Promo: Get 50% off IREMIA Facial Scrub !

IREMIA is new and exclusively available at Bodybar. It is a beautiful line with the tagline "Peaceful Skincare", made with 100% certified organic active ingredients and ECOCERT certified.

We are giving you a fabulous reason to try it now. Print the voucher (below), bring it to our outlets in TCM & PAVILION.... and be entitled to 50% off the IREMIA Facial Scrub. Ain't that great?

Why use a facial scrub? It's the most satisfying beauty product (at least to me) because you get immediate results! Our skin piles on layers and layers of dead skin cells on a daily basis. If you don't regularly scrub, these layers cause your skin to look dull, not "breathe" so well and not be able to absorb all those yummy products you lovingly put on your skin. Trust me, if you use a scrub regularly (meaning 2-3 times a week), your skin will appear brighter within a week. And if you are diligent with it, in the long run it will be smoother and clearer. But do be gentle alright. Scrub like you would a baby's skin, your skin deserves pampering!

So run along to Bodybar now, grab the IREMIA Facial Scrub at 50% off and start scrubbing!

XOXO,
Michelle

Earn BONUSLINK points at BODYBAR now!

Earn BONUSLINK points at BODYBAR now! Get 1 point for each RM spent! All the more perks to go natural & organic :)

Madara Delicate Cleansing Milk wins Harper Bazaar Beauty Awards 2010

Yay! We won an award for Madara Delicate Cleansing Milk. Double yay! 'Cos it's my personal favorite product.

This is what Harper's have to say about this amazing cleanser:

NATURAL MAGIC Certified organic, Madara creates its products au naturel, so you can use this gentle cleanser with your conscience at peace. Established by four women tired of the lack of organic skincare brands,Madara is a leading eco-cosmetic brand originating from Latvia – one of the few places left on earth that has preserved nature’s best.

SOFT TOUCH A milky wash that sheds skin’s dullness and cleanses thoroughly, it’s perfect for removing make-up – even around your delicate eye area. Thanks to its suitably velvety texture and all-natural goodness, it doesn’t irritate even the most sensitive skin types.

BALT-DAZZLE An all-star cast of Baltic ingredients taken from untainted landscapes includes the linden flower that rejuvenates debilitated skin cells, Baltic oats and calendula that provide the ultimate salve to redness, and Baltic plantain that embalms your skin with that cotton-soft texture.

What do I have to say about it?

• it's so gentle, even my diva-sensitivity-prone skin loves it
• it's so effective, watch all your dirt & grime & makeup melt away leaving clean + soft skin
• it's so affordable, you won't have to sell your shoes and handbags to buy it (hey it's RM88 for 200ml and it lasts for months!)
• it's so natural, you can be blamed to almost want to eat it

Now's a great time to get it. You can find it online @ www.bodybarskincare.com or at our outlets:

• Bodybar @ TCM
• Bodybar @ Pavilion
• Bodybar @ Sunway (this is currently being relocated)
• Bodybar @ Ampang Hilir (coming real soon!)
• Bodybar Corners at Little Green Planet organic shops:
• Desa Sri Hartamas
• Centrepoint

Our lucky draw is still running till end Nov 2010. Just buy anything above RM50 to qualify for an entry. Multiple entries accepted. More than RM1500 worth of prizes to be given away!!

Mega Sale Specials @ BODYBAR, on now!

We can't help but to feel the Mega Sale excitement! Don't you just love the buzz this time of the year?

To join in the fun, we are having Mega Sale Specials @ BODYBAR. Many items and ranges (which are almost never discounted because it's affordable all year round!) are having 10%-30% off.

Plus Free Gift for members! Members who purchase above RM150 will get to dip into the Free Gift basket and select 1-2 items of their choice. Now's a great time to shop at BODYBAR!

Vote for us in HerWorld Beauty Awards 2010 !!

We are nominated in so many categories of the HerWorld Beauty Awards 2010! And the nominees are.... *drummmm roll*....

We are really honoured to be nominated alongside major brands. And we mean major brands who are mainstream with a capital M. We started out on a personal mission to offer truly natural, organic and pure skincare that delivers results. And we still continue to do that. To be nominated in so many categories is just breathtakingly exciting. Thank you HerWorld Malaysia for recognising independent businesses like ours!

