Updated skin care routine

Assalamualaikum

[9 April 2018]

When I was younger, whenever people asked me about my skincare routine, I didn't know what to answer. Because at 24, I was still struggling to organise my life let alone to have a routine just for skin. I mean, if washing my face in the morning counts as a routine yes that's my skincare routine.

"oh you don't have a routine? Lucky you. Wait till you're 30 then you'll know," said my colleagues.

Fast forward to now, at 28, It finally hit me, I finally get what they were saying! T-T Only "washing my face" just don't cut it anymore. I now have enlarged pores, my skin burns easily and I even have freckles!!! So for the past two years, I have been following this routine:

Morning Routine

Face wash (Skinfood Egg White Perfect Pore Foam) > Toner (Skinfood Lettuce and Cucumber Toner) > Essence (Missha Time Revolution The First Treatment Essence) > Serum (Innisfree Green Tea Seed Serum) > Moisturiser (Nature Republic Aloe Vera) > Moisturiser (Laneige Time Freeze Intensive Cream) > Sun block (Laneige Watery Sun Cream). 

To be completely honest, I only recommend the routine. Not the product. I mean, I'll recommend some that I've been repurchasing but some are new to my routine. Some I don't really see much difference with or without, some I'm just waiting for it to finish so that I can go back to the ones that I've used and seen result.

What I would recommend:

 1. Missha Time Revolution The First Treatment Essence - this is a dupe of SKII facial treatment essence. At least that is what people on the internet have been claiming. I haven't try SKII so I can't tell whether it's really a dupe but Emak has and she said they're close. As for me, without this, my skin feels less elastic? less bouncy? if that makes sense. haha.

2. Nature Republic Aloe Vera - This is the my favourite, my must-have, product I'll die without. This is the one that I've been recommending to my beginner friends who don't have a skincare routine yet, this is what I can't skip even on my lazy days and this is what I bring on my purse to reapply after prayer. I cannot stress  enough how good this product is. Someone burned their skin, I shove them aloe vera, someone skin breaks out, aloe vera, someone has big pimple, aloe vera, dry skin, aloe vera. Me and my aloe vera, memang tak boleh dipisahkan. Don't. even. try.

3. Laneige Watery Sun Cream - Last year, Hermo gave this as a tester and I have since repurchase it once on my own. I love this sun cream for one very good reason, it doesn't make my skin looks oily like other normal sun block. The only problem I have is the price. RM110 for such a small container, this hurts my purse. I've tried replacing it with Yadah but Yadah is just blurgh... so I went back to this one. If you have other cheaper alternative, please please please let me know. This is also one of the products that I will not skip even on my lazy days. People, we need to wear sunblock! everyday, even if you're staying indoor. If I could turn back the time and meet my younger self, I would tell her to "wear sunblock" this is how seriously important I think sunblock is.

Product that I have love hate relationship with:

1. Laneige Time Freeze Intensive Cream - I love this product since it is very moisturing but at the same time I hate the cream because it's super thick and takes time to absorb into the skin.

Product that I couldn't wait to replace:

1. My toner - Not that I think the Skinfood one that I've been using is not good but I just love Klairs Supple Preparation Toner more and dare I say, it is the best compared to any other toner in the market. Even if you don't believe in toner (some people think toner is unnecessary), believe me, this toner will change your mind.

Night Routine

Makeup remover (Banila Co. Clean It Zero) > Face wash (Skinfood Egg White Perfect Pore Foam) > Toner (Skinfood Lettuce and Cucumber Toner) > Essence (Missha Time Revolution The First Treatment Essence) > Serum (Klairs Freshly Juiced Vitamin Drop) > Moisturiser (Nature Republic Aloe Vera) > Moisturiser (Klairs Midnight Blue Calming Cream) 

Again, same thing, I recommended only the steps not all the product. 

What I would recommend:

1. Banila Co. Clean It Zero - I love this makeup remover. Even if I don't wear any makeup, at the end of my day, I just love to clean my face with this one. This cleans my face like no other makeup remover could.

2. Klairs Freshly Juiced Vitamin Drop - This serum is famous for a really good reason. Upon application, my skin instantly feels tight and well, smoother.

3. Klairs Midnight Blue Calming Cream - Seperti nama diberi, this cream really calms all the red spot that I have around my face. I can clearly see the difference with and without this product. With this product, my skin looks brighter and clearer, as if I have a glass skin.... as if je la not the actual glass skin. #girlcandream

Once a week, I exfoliate my skin with this one.

I can't wait to replace this exfoliator. haha. I love the Skinfood Black Sugar Mask version more than this one.

After all this, this is the only makeup I wear on daily basis,

CC cream > blusher > lip balm > liquid lipstick

That's it for makeup? Are they enough? Depends. If full on, fully concealed face with everything on point is the one you're looking for, of course, this is not enough... but for me, I just want to look like me. I simply don't care if my dark circle, bekas jerawat and all other imperfection still shows. I wasn't always like this. I cared, last year. Last year, I got really into makeup and I bought everything. