7-Step Skincare Routine

Few months ago, I've decided to pay extra attention to my skincare routine.

So, what happened?

On mid last year, I decided to ditch my usual dermatologist's skincare and opted for the generic ones. That was not an easy decision though as I had been the worshipper of my dermatologist since 2009. But then I read an article about how you should change your skincare regimen every now and then to adjust with your skin condition. And yes, I realized that my dermatologist's skincare routine no longer gave me the glow and the magic it once did to me in 2011-2012.

So I was thinking, "Maybe it's time."

It was not a walk-in-the-park journey too to find a product that really suits my skin condition. Or to be able to give the magic I hoped. Or just to simply maintain my problem-free skin. (Thankfully, I very rarely catch pimples unless it's that time of the month.)

All my life, my skin was always oily. Never had I ever catch a dry skin, let alone have dry patches. The blotting paper had always been my daily rescue—I never even had a day without one in bag! But in September—2 months after I ditched my old skincare—my skin started to dry out. Dry patches were everywhere, redness on some spots, itchings everytime I was exposed to sunlight no matter for how long, even when I felt hot (not necessarily exposed to sunlight), my skin started to itch. It got so bad that I once badly scratched my skin.

Month after month, I was always on the soul-searching journey of skincare. Some only worked for a few weeks or months, and some just failed miserably. Then finally, in March 2017, I found the right line of skincare. Finally..

So here's my current skincare routine. And the ones I've tried and worked for some time but then failed.

(Clockwise: Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser, Clinique Liquid Facial Soap, Vaseline Petroleum Jelly, Laneige Moisture Balancing Emulsion, Skin Aqua UV Moisture Gel, Lush Enchanted Eye Cream, L'Occitane Shea Butter Light Comforting Cream, Thayers Witch Hazel Toner, Bioderma Sensibio Micellar Water, L'Oréal Gentle Lip and Eye Makeup Remover)

 

On daily basis, here are the skin-pampering steps I do.

 

1. Remove mascara using L'Oréal Gentle Lip and Eye Makeup Remover as I only apply mascara as eye makeup on daily basis. This one has been my holy grail since I was in college. To me, this works better than Maybelline's.

 

 

 

2. As for my face, I cleanse it using Bioderma Sensibio Micellar Water. Been using this for 6 months now and still works perfectly fine for me as I never apply heavy makeup on daily basis. Only a few pats of The Body Shop Pressed Powder and I'm all set.

 

 

 

3. Straight to wash my face using Clinique Liquid Facial Soap Mild for Dry Combination Skin, or...

 

 

 

Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser. Both work well for my dry skin.

 

 

 

4. Before applying moisturizer to my skin, I apply Thayers Witch Hazel Toner which smells really good I think I'm obsessed. Also, it's alcohol and paraben-free so it's a savior to my skin as well.

 

 

 

5. While waiting the toner to set on my skin, I apply Vaseline Petroleum Jelly to my lips. Been doing this since I was 17 that I feel so sinful everytime I skip it. (Which very rarely happens.)

 

 

 

6. Then apply this jar of skin savior. My current favorite. My holy grail. L'Occitane Shea Butter Light Comforting Cream. Currently on my 3rd week of using this and my skin is just getting better and better. ~swoon~

 

 

 

7. The last step in my night skincare routine is to apply Lush Enchanted Eye Cream on the outer corner, upper eyelids and under my eyes. This is my very first eye cream since, not gonna lie, I am turning 26 this year so I think it's time to start paying attention to my eyes.

 

 

 

Meanwhile on my day skincare routine, I top it off with Skin Aqua UV Moisture Gel SPF 30 PA++ that has become my go-to sunscreen since last year.

 

 

That's it. My 7-step skincare routine. Not as elaborate and detailed as the 10-step Korean skincare one but as long as this is what works for me then I wouldn't change it anytime soon.

 

But, as I previously mentioned, some products worked only for a moment and some just failed miserably. And here are the lists.

 

1. Laneige Moisture Balancing Emulsion. You played with my heart. You only worked for a brief moment. I put my faith so much in you that I decided to purchase the full-sized one. Turns out I was wrong.. 

