Sunday, April 7, 2019
5 Products I'm Loving in Spring
It's not much of a spring to boast of but at least we've survived another winter... Ye olde blog is now back in business (for now) thanks to some new goodies in my skincare stash this year. I've been experimenting with skincare, and investing more time and $$ into ingredients that work for me.
For example, knowing niacinamide does nothing for me helps me move past a new launch and straight to ingredients that are actually effective!
These five relatively new-ish newbie products are some that my skin loves so I'm here to spread the love. Being friends with people who are more obsessed with skincare than me has definitely propelled me into a journey of skincare products for the last two years or so...
THE MOISTURISER
I finally have a few Drunken Elephant (despite mini sized) products to try out! Thanks to Shereen (as usual) who spotted this at a TK Maxx, I've been using the Drunk Elephant B-Hydra Intensive Hydra Gel during a stint back home (summer weather) but also lately as the weather has been erratic...
First of all, love that it's pretty much scentless! The star ingredient is vitamin B5 which helps hydrates (no surprises why it's something I'm drawn towards) without being too sticky. It's quick to absorb and creates a good canvas for either sunscreen or makeup. Something I can see myself reaching out more during spring and well into summer...
THE FACE MIST
I first discovered this beautiful Beaudiani Neroli face mist at a k-beauty event Shereen co-hosted last year and I'm taken to how it's not just water but packed with non-irritating essential oils that actually helps refreshes and lightly moisturise my face throughout the day. I've held onto this mini version (part of a gift from my friends) for the last few months and it's so easy to carry round and spritz after a bout of wind...
I have my eyes next on the Femmue face mist which will be perfect for the warmer months!
THE SCENT
This Commodity Mimosa scent was from my Space NK birthday set but I've only got around to using it lately because of its more refreshing, citrus (think blood orange) scent. The eponymous packaging is timeless and feels luxurious even though it's only a deluxe sample, no wonder Commodity is such a beauty fave.
I'll be going to my friend's wedding in Spain soon and no doubt this will make an appearance in my beauty bag, fitting for the long sunny days and wine-filled evenings!
THE DEODORANT
Who remembers that post I did a long time ago about my favourite deodorants? (Spoilers: LOL NO ONE CHERIE) Anyway this little tub of Nuud deodorant is a surprise Instagram find! Ads do work after all, it's not dead... yet. I was intrigued because this was different to a lot of the natural deodorants on the market, firstly it's a cream which I've not tried before and it only has 10 ingredients...
It's not the cheapest and the claims were pretty audacious so I was obviously skeptical but decided to give it a go anyway. In the end I got some for Christmas (winning) and been testing it out for a while now so am pleased to say I'm smitten by them!
Disclaimer: okay for the first week, I was still stinkin' like blue cheese and was prepared to write a not-so-great review but I'm glad I powered through, and as my body adjusted to it - it works like a charm.
The best thing about it is that it's perfume-free and you only really need a pea-sized of it. I've used it for 4 months now and still have lots left, especially because you only really need to reapply it every 3-7 days. It contains silver as its main antibacterial deterrent, but you can read up on their ingredients list here and what each purpose is for.
It's also cruelty-free and vegan for those of you who's interested in that... Who knew I'd be writing paragraphs on deodorant eh?
THE ESSENCE
So this is really a 'best for last' product... The I'm From Mugwort Essence was my birthday gift from my #FOTS family (skincare friends!) as I was hinting that I was interesting in getting it myself. Dare I say that this essence has really changed my skin for the last few months as I've been incorporating it into my routine?
Mugwort is Korean native herb which has been traditionally used for inflammation. It's great for healing, calming and irritated skin (read: ME) and filled with antioxidants! The essence is watery but still pretty potent in a good way that is light enough to be absorbed into the skin in any weather. I've used this in hotter and cold weather and it works its magic.
It's really helped me even out my skin after a warm shower, in the mornings and general redness problems. It's strong herbal scent without additional perfumes is my sort of jam as well so it's a definite win!
Thank you to Kar (the OG skinfluencer) for introducing this magical ingredient into my life...