Voting is still going on till 31st July 2010. Hope to get your vote!

http://www.herworld.com.my/beautyawards/

We are nominated in these categories...

"Lip Balms":
- Madara Regenerating Lip Balm

"Mask"
- Mukti Vitamin Earth Mineral Masque

"Tinted Moisturiser"
- Madara Decoface Sun Flower Tinting Fluid

"Eye Cream"
- Mukti Rejuvenating Eye Balm

"Organic Skincare"
- Mukti Vitamin Earth Mineral Masque
- Madara Decoface Sun Flower Tinting Fluid
- Mukti Rejuvenating Eye Balm

"New Brands"
- Bodybar

Promotion: MUKTI Gentle Facial Exfoliant @ only RM78. The key to achieving a clear & smooth complexion.

Most people overlook the importance of exfoliation (or scrub as many would call it). It is actually the key to achieving a clear, bright and smooth complexion.

Why? Because the top most layer of our skin is actually a layer of dead skin cells. If our skin is not as effective as it should be, this layer starts to build up. The result is dull and uneven looking skin. Also, a thick dead skin cell layer may result in clogged pores which may cause whiteheads, blackheads and pimples *gasp*

Hence the importance of regular exfoliation to help skin get rid of dead skin cells. It should be part of your skin care regime. It is definitely in mine!

But there are many different types of exfoliation products/scrubs. I like the MUKTI Gentle Facial Exfoliant for a few great reasons:

• 
  
  Jojoba Beads does the job to gently polish off dead skin cells. The key word here being "gently"! This is one scrub that will NOT scratch your face ever. The Jojoba Beads are perfectly spherical with no sharp edges. So you'd never risk damaging your skin, especially those with slightly thin & sensitive skin (like mine).
• 
  
  Contains Ginkgo Biloba to improve circulation. This helps in promoting healthy skin growth. Healthy skin is beautiful skin, really!
• 
  
  You can cleanse and exfoliate at the same time. For those who use just a foaming cleansing on a daily basis can skip the cleanser and go straight for the MUKTI Gentle Facial Exfoliant on days they'd like a scrub. For me, I always double cleanse starting with a milk cleanser then follow with a mild foaming one. So for 2-3 times a week, I will use the MUKTI Gentle Facial Exfoliant instead of my usual mild foaming cleanser. It works a dream.
• 
  
  It's certified organic. Need I mention this? *smiles* Certified organic means it's certified to be made with organic ingredients and that it doesn't contain any suspicious ingredients. I firmly believe (and have proven!) that when we cease to bombard our skin with chemicals, it doesn't have to work so hard in dealing with all the synthetic stuff. And thus result in healthier, stronger and definitely better looking skin.

So how often should we be using a scrub? I'd say at least 2-3 times a week.

For the best part of it all.... the MUKTI Gentle Facial Exfoliant is now on promo. Enjoy RM10 off and get it at only RM78. Valid with any Mukti product purchase. Also valid for online purchases.

Say hello to a smooth complexion!

XOXO,
Michelle

Eco Living Tips : Making an Earring Holder out of odds and ends

I have a habit of keeping little odds and ends that includes spare buttons, odd beads, bits of string, remnant stationary, etc. I’m never really sure what I’ll do with it but just can’t bear to throw it away so wantonly. So I’m going to make something out of it. All it takes is a little bit of creativity and it’s a great way to spend a leisurely Saturday afternoon.

So what am I making? An earring holder that is wall mounted!

Why am I doing this? Because I have bits and bobs of things that I’ve hoarded over time, because my earrings are overcrowding my dresser table and because I love nothing better than to repurpose things to give them a new lease of life.

