is touted to help exfoliate and refine the skin. I have used it a couple of times in the shower, and it’s pretty good. The consistency is like strawberry jam, and it smells like that too, what with the berry and sugar crystal blend.
You can get the small tub as part of The Body Shop’s festive gift box (RM139), but if you want to purchase the scrub on its own, it’s only available in 250ml jars at RM113.
My favourite of the lot has to be the Winter JasmineBody Butter, which coincidentally was the most expensive item I got (RM84, 20% discount for The Body Shop members). It was worth the splurge, though.
The butter is creamy and luxurious, and it looked so smooth and luscious when I first opened the tub I almost felt like it was a shame to use any lol. The floral scent is sweet and relaxing – it reminds me of aromatherapy oils and spa fragrances that they use at massage parlours to help you relax. The skin feels soft and hydrated after application, and you get the smell of jasmine just wafting off of you : best to apply before sleeping !
If you’re looking to gift, The Body Shop has a variety of items catering to different budgets, all in beautiful packaging. If I had the money, I’d buy them all lol.
But perhaps someone wants to get me something for Christmas? 🙂
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When I was younger, I used to scoff at people who’d go out of their way to get free samples.
“There’s shower gel at home, why on earth would anyone want to take that tiny little bottle that will probably only last for one use?” was basically my attitude to people who took amenities from the hotel after a stay. Spoken like a true spoilt brat lol.
But as with everything in life, change is the only constant – and now that I’m at that age where the burger boy actually calls me ‘kak‘ instead of ‘cik‘, I can finally understand why.
I come from a middle class family, and growing up, I knew my parents weren’t rich so I’ve never asked for anything. But at the same time, I’ve never wanted for anything – I’ve always had quality clothes to wear, good food to eat, all the books I could ever read. I had a Digivice, a Walkman, a vid game console, and in my teens – a mobile phone – which was more than what most kids my age (at that time anyway) could say they had.
After coming out to work, though, I’ve come to realise the value of money. Now if I wanted something, I had to work for it. And as you get older and have more commitments (family, household, etc.) you realise that every little thing adds up t – and if you can get something that would help you save, no matter how small, you’d jump on it in a flash.
2020 has, all in all, been a pretty shitty year for a lot of people. I count myself luckier than most (Haven’t been laid off. Yet.) but I’ve also been more cautious in spending.
Since it’s the festive season, though, I wanted to give myself a little treat after a long year of ‘fasting’. So I devised… a little plan.
THE PLAN
The ‘plan’ was actually accidental.
I’m not a girly girl, and I rarely buy makeup / clothes / accessories / bags. My only weakness is body products and fragrances. I love candles, scents, shower gels, lotions, face masks… that sort of thing. Because of this, I follow a lot of brands on social media like The Body Shop, Lush, L’Occitane, etc. It so happened that while scrolling through my feed recently, I happened across an online event by The Body Shop, which promised a free jute bag: all I had to do was RSVP to the event, take a screenshot to confirm that I was ‘going’, and redeem the bag when I next visit any of their physical stores.
Who can resist a scented vanilla candle and a nice diffuser? Photo for illus only don’t actually put candles on your bed, folks. Via Pexels
So … you know how ad targeting works on the Internet ? Once you’ve clicked on one thing, the system records this ‘interest’ and will recommend (read: bombard) you with related ads. I was suddenly getting dozens of body/ beauty product ads – most of which were offering promos/sales for Christmas. Some were even gamifying their campaigns, to make them more fun and interactive.
With this in mind, I started looking up different brands, to see if I could get a similar ‘deal’ as the one from The Body Shop. My goal was to look for giveaways with no minimum purchase – so I could get stuff for free, with no strings attached.
My second goal was to look for brands that were all under one roof, so I wouldn’t have to go to and fro and waste gas money. Since 1 Utama Shopping Centre is close to my work place, and they have dozens of beauty brands, I used the place as a ‘benchmark’ for my search: by looking up all the possible beauty brands available in the mall’s directory. Yes I know I have too much time on my hands lol.