What are your spring skincare staples? (SSS!)
Sunday, January 20, 2019
My Winter Skincare for Acne-Prone and Dehydrated Skin
Happy Sunday folks, I spent the weekend cocooning up and not leaving the house because I'm just not a winter gal. My skin's definitely not the best right now, with it being so dry and dehydrated going from walking in the cold and into a overheated office space...
I love having a nosey at what everyone's skincare cabinet is so thought I'd share what's on my face at the moment. I have dehydrated and acne-prone skin so layers of hydration is something I'm always aiming for when it gets chilly so I've included some moisture-boosting products.
I start my routine and tone with the Missha FTE Intensive, a cult favourite in the skincare community. It's supposed to be very similar to the SKII FTE but is a more affordable option. The key ingredient is fermented yeast (yes it does smell like it, so something to note if you're not used to strong scents) and so supposed to help quick moisture absorption, refine skin texture and help pigmentation. I can't say much for the latter two but the light watery texture dries down very nicely to get ready for my essence.
For essence, I'm using up the last bit of the Zymogen Houttuynia Cordata Ferment Serum (a mouthful, that really is). It helps minimise sebum and control oil so that's a plus in my books, with other ingredients like licorice root extract and panthenol for soothing troubled skin. Alcohol is high on the list though so out of the bottle and to skin application can smell a bit strong. I'm conscious of this so my next essence will be alcohol free...
The Deviant Skincare (formerly Alkimi Skin) VI facial oil is a repurchase and a firm favourite from last year routine and jam packed with omega acids and antioxidants which doesn't feel greasy or cling to my skin at all. I use this night and day, as it helps seal in moisture. At night I like using a sleep masking on top of it too...
The newest to my routine and the star of the show for me this season is the Make Prem Safe Me Relief Moisture Cream and it's honestly one of my favourite moisturisers I've ever used. It only has 12 ingredients, perfect for sensitive skin but packs a punch when it comes to soothing any irritation or providing relief after a day at work. Bonus points for squalene in the ingredients list too, a natural emollient that locks moisture and help protect the skin barrier.
Because winter is just so dry, I prefer moisturising products over anything that's targeted for special concerns like anti-aging. For me, the focus is on moisture so my skin don't feel like parchment... My eye cream is the Belif Moisturising eye bomb and works as it says it should. It keeps my undereyes healthy and soft and just works.
Finally, another new addition to the team is the REN Perfect Canvas Primer Serum. It's marketed as a primer without silicones and works seamlessly within your skincare routine, and preps the skin ready for makeup or just on its own. Let me just say I love this product too – it's light and not thick or rubbery like primers with dimethecone, and layers wonderfully under makeup. I really do find my concealer sitting nicely above it, without drying up and plumps up the skin.
It's not the cheapest, but I got it when REN was offering 30% so it made it less painful. I also only use 2 drops each time so 30ml will last me a while...
That's my routine for you...! I also use sunscreen but I'm testing out a few so I've left that one out by have been eyeing up the Klairs Soft Airy UV Essence thanks to my friend Shereen. What are you using this winter season?
Monday, December 24, 2018
Merry Christmas Eve and Happy Birthday to Me
What a gratuitous title! I know it's been forever since I dropped in but I quickly realised these photos weren't going to be any good after the holidays so what better opportunity to combine Christmas and my birthday into one giant update...
To be frank, nothing big has really happened – work is busy and exciting (I passed my 3 months mark in the beginning of December) and I've been enjoying staying offline a bit more during the week days which translates into quiet evenings, or games nights with friends, hanging out with work friends and just living life a lil after a really stressful first half of 2018.
If you're anything like me, I love a little nosy Winter Update so here's mine...
MY BIRTHDAY
But today is also my birthday! I've never been a big birthday person anyway so this year will be spending time with family, and doing little else.
LIFE UPDATES?
Matt bought me a new Kindle a few months ago and I've been furiously reading (or trying to) all sorts - as you'll have seen in my previous post on books, but have also added a lot of non-fiction books so slowly making my way through them.