What you’ll need:

• Random buttons > I have a respectable collection of buttons hoarded over a span of 20 years *laughs*. I remember sitting next to my mom as she changes the buttons of her clothes to update them and I’ll be scavenging the old buttons because it seemed a pity to throw them away. So as you can see, some of the buttons look like they are from the 70s. Well, they are! 
• Thick thread > I’m using leftover ones that’s a nice beech brown. These are typically used for cross stitch purposes. It’s a bit of a mystery why’d I have this in my drawer, I don’t do cross stitch! But they are coming in handy now. If you don’t have this type of thread, don’t fret. You could use ordinary sewing thread. Just that you would have to “bundle” them to make it thicker.
• A piece of cardboard > Any size or shape you fancy! What I have is a piece of plastic wafer cardboard roughly the size of an A3 paper. It’s leftover from some event that we did (I think). If you are using any other type of cardboard, the only criteria is that the cardboard must be lightweight (because you will be “mounting” it on the wall) and it will not be difficult to poke a needle through (because you will be doing that repeatedly!)
• Needle > Find one with a needle hole (is that what they call it?) big enough to put a thick thread through.
• A little bit of White Tack, Scissors and a Pencil.

What to do?

1. Choose your buttons. Have fun! Be creative! Choose a few different colors and slightly different sizes. Pair them up.
2. Arrange your buttons (in pairs) on the cardboard and decide how you want to lay them out. Basically you will be tying a thread between a pair of buttons and that’s where your earrings will hang from. I’ve chosen Red, Black and Neutral colored buttons and laid them out in pairs but at varying heights. That’s because I have dangly earrings of various lengths.
3. Mark the locations of the buttons with a pencil once you are happy with your layout.
4. Now sew away! No fancy stitches. Just sew like how you’d sew a button. I’m using thick thread so just 2 stiches per button. If you are using ordinary sewing thread, you might want bundle it to save you a few stitches. Link to eHow on the basics of sewing buttons.
5. Once all the buttons are sewed one, the hardest bit of effort is done. Yay! Now you can put the needle aside and do this bit by hand. Loop the thread around a button tightly and then pull across to the other button. Loop back to the first button and keep going until you have about 4-5 lines across. At the end, go round the button a few times quite tightly and cut the thread. *Important* You have to make sure the line is snug and fairly tight. Otherwise it will sag once you hang your earrings on them.
6. Do this for all the button pairs and you’re done! 
7. Now you can mount it on the wall with some White Tack. If you don’t know what White Tack is, it’s pure magic. It’s this white rubbery thingy that can be used for mounting on surfaces without leaving a mark. And it’s reusable. It’s my can’t-live-without bit of stationary. Try it.
8. Now the fun bit. Hang up your earrings! Then stand back and glow with pride that you just made this masterpiece *smiles* You can even hang your necklaces on it.

*pictures up ahead*

Isn’t it pretty? And practical too.

Like they say: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.... and I’ll add to that: Repurpose!

XOXO,

Michelle

In the making.... what do you think?

Sneak preview!

What do you think of the design? Are you loving it? Well, we are! Coming very soon *smiles*

Feeling cool on a hot day

It's yet another hot day!

Over here in KL, we have not seen any rain for a few days. It's unbearably hot, it's Monday and I am dreaming of cool breezes on a chilly day.

Well, I cannot change the weather outside but I can on the inside! We are lucky to have a quiet and private workplace at a residential area. So it's small, cosy and relaxing. And there are little things we can do to feel cool on a hot day *smiles*

So what do we do to feel cool on a hot day?

1. The cooling scent of Peppermint wafting in the air..... We put on the burner with a few drops of pure Peppermint essential oil. The fresh minty scent is a real pickup! Just like eating mints cools the breath, the minty scent in the air makes the air feel somewhat "cooling". Do try it!

2. The soothing sound of water gently flowing..... We have a mini fountain thingy in the office with feature ducks constantly spewing water. Some visitors commented that it's as if the ducks are drooling (LOL). Anyhow, it helps to disperse moisture into the air (cooling!) and the sound of water is so relaxing! And when one is relaxed your pulse slows, blood pressure lowers and body temperature drops slightly.

3. The relaxing lull of Joanna Wang's jazzy voice...... I absolutely adore her. Her songs puts me in the Zen mode and forget I'm at work, forget it's Monday and forget the heat! For me Joanna Wang or the soothing sounds of Bossa Nova music never fails to relax me. Or sometimes I put on nature sounds of birds chirping or rain falling in the rainforest. Whatever works for you!