 

 

 

2. Muji Sensitive Skin All-In-One Essence. I bought this at a Family Mart when I was on vacation in Japan, in which I forgot to bring any of my skincare products beside facial wash. This worked fine back then in Japan as I didn't catch a dry skin despite the chilly weather. But then it all became just another hit-and-miss product once I used it back home.

 

 

 

3. Sukin Certified Organic Rosehip Oil. You are such a HUGE disappointment, or did I set my expectation way too high of you? You only worked well on my skin for 3 days. Three days. I expected much more than that but you did nothing more than being some grease on my face that makes me look dull. I'm still brokenhearted.

 

 

 

So, that was it. One thing to remember is that one product may work for me while not for the others and vice versa, but well, isn't it nice to share your thoughts with people? Because I'm a firm believer of any reviews, especially skincare, before I ever give it a go.

 

Hope this helps to anyone who ever reads this!

 

You Need to be Nicer

Sit. Good dog. Stay. Bad dog. Down. Roll over.

Well here's a good man and a pretty young girl
Trying to play together somehow
I'm wasting my life, you're changing the world
I get drunk and watch your head grow

It's the good times that we shared
And the bad times that we'll have
It's the good times
And the bad times that we've had

Well it's been a long, slow collision
I'm a pitbull, you're a dog
Baby you're foul in clear conditions
But you're handsome in the fog

So I need some fine wine, and you, you need to be nicer
For the good times and the bad times
That we'll have

Sometimes we talk over dinner like old friends
Till I go and kill the bottle
I go off over any old thing
Break your heart and raise a glass or ten

To the good times that we shared
And the bad times that we'll have
To the good times
And the bad times that we've had

Well it's been a long, slow collision
I'm a pitbull, you're a dog
Baby you're foul in clear conditions
But you're handsome in the fog

So I need some fine wine, and you, you need to be nicer
For the good times and the bad times
We know will come, yeah

I need some fine wine, and you, you need to be nicer
You need to be nicer, you need

For the good times and the bad times that we had
Sit

Good times, bad times
Sweet wine, bad wine
Good cop, bad cop
Lapdog, bad dog
Sit

("I Need Some Fine Wine and You, You Need to be Nicer" - The Cardigans)

Teenage Invasion

Another 16-year-old, another catchy tunes.

Watch your back, Lorde.

All for One and One for All

So, I stumbled upon BuzzFeed (as always) last night & my attention was drawn to this article I could not help but read. 

Anyways, this movie starts with the reuniting group of four girls (Samantha, Roberta, Teeny, and Chrissy) in their hometown of Shelby, Indiana, in 1995 (the 'now' part, as they were already grown-ups at that moment). And then there goes the flashback to the summer of 1970, when the four girls were 12. With all its bicycling, Red Rover game, tarot reading, library hopping, and seances, this is a good movie to tell what it was like being adolescents and how to spend summer before the years of video game and internet invasion.

I almost forgot how much I was obsessed with this movie when I was 8. (Yes, I watched it the first time when I was 8, which was around 4 years late since the movie came out in 1995) I'd watched it, like, 2 or 3 years ago on YouTube that I should jump from one part to another & the buffering lost my concentration so it kinda didn't do for me at the time. I thought my obsession was over, until I watched it again for the first time in years. The full part of the movie.

It turned out that some scenes still get me. Like, the scene when Sam almost drowned that night in the storm drain right after Teeny gave her a friendship bracelet, and Teeny couldn't do anything but crying, and then Crazy Pete came out of nowhere to save her. Or when Sam finally found out that Crazy Pete was Dear Johnny's father and being told a lesson that would've taken him a lifetime to learn. (I admit I'm a sucker for lonely old men) Or that time when Roberta got into a fight with some scumbag at the softball field and Sam did a heroic action. (That little guy screaming 'FIIIIIIGHT' was the highlight, though) Or the scene when they stole away the Wormers' clothes and left them chasing around naked. Or when Roberta was hysterically angry at Sam's grandma's attic finding out that some people might have died in pain, and the girls finally learned that the town they lived in was not as safe as they thought it always was. Or Teeny's room. Or the seances. Or Chrissy's OCD mother. (Seriously, a little dust on the gramophone and facing-upward cap is not okay?) Well, pretty much every single scene still gets me.