The first one I found was Kiehl’s. They had made this nice little interactive game, where players had to complete a few in-game tasks like answering questions about their product and playing some mini games, which would then entitle them to free samples. The next was L’Occitane, which had a similar campaign – register, play some games, get samples.
CASHING IN
I went to the office on Sunday to get some packing done, so I dropped by the mall. My first stop was L’Occitane. It was actually pretty fuss-free. I showed my screenshot of the voucher code from their mini game to their staff, and they gave me a packet containing the promised 12 sachets of hair and face care samples. They also invited me inside for a look, although I’m pretty sure they knew I wasn’t there to buy stuff lol. Gotta commend L’Occitane staff though. You know how some staff members treat you dismissively coz they know you’re just there for free samples? None of that here: service was still impeccable.
will the day come where I’m so rich I can buy stuff without looking at the price tag? We may never know
Next, Kiehl’s. I’ve never even set foot in a Kiehl’s store before because I know I could never afford their items lol. Still, the brand has a good reputation and it seems like their marketing campaign worked well – because there was a long line of customers waiting to go into the shop. I had nothing better to do so I spent 40 minutes lining up lol. Ask a 20-year-old-me and I’d probably tell you you’re dumb to spend that kinda time for free samples. but like I said, people change.
Again, the staff at Kiehl’s was very profesional – she even explained to me what each sachet is for and how to use them.
Last but not least, The Body Shop. Unfortunately the 1U outlet had run out of jute bags. I got this from IOI MALLwhile I was out running errands.
WAS IT WORTH IT?
This might seem funny but I did feel a sense of accomplishment at getting all these samples. While I doubt I’d see much effect from one use, it’s still nice to get what is essentially a treat, and would have cost money to buy under normal circumstances.
Also, I managed to do a fair bit of Christmas shopping (gifts for friends) while I was at the mall. If it had been solely to get samples, I think I wouldn’t have gone out of my way to do so.
And that is How to be A Cheapskate: Christmas Edition! I hope you’ve enjoyed reading this as much as I’ve enjoyed writing it ! And if you have any tips on saving during the festive season, I’d be delighted to hear about it in the comments below.
Seasons Greetings, and have a good one!
If you enjoyed reading this, please consider supporting my website. Contrary to popular belief, I do not make big moolah from writing – and this will go towards hosting fees and ensuring that I can continue to deliver authentic content for your reading pleasure. Thanks for stopping by!
Halloween doesn’t have to begin or end on 31st October this year. Witch-ever tricks, treats or gifts you choose, you can fright and delight all winter long with these fun and spook-tacular Halloween-themed products from Lush. The great news? You can get order these online at lush.my and have them delivered straight to your homes.
BAT ART BATH BOMB
Be spellbound by this mystic bat bath bomb. Full of #BathArt worthy surprises, deep glittery waters await with a fresh, herbal scent that lingers.
PUNKIN PUMPKIN BATH BOMB
To make the shadows retreat and recoil, fizz this ghoul of bright citrus oils. Don’t look, don’t scream, don’t give it power, cleanse the air with pumpkin powder.
LORD OF MISRULE BATH BOMB
Inspired by the ruler of the pagan Feast of Fools, Lord of Misrule features a spicy herbal blend of patchouli and black pepper oil. Just like at the Feast of Fools, when the wine starts to flow, the popping candy crackles and the festivities begin.
TOFFEE APPLE LIP SCRUB
This sweet & sour Halloween treat offers two layers of scrub – ghoulishly gorgeous green apple and blood red sticky toffee, for a devilishly softened pout.
VERY VERY FRIGHTENING SHOWER GEL
Despite the name, there’s nothing you need to fear from this fun and bright yellow concoction. Embrace your sweet side with this bold, uplifting shower gel. Containing fresh lemon and fig juice, its palm and SLS free, plus it’s vegan.
BOO! SHOWER SLIME
Raise your spirits and get hands – on with this spooky black slime packed with scrubby ground coconut shell! This Lord of Misrule scented slime will soften and scrub your skin, leaving you ready for a night of trick and treating.
GHOST IN THE DARK SOAP
Freshness from beyond the grave comes in this super citrusy soap. This treat has a trick – it glows in the dark when charged up in the light! If you’ve got it, haunt it.
MONSTERS BALL BATH BOMB
Keep your ghoul and get ready to boogie on down to the bathroom for an enchanting monster mash of uplifting essential oils. Remember, we scare because we care.
BEWITCHED BUBBLE BAR
This friendly feline will boost your luck with blackberry-scented bubbles and plastic-free glitter. Purrfect for packaging-free bathing.
With Father’s Day just around the corner (June 21), ditch the usual ties and socks and get something a little special for dad this year. Men deserve a spot of pampering as well, and Lush has a come up with an exclusive selection for Father’s Day, so you can gift them to dads, dads-in-law, grandpas or just anyone whom you feel deserves it ! The new range will launch on lush.my in the 1st week of June 2020.
DIRTY BATH BOMB
It’s time to get cool with invigorating spearmint, tarragon and sandalwood.Turn the bath into a
refreshing lagoon of crisp, muscle -soothing mint and soak away all your worries.
DIRTY SHOWER SCRUB
For soft and tingly freshness, use this naked (packaging-free) body scrub in the shower. Spearmint and menthol crystals cools skin, leaving you feeling fresh and clean.
SUPERDAD BATH BOMB
From deep, blue waters emerge the sweet and smoky powers of guaiacwood and sandalwood. Superdad is here to save the day!
DIRTY DEODORANT POWDER
A quick pit stop with this deodorant powder will have you feeling as fresh as a daisy. Pop some of this
powder under the arms and breathe in the crisp, clean scent to keep them feeling in mint condition.
DIRTY SHAMPOO BAR
Perfect for scalps that need a little stimulation, and hair that needs a deep clean, pick up this reusable solid shampoo bar for a refreshing, invigorating wash.
I love bubble baths. Although I don’t get to enjoy them very often since we don’t have a bathtub at home, they’re always something I look forward to whenever I get to stay in a nice hotel.
For those of you who do have bathtubs in your home (lucky you!), LUSH recently released their biggest bubble bar collection to date, featuring 24 new bubble bars that were previously only available at the Lush Labs shop in Harajuku, Tokyo. You can now order them online or for Malaysians, buy them at the LUSH stores at Pavilion KL and Sunway Pyramid (after the quarantine has been lifted, of course!)
I’ve always loved LUSH for its innovative offerings and colourful creations, and the bubble bars are no exception. Just take a look at these amazing bars (some of which are too pretty to even think of crumbling up):
A French Kiss – This one’s for the lavender lovers. Soak into the bath with this just before bedtime and let the soothing herbal scent lull you to dreamland.
Abracadabra – Cast a magic spell and wave away bad vibes with spicy scents of olibanum and bergamot.
Akaname – This bubble bar is inspired by an urban legend of the akaname, a Japanese bathroom spirit with a long tongue that is said to lick up the filth in public bathrooms and toilets (trust Japan to have the most peculiar tales…). Fret not though; this akaname slurps around the bath to leave it squeaky clean and smelling fresh and lemony.
Big Bottle of Calm – I definitely need this in my life, lol. Sink into bubbly purple waters and drift away to the beautiful lavender fields of France, while a chamomile tide washes your worries away. Run this into the bath with running water, let dry and set aside for another use.
Relax… Take A Bath – Hunched over a computer all day? Take a dip in this relaxing teal-coloured muscle soak and dissipate the tension in your very own hot spring of lavender oil and Sicilian lemon oil.
Peach Crumble – This cheeky pink bath-roon releases juicy grapefruit, fresh peach juice and sweet Davana to gently cleanse and refresh. Swoon over blueh coloured bubbles and an elevating fragrance – the perfect sweet treat after a long day.
Nana – Climb into a softening bath of sunshine yellow, banana and creme brulee scented foam, for a dessert-inspired bath that smells good enough to eat.
Milky Bar – Despite the name, the milky bar is actually dairy-free, featuring oat milk, sweet orange oil fragrance and a hint of patchouli.
Mermaid Tail – Splash into a tub full of bubbles with this adorable bar, which combines silky-smooth bath oil and zesty, fruity scents.
Lucky Cat – Cats are a symbol of good fortune in Japan, and this fuschia feline brings a plastic-free shimmer to your water along with a flurry of bubbles and a fresh, floral scent.
Keep It Fluffy – The Doris Day of bubble baths. Lie back and dream of old school glamour. Powdery vanilla and uplifting lemongrass pair perfectly to create perfect pink bubbles.
Goldfinger – Luxuriate in dazzling gold plastic-free glitter and a heady mix of juicy Brazilian orange oil, bergamot, and delectable honey-scented waters. You don’t need a license to bathe for this one.
Golden Pear – A fruit-shaped bubble bar to lift the spirits, smoothe and soften skin. Its pear-drop scent is reminiscent of spiced cakes and pastries.
Figs in Honey – Another fruity number ripe for the picking. Benzoin resinoid offers a rich, balsamic sweetness, while myrrh offers a spiced undertone. A deeply moisturising cocoa-butter centre melts with the water, filling your bath with a dessert-like creaminess.
Dirty – On the contrary, this bubble bottle provides a refreshing pink bath of spearmint and warming sandalwood, leaving you feeling refreshed and renewed.
Crayon – Write your own bathtime story with uplifting grapefruit and bergamot waters, surrounded by blackcurrant-mint foam.
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When British cosmetics retailer Lush opened its first outlet in Malaysia at Pavilion KL back in 2018, fans of the brand rejoiced – bye bye, exorbitant shipping fees, hello lovely soaps and bath bombs ! You can read about my first visit here.
Now, just in time for the New Year, Lush has opened its second outlet at Sunway Pyramid – so good news for all the folks living this side of the Klang Valley! You won’t have to get stuck in the jam to Pavilion; just the jam at Sunway instead. 😛
Innovation and inspiration has been at the heart of Lush since it was started 24 years ago, and this is reflected in everything from its products and philosophy to the very design of its outlets. The Sunway Pyramid store is no exception. Spread across 741 square feet, the new shop is larger than the one at Pavilion KL, which means more space to showcase its products and features.
One of these is the Fresh Face Mask counter – a deli-inspired display for Lush’s iconic fresh face masks. Slate consultations are offered to customers where products are strung together to make a cohesive and personalised skincare regimen- including benefits on the products, demonstrations and pampering sessions.
Looks good enough to eat (please don’t)
Expect to find the brand’s iconic bath bombs, soaps, shower jellies, and much, much more.
Embracing the environmental movement, the shop is outfitted to eliminate wastage and recycle materials where possible. Many of the products are ‘naked’ (ie no packaging), and if you do need to buy them as gifts, there are beautiful fabric wraps (reusable, and so pretty!) that you can purchase. That aside, the shop uses an LED lighting scheme to save on energy, while all paint and internal materials have been carefully selected to have a minimal environmental impact. No products used have ingredients tested on animals.
Attractive, colourful displays.
Creams and skincare products
Shampoo bars
Curious about a particular product? Try them out! The friendly staff are always on hand to assist.
LUSH (SUNWAY PYRAMID)
G1.53, Ground Floor, Sunway Pyramid, Bandar Sunway, Selangor
**Photos courtesy of Lush PR.
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