So are we feeling the heat? Well, a little still but it's definitely cooler, calmer and more relaxed here than  in most places. But we work hard, really! 

Enjoy your week ahead. We definitely have lots to do this week as a brand new shipment of (fresh!) Madara stocks just touched down.

XOXO

Michelle

Everyone loves a freebie!

We are doing a promo with Skindeco.net and we are giving away 10ml of Madara Tinting Fluid absolutely free (you get to choose from the 2 shades, Moon Flower or Sun Flower) . Plus 30% off any one (1) selected Madara product.

If you are wondering what's this tinting fluid thingy, it's like an "organic BB cream" that is moisturiser+sunscreen+light foundation. Except that Madara's version is minus the chemicals and will never ever clog our pores. You might ask, "10ml? What can I do with that?". To put it in perspective, the standard size tinting fluid is 50ml so 10ml is 20% worth. From experience, 10ml should last you 2-3 weeks of use or worth about RM25 depending on which way you like to look at it. Well, the best part is, it's free! *smiles*

So what do you have to do? Simple!

(1) Be a member/fan of Bodybar's Facebook Group. To do that, click "like" on the Facebook widget on the sidebar. Or if widgets boggle your mind (like they do mine), then click on this link [Bodybar Facebook Group] and be a member. If you are not a Facebook buff, no worries, just drop us an email at info@bodybarskincare.com with your full name.

(2) Check out Skindeco.net's blog entry <click here> and print out the voucher.

(3) Head on to any Bodybar outlets before the end of the month (30 June 2010) to claim your goodies. Do remember to bring the printed voucher! All while stocks last of course and we will need you to sign up for the mailing list.

Just a bit of a flashback, Skindeco.net's Connie reviewed the Madara Moon Flower Tinting Fluid some time back and she gives a fabulous rundown of the product. If you like to read it (again), follow this link.

Fancy a bit of cyber window shopping? You can check out the Madara range here on our website and surely you will find some inspiration to make good use of that 30% discount. My favs from the range are the Moon Flower Tinting Fluid, Deep Comfort Toner, Regenerating Night Cream, Regenerating Lip Balm, Sunkissed Tinted Lip Gloss, Mint Shower Soap and (yikes) Contouring Cream. What about you? *wink*

XOXO

Michelle

For the book lovers

(This post has nothing to do with beauty nor natural skin care! Thought I better start with a bit of a disclaimer *smiles*)

I must confess, I'm a book worm. I love to read. And cook. And sew. And garden. And whip up random beauty recipes from every day kitchen ingredients. Ok I'm digressing. Well, enough rambling and I'll delve a little deeper about the DIY beauty recipes another day.

Back to the topic at hand, if you love books as I do, you might want to head on to Tropicana City Mall concourse between 3- 15 June 2010 because Borders is having a S-A-L-E there.

Books for as low as RM5, vouchers for purchases RM100 & up and selected items 50% off such as gifts & stationary. And if you are a HSBC cardholder, more perks await you.

In my personal opinion, of all the bookshops in Malaysia (maybe with the exception of Kinokuniya) I find myself still gravitating back to Borders though the price is a just a tad higher. Maybe because they have better variety? Better packaging? More non-mainstream books? Or perhaps their stores are brighter and better laid out? (probably the last of the reasons!)

Anyhow, I'm definitely marking my calendar to hopefully pick up some good reads. See you there? *smiles* Or maybe at our Bodybar TCM outlet which is on Level 1 round the corner from Best Denki. After all, we are also having a mini warehouse clearance with items going for 30%-70% off, all while stocks last of course *wink*

XOXO

Michelle

Something to put the sparkle back in your eyes

I don't know about you but I spend way too much time staring at a computer screen. My eyes ends up being really tired by the end of the day and if you haven't noticed, tired eyes seems to make a person look listless.

My cure? A mini eye-spa at home with one of my favs - the Mukti Rosehip Eye Gel. This winner is absolutely brimming with organic rosehip which is a powerful antioxidant to:

* combat puffy eyes

* prevent fine lines

* minimize dark circles

It's completely oil-free and is rapidly absorbed making it perfect even under eye makeup. It's also certified organic so you know for sure that it contains only pure botanical ingredients and none of the nasty (and cheap!) synthetic chemicals.