It's such a heartbreaker though finding out some of the girls' casts didn't grow up as expected. The girl who played pre-teen Chrissy, Ashleigh Aston Moore, even already passed away in 2007 with unconfirmed cause of death. (Some said pneumonia, some said heroin overdose) Well, after all, this is truly a movie a girl (or woman), regardless of her age, if you have bestfriends, should watch. Just like the tagline: "In every woman, there is the girl she left behind".

"C: I say  we make a pact. Here and now. We're here for each other, always, 
no matter what happens in life. If Teeny goes off to Hollywood or I marry a rich doctor,
 we remember this day and this pact. Whenever we need a friend, we're here for each other. 
We can count on it. Always. No matter what.

S: It's a pact.

C: All for one...

C, S, T, R: And one for all."

He Does What The Night Does To The Day

"I've been feeling foolish, you should try it

She came and substituted the peace and quite for

Acrobatic blood, flow concertina

Cheatin' heartbeat, rapid fire.."

('She's Thunderstorms' - Arctic Monkeys)

Crawling Back To You

Have you got colour in your cheeks?Do you ever get that fear that you can't shift the tidethat sticks around like something in your teeth?Hiding some aces up your sleeveHave you no idea that you're in deep?I've dreamt about you nearly every night this weekHow many secrets can you keep?Cause there's this tune I found that makes me think of you somehow and I play it on repeatUntil I fall asleepSpilling drinks on my settee

(Do I wanna know?)If this feeling flows both ways(Sad to see you go)Was sorta hoping that you'd stay(Baby we both know)That the nights were mainly made for saying things that you can't say tomorrow day

Crawling back to you

Ever thought of calling when you've had a few?Cause I always doBaby I'm too busy being yours to fall for somebody newNow I've thought it through

Crawling back to you

So have you got the guts?Been wondering if your heart's still open and if so I wanna know what time it shutsSimmer down and pucker upI'm sorry to interrupt it's just I'm constantly on the cusp of trying to kiss youI don't know if you feel the same as I doBut we could be together if you wanted to

(Do I wanna know?)If this feeling flows both ways(Sad to see you go)Was sorta hoping that you'd stay(Baby we both know)That the nights were mainly made for saying things that you can't say tomorrow day

Crawling back to you

Ever thought of calling when you've had a few? (calling when you've had a few)'Cause I always do ('cause I always do)Baby I'm too busy being yours to fall for somebody newNow I've thought it through

Crawling back to you

(Do I wanna know?)If this feeling flows both ways(Sad to see you go)Was sorta hoping that you'd stay(Baby we both know)That the nights were mainly made for saying things that you can't say tomorrow day(Yeah)

(Do I wanna know?)Too busy being yours to fall(Sad to see you go)Ever thought of calling down?(Baby we both know)Do you want me crawling back to you?
('Do I Wanna Know' - Arctic Monkeys)
After tough times of only listening through the badquality videos taken at their gigs.Finally. An official video.Heavier, sexier tunes. Whoa they've grown so much.Been lovin' the 'new' AM since 'R U Mine?'and this is the answer to my unrequited love.Currently on repeat. ♥

Screwed Up & Brilliant

"You said I was the most exotic flower
Holding me tight in our final hour

I don't know how you convince them and get them, but
I don't know what you do, it's unbelievable
And I don't know how you get over, get over
Someone as dangerous, tainted and flawed as you

One for the money, and two for the show
I love you honey, I'm ready, I'm ready to go
How did you get that way? I don't know
You're screwed up and brilliant,
Look like a million dollar man,
So why is my heart broke?

You got the world but baby at what price?
Something so strange, hard to define

It isn't that hard boy to like you or love you
I'd follow you down down down,
You're unbelievable
If you're going crazy just grab me and take me
I'd follow you down down down, anywhere anywhere

One for the money, two for the show
I love you honey, I'm ready, I'm ready to go
How did you get that way? I don't know
You're screwed up and brilliant,
Look like a million dollar man,
So why is my heart broke?

One for the money, two for the show
I love you honey, I'm ready, I'm ready to go
How did you get that way? I don't know
You're screwed up and brilliant,
Look like a million dollar man,
So why is my heart broke?