We went to Hong Kong in November! It was Matt's first time, and though it wasn't my first, I was only a kid the last time I went. I've been updating my Instagram with our travel stories, and some lovely snaps while we're there.
Hung out with my friends and they threw me a surprise birthday party, that was lovely and it's heartwarming to have friends (near and far) you can just be relaxed around...
I started doing Korean languages classes! It was something I'd always wanted to do but never got round to it, but after my friend started hers in the beginning of this year I decided to take the plunge too. It's loads of fun, and I just love learning a new language and being able to speak (almost) coherent sentences now.
I also started going to mental health coaching sessions at work - at work we have someone from Sanctus who come in and you can have 121s talking about anything that's on your mind, ranging from general chats, anything personal and career-related conversations. I think it's had really positive impact for me, and if you have access to anything like this, it's worth going to one and testing the waters yourself.
Winter time is also the time I spend most time indoors... Shorter days and cold temperatures just don't bode well with me, especially as I grew up in a tropical climate!
A few weeks ago however, I wanted to go for a walk but didn't want to go anywhere crazy (cough Oxford Street) so we went to the Bank of England - there was an adorable Fortnum and Mason sponsored Christmas tree which was a nice place to wander around on the weekend.
Truth be told, I've shied away from blogging of late because writing pieces no longer felt empowering or personal to me - everything needed to be topical (being a feminist, having an opinion, staying relatable) or SEO-friendly (and we all know I dislike listicles and yet it's one of my most read post on here, ironic haha). Some days I have an opinion but they're either: topics that don't really cover what everyone likes, or things that fail to capture attention...
I'm not saying this as a bad thing, I've just learnt to share in other ways - real life, with friends and less so online.
I can see the new year bringing some new and big changes, but more than ever, I'm trying to be present in these single moments, because you never know what can happen next. Having this at the top of my mind works as a great reminder that often the simplest things bring the most joy...
Before heading off, everyone's who has hugged me in the last month have told me how soft my coat feels (and looks) so to spare the suspense, here's my swishy outfit details:
Have a great Christmas and see you around!
Sunday, October 28, 2018
Books I'm Planning to Read
It's officially dark at 4pm and I haven't left the house once today... I'm really not sure why everyone's fawning over single digit temperatures, for I'm just glad that I'll be off to warmer environment in two weeks (going to Hong Kong!).
The end of summer kickstarted my reading habit again and as we find ourselves with nothing but darkness and time in the evenings, I'm trying to start reading more again. Usually I read 1 non-fiction book and 2 fiction at the same time – it helps switch things up depending on my mood! I'm sharing a peek at what I'm currently reading now...
Why I'm No Longer Talking to White People About Race by Reni Eddo-Lodge
This was on my to-read for a while and thanks to my friend who works in publishing, I managed to get this on her staff discount. The last non-fiction book I read was Hooked: A Guide to Building Habit Forming Products and my other in current rotation is Black Box Thinking by Matthew Syed which is very enjoyable - and I'm excited to get started with this one as it dives into contemporary societal attitudes around race and identity in Britain.
It evolved from Reni Eddo-Lodge's blog post and her frustration about discussions on race in the country and I think now more than ever, it's one that will inform how we think about identify through these tumultuous times.
Lest I get too political (Matt said one of my recent Instagram stories about Philip Green was too political and that's why no one engaged LOL) I'll just say I'm looking forward to this one!
The Book of Dust: Volume One La Belle Savauge by Philip Pullman
I actually talked about this on my Instagram as was kindly gifted an illustrated soft copy of the book but totally sidetracked and haven't finished reading this! A prequel to His Dark Materials, I'm already immersed in Pullman's vivid descriptions of Oxford and the imagery that's to come...
One of the dark, cold evening methinks.
If On a Winter's Night A Traveller by Italo Calvino
A classic pick, this is perfect for my postmodernist fancy - I love novels which challenges literary structures so I think this will be just the book for it. It reminds me of Paul Auster's metaphysical style and unexplained plots, so I'm sure while it's going to be an inventive journey, it'll be slightly frustrating too!