So how do you do the mini-eye spa?

1. Apply a slightly more generous amount of the eye gel than usual and give eyes a gentle massage by lightly running your fingertips around the eyes in a circular movement. Do take care not to tug at those fine skin around the eyes.

*If you are up for it, give your eyes a thorough exercise, yes you can! This website offers a great how-to: http://www.wikihow.com/Exercise-Your-Eyes

2. Then put a slice of chilled cucumber (organic if you can!) on eyes, lie back and relax.

This will instantly perk up tired eyes and you will also notice that any puffiness are significantly reduced. Not to mention you will feel much refreshed after, kinda like as if you took forty winks (read: a short nap).

 

The Mukti Rosehip Eye Gel is a crowd favorite, media favorite and one of my can't-live-without-items. Put the sparkle back in your eyes with this one :)

 

RM88 for 15ml. Certified organic. Made in Australia.

http://www.bodybarskincare.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=10&products_id=14

New promos at Bodybar on now

It's been a while since we had an update. That's because we've been busy! Fresh off the Ikano Earth Day (which was a blast), we had a couple an events with The Star and a DIY Beauty Workshop with SDB. More about that in the next post.

For now, here's an update on new promos at Bodybar running from now till mid-June....

It's hot, it's coming to the mid of the year, most are panicking about how fast the last few months flew by, we're all pretty high strung.... so.... what better than to give ourselves some pampering at home?

We are having 15% off all REMEDICa Australia products which is a beautiful range of home spa products that's completely natural  (of course) and made with high concentration of certified organic ingredients. REMEDICa's Richesse de l'Afrique is inspired by the ethnic botanical ingredients from Africa and the Monoi de Tahiti range is inspired by the Tahitian Monoi (read: Gardenia) which smells absolutely heavenly. To top it off, members get extra 5% off.

The next promo is on one of my most beloved products - the MADARA Regenerating Night Cream! This is my I-swear-by-it product as it has really strengthened my eczema prone skin. Since I've been on it religiously for 9 months now, I've been eczema-free on my face (*touch wood*) even though sometimes I still get flare ups on my arms and back.

What more, it leaves my skin really plump and hydrated without any trace of greasiness, thanks to the high content of Hyaluronic Acid which is something our skin needs to be able to hold on to moisture. It's also got Tomatoes to protect against free radicals, Barley Sprouts to improve skin's elasticity, Hops to strengthen the skin, Sea Buckthorn which is filled with antioxidants as well as Seaweed, Calendula, Chamomile and Plaintain. Did I even mention it's ECOCERT certified organic? Which means at least 95% of the botanical ingredients are certified organic.

There's just so much to love about the MADARA Regenerating Night Cream. I could rave on and on..... but first things first.... the promo details... 10% off the newly reduced price (yes, we reduced the prices, yay!). The night cream used to be RM148 but it's now RM138. With 10% off, the PROMO PRICE is now RM124.20 (you save RM23.80!). Plus, members get extra 20ml of product FOC worth RM55.

So go ahead and treat yourself. You and your skin deserves it!

Posters up ahead....

Review: SkinDeco.net's Connie loves the Madara MoonFlower Tinting Fluid!

I've been following Connie's blog for quite some time now and I have to tell you this.... this girl is a makeup whiz. She is really creative in her use of colors and has a real mastery of contouring using colors. I also love it that Connie takes very good care of her skin and shares candidly about what she loves, what she doesn't, what works, what doesn't.

Well, Connie loves the Madara MoonFlower Tinting Fluid and this is just some of the good things she has to say about it....

"I don't think I've ever felt this comfortable wearing a tinted moisturizer on its own"

"My skin loves the formula a lot too."

"The lotion is quite fluid so one pump is really all you need for the entire face. It doesn't contain SPF in terms of numbers as most tinted moisturizers do but there are ingredients in the formula that offer light sun protection; titanium dioxide and Baltic St. John's Wort, which enhances skin's natural protective abilities against UV damage. That said, use a separate sunscreen. For dry skin, it's best to use a separate moisturizer as well."