I don't know,
You're screwed up and brilliant,
Look like a million dollar man,
So why is my heart broke?"
('Million Dollar Man' - Lana Del Rey)

Dreams, Dreams

"Sometimes I find myself sittin' back and reminiscing Especially when I have to watch other people kissing And I remember when you started calling me your Mrs. All the play fightin', all the flirtatious dishes I'd tell you sad stories about my childhood I don't know why I trusted you but I knew that I could We'd spend the whole weekend lyin' in our own dirt I was just so happy in your boxers and your tshirt
Dreams, dreams of when we had just started things Dreams of you and me It seems, it seems that I can't shake those memories I wonder if you have the same dreams too
The littlest things that take me there I know it sounds lame but it's so true I know it's not right but it seems unfair The things are remindin' me of you Sometimes I wish we could just pretend Even if only for one weekend So come on tell me Is this the end?
Drinkin' tea in bed, watching DVDs When I discovered all your dirty grotty magazines You'd take me out shopping and we'd buy is trainers As if we ever needed anything to entertain us The first time that you introduced me to your friends And you could tell that I was nervous so you held my hands When I was feeling down, you made that face you do There's no one in the world who could replace you
Dreams, dreams of when we had just started things Dreams of me and you It seems, it seems that I can't shake those memories I wonder if you feel the same way too
The littlest things that take me there I know it sounds lame but it's so true I know it's not right but it seems unfair The things are remindin' me of you Sometimes I wish we could just pretend Even if only for one weekend So come on tell me Is this the end?"
Still one of Lily's best. ♥

My Name Is Adam, I'm Your Biggest Fan

"You're a part-time lover and a full-time friend

The monkey on your back is the latest trend

I don't see what anyone can see in anyone else

But you

Here is the church and here is the steeple

We sure are cute for two ugly people

I don't see what anyone can see in anyone else

But you

We both have shiny happy fits of rage

I want more fans, you want more stage

I don't see what anyone can see in anyone else

But you

You're always trying to keep it real

And I'm in love with how you feel

I don't see what anyone can see in anyone else

But you

I kiss you on the brain in the shadow of the train

I kiss you all starry-eyed, my body's swingin' from side to side

I don't see what anyone can see in anyone else

But you
 

The pebbles forgive me, the trees forgive me

So why can't you forgive me?

I don't see what anyone can see in anyone else

But you

Do do do do do do do

do do do

Do do do do do do do

do do do do

I don't see what anyone can see in anyone else

But you.."

('Anyone Else But You (The Moldy Peaches cover)' - Michael Cera & Ellen Page)

C+J Forever

Put yourself in this situation: You have a best guy friend since highschool, become lovers in college and decide to get married young. Now 30, you're on your way up with your career and your husband is on his way nowhere with, again, unemployment that you decide to divorce but still maintain a good friendship as how it's always been with your soon-to-be ex-husband. But your decision, in fact, turns out to drive you away from the friendship, from the 'forever' promise you two have always been keeping.

That's what happens between Celeste and Jesse (well played by actress as well as the daughter of Quincy Jones, Rashida Jones and Saturday Night Live's Andy Samberg, respectively). 'Celeste and Jesse Forever' serves you with drama along with comedy wrapped up in bro jokes. 'Real' drama touches me more than 'drama' drama ('The Notebook', 'The Vow', you name it) because the tendency of it to be happened in real life is crystal clear. (Not mentioning the opening song, Lily Allen's Littlest Things, which is my favorite). And, to be honest, this movie brings up the kind of issue which intrigues me the most: Marrying the guy your age. Well, my assumption is proven to be right (at least in this movie...and in some cases).
'Celeste and Jesse Forever' totally nails it. As the tagline says, 'A Loved Story', this story is very likely to be loved, even by not a big fan of drama movies.

C: 'Do you think it's weird we hang out all the time?'

J: 'No, you're my bestfriend.'

C: 'Yeah, you're my best friend too.'

The Chungster

Introducing..

Nylon Magazine's best-dressed-of-the-month nominee.

British Style Award winner for three consecutive years.

Those skinny legs (not that I crave every girl with skinny legs, duh),

that bag named after her (remember the handbag porn post?),

that good taste of music (not that I share iPod with her, just read some posts about her DJ-ing playlists)..