Here I Am by Jonathan Safran-Foer
Everything Is Illuminated is possibly my favourite book by Safran-Foer, his trademark style of combing sadness and humour in a way that I've never seen before was what drawn me in in the first place, and daring to be so poignant and ever so close to truth is something that I've always admired. I'm halfway through this, while it does retain a lot of the same non-sequitur remarks and traits as in his previous work, I'm not overly attached to this.
The basic plot centres around the Bloch family who find themselves amidst a breakdown and familial crises threaten to change their lives for good. It's filled with a lot of dialogue so it can be hard to follow, and specific cultural references that may be hard to pick up.
One thing I do enjoy though, is the Jewish context this is set in - presumably influence by his own background, it's enjoyable to see how religion (in the lightest sense) entwine with the banalities in love, relationships and a world full of references to hypernormalised consumer brands.
That's it on the shelf for now! What are you reading + please send me your recommendations :)
Wednesday, October 10, 2018
I Went to A Concert By Myself and Loved It
I'd be ashamed to call myself a blogger but it's as the title says: two weeks ago, I went to a music gig by myself and survived, in fact – I loved it.
Some of you know that I listen and love Korean hip-hop (≠ K-pop but hey) and I was so down to party like a responsible adult when Zico was doing his European tour. Several things though - Matt isn't into it, and my friends are probably at that point, broke from buying BTS tickets so you know what? I went and nabbed myself a solo ticket.
Enjoying your own company
I'm usually quite nervous about spending time alone, and sometimes it doesn't help that we're told to surround ourself with copious amount of 'positive energy and people' and a ride-or-die girl gang, an idea that perpetuates that being alone is somehow shameful.
This year I set out to do more things that I actually enjoy, and sometimes that means going out of your comfort zone. I'll have to admit, I was worried that I wouldn't enjoy it because I was alone and the fear of being self-conscious (lol that went out the door pretty quickly) but I think that's quite normal if you're not used to going out and doing things alone, right?
As an only child, I think it was pretty difficult for me growing up because I didn't have anyone to talk to / play with and would always wish for a sibling during my birthdays, until my 10th birthday where I started wishing for a Tamagotchi for myself, ha.
You'd think I would have settled into a good mould of enjoying my own company but it's something I'm still working on, being comfortable walking on the streets and feeling good about it.
Cultivating a sense of confidence
I was, am still not a confident person and it makes life really quite terrible. It didn't help that my adolescent years were plagued by skin problems and moving to a different country, and still today I struggle with my skin (that literally makes it more than 10 years) – not the greatest confidence boost shall we say.
On the flip side, it makes me very unhappy, constantly worried about outward appearances and wondering what other people think of me. It was getting to a point that affected people around me and that isn't how I'd like to continue living life...
It's probably far-fetched to correlate going to a concert and self-confidence but I would consider that a step forwards in our otherwise hypernormalised society where everyone is successful and young and impossibly attractive.
Starting my new job at a young company surrounded by smart, driven and incredibly capable individuals have left me reeling in self-doubt lately and was something I touched on in an Instagram post - am I doing enough? Why aren't I making the big bucks yet?! How on earth do I make myself useful?
I don't have an instant cure to these lingering and unhelpful thoughts but making a start by doing things I enjoy and something I'm good at sounds like the right thing to do?
There is no right or wrong
Would it have been better that I had friends with me at the show? Probably. But I can honestly say that I loved going to a gig by myself and put those self-conscious thoughts to sleep just for 2 hours and enjoy what was happening right in front of me.
I don't think there's a prescribed list of what you should do to feel more comfortable - I certainly don't - but I feel like we all know intuitively what we are capable of doing to start making that step, be it treating yourself a coffee date and going shopping, playing video games for hours straight (guilty - I played for 5 hours once gulp)...
I'm putting a conscious effort to spend my time enjoying the present moment, alone or together because time machines don't exist yet and I'm certainly better off spending time being content than in constant worry.
What about you? What are your favourite alone time activities?
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