And check out her beautiful skin that looked even better. Lovely!

 

(Image and quotes were taken from Connie's blog www.SkinDeco.net)

Click ont the link to read the full review: http://www.skindeco.net/2010/04/review-madara-moon-flower-tinting-fluid.html

Feature: FEMALE Magazine April 2010 (Eco-friendly Beauty)

This month's FEMALE Magazine had a 6-page feature on eco-friendly beauty. I think it's great that all the magazines as well as mainstream media are more active in promoting awareness of natural, organic and eco-friendly beauty (& skincare). They really should be applauded for doing so. While it may not seem obvious but it's not an easy thing for the publications as most major advertisers (at least where skincare is concerned) may not be deemed as under the "natural & organic" category.

Anyway.... I was given the opportunity to share some thoughts and was quoted in some sections of the feature. If you can't read from the image, scroll all the way down for an excerpt.

Mukti's Rosehip Eye Gel (one of our superstars) were featured as well as Madara's Flower Dust which was chosen by the beauty editor as her pick. Bodybar was also quoted as a place to go for a variety of skin-friendly deals at affordable prices.

If you haven't got this month's copy of FEMALE, just this article alone is worth the price of it. It's really well written, informative and gives a balanced point of view. Great job FEMALE mag!

 

Excerpts from the article:

From page 205 on Organic....  
"Michelle Chen, Co-founder of Bodybar, says when a product is certified organic, it follows a set of standards set by a trusted body such as USDA, EcoCert, BDIH and OFC. The specifications govern everything pertaining to its ingredients as well as the whole product lifecycle, starting from how the ingredients are grown, sources and harvested to how the product is manufactured. It would even go as far as dictating the packaging to ensure that it's biodegradeable and eco-friendly. The product should not contain any known harmful synthetic ingredients or genetically-modified organisms (GMOs) while its production process leaves a light footprint on the earth."

From page 206 on Minerals....  
"Bodybar's Michelle says minerals are naturally-occuring solids formed through geological processes. Different minerals have different inherent properties, but many have qualities that make them feasible for use in makeup and skincare. For instance, zinc oxide and titanium dioxide have sunscreen properties; mica provices pearlescent sheen that is used in many makeup products; various types of clay have skin-purifying effects and other minerals provide colour. Pure, mineral makeup uses only natural-occuring minerals without adding synthetic fillers that may be harmful to health and/or skin"

From page 206 on Zap Zits - The Natural Way! ....  
"As a 'natural' junkie, Michelle from Bodybar has experimented to produce recipes that work for her skin. "A zit is really an inflammatin of the skin so I would be more inclined to help it heal rather than make it disappear overnight", she says. Here, she reveals one of her secret concoctions - a paste that helps zits heal faster and reduce any potential scarring.

ps: Recipe will be provided in subsequent entries under DIY Beauty section, stay tuned

From page 208 on Be a Savvy Shopper!   

"....check out places like Bodybar for a variety of brands and to find skin-friendly deals at affordable prices!"

Bodybar @ Ikano Earth Day Carnival 2010 (photolog)

It's all happening from 15-25 April 2010 at Ikano's Concourse. 

Bodybar is participating in Ikano's Earth Day Carnival for the 2nd time and there are lots of interesting stuff happening this year as well. Some of the things that caught my eye included soap nuts imported from India. It can be used for all household cleaning purposes, from washing dishes to clothes to mopping the floor. I got myself a nice little packet and will be giving it a try soon. There's also a corner showcasing with arts & crafts made from sustainable materials. I'm now the owner of an authentic bamboo flute (which was only being sold for RM10!).

And then of course there's skincare good enough to eat from Bodybar. We are having some great deals with clearance items going for 20%-50% off (very very limited stock), free samples for all and some pretty giftsets that'd be perfect for the upcoming Mother's Day in May. It's definitely special as we celebrate Earth Day this April *smiles* We've also just launched additional membership privileges  (immediate rebates above certain purchases) so that's an additional perk for existing members.

Drop in to check it out. See you there!

Photolog ahead....

(Soap nuts!)