Seriously, how not to love her?

....

Oh and it still breaks my heart knowing she & Alex Turner broke up.

Not that I'm #TeamAlexa or something (seriously, they broke up more than a year ago

and nothing could get them back together again, not even the #TeamAlexa hashtag),

but is it just me or anybody else also thinks Arielle Vandenberg is too mainstream for Alex Turner?

Oh, whatever. I'll just go back to my attempt on saving coins by coins

to finally reach £895 to afford that handbag named after this fashion icon.

(All pictures are taken from here)

A Swedish Icon

How to get your music through everybody's ears?
Simple lyrics, catchy tunes.
Just like this Swedish duo does.

"They say 'You're a freak' when we're having fun
Say 'You must be high' when we're spreading love
But we're just living life that we'll never stop
We got the world.."

"You love my love you're never gonna find a better love
(And I don't want you to)
You hate my love because you're dead without it
(You got me good for you)
You love my love you know you'll never find a better love
(And I don't want you to)
You hate my love, you couldn't live without it
(You got me good for you)"

"Come and stay in this minute now
We gonna flip this place back upside down, oh oh oh
Nights like this, you will never be alone
Never gonna let it go
Tomorrow we will die to press rewind, oh oh oh
Nights like this, you will never be alone!
You will never be alone.."

"You're in a different road

I'm in a milky way

You want me down on Earth

But I am up in space

You're so damn hard to please

We gotta kill this switch

You're from the 70's

But I'm in 90's, bitch."

Uncommon Ghost

This LA-based trio surely knows how to play some tune.
And to stroll around the city of angels.
Currently on repeat. ♥

Did You?

Now and then I think of when we were together
Like when you said you felt so happy you could die
Told myself that you were right for me
But felt so lonely in your company
But that was love and it's an ache I still remember

You can get addicted to a certain kind of sadness
Like resignation to the end, always the end
So when we found that we could not make sense
Well you said that we would still be friends
But I'll admit that I was glad that it was over

But you didn't have to cut me off
Make it like it never happened and that we were nothing
And I don't even need your love
But you treat me like a stranger and that feels so rough
No you didn't have to stoop so low
Have your friends collect your records and then change your number
I guess that I don't need that though
Now you're just somebody that I used to know

Now you're just somebody that I used to know
Now you're just somebody that I used to know
Now and then I think of all the times you screwed me over
But had me believing it was always something that I'd done
But I don't wanna live that way
Reading into every word you say
You said that you could let it go
And I wouldn't catch you hung up on somebody that you used to know
But you didn't have to cut me off
Make it like it never happened and that we were nothing
And I don't even need your love
But you treat me like a stranger and that feels so rough
And you didn't have to stoop so low
Have your friends collect your records and then change your number
I guess that I don't need that though
Now you're just somebody that I used to know
Somebody
(I used to know)Now you're just somebody that I used to know
 (Somebody That I Used To Know - Walk Off The Earth (Gotye Cover)  

Just Will Smith

"If you're absent during my struggle,

don't expect to be present during my success."

--Will Smith

When You See Me Walkin' Around With Him

Current most-played tracks in my playlist.

Can't get enough of the 80s groove in 'My Boo' and
the beat in 'I'm His Girl'.
No wonder it's on the most-played track in London Fashion Week Day 1.

"Cause Then You Don't Have To See What You've Done"

First watched this video a long time ago.

One of the best plot that could be put in a 4-minute music video.

'Love Sick'

"Maybe there was no Juliet for this Romeo.No Meg Ryan for this Tom Hanks." LOL.  

My Life Would Be Completed

Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens 

Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens

Brown paper packages tied up with strings

These are a few of my favorite things!

Cream colored ponies and crisp apple strudels
Doorbells and sleigh bells and schnitzel with noodles
Wild geese that fly with the moon on their wings
These are a few of my favorite things!

Girls in white dresses with blue satin sashes
Snowflakes that stay on my nose and eye lashes
Silver white winters that melt into spring
These are a few of my favorite things!

When the dog bites, when the bee stings
When I'm feeling sad, 
I simply remember 
my favorite things
and then I don't feel so bad!

("These Are A Few Of My Favorite Things" - Julie Andrews)

(Pictures are courtesy of this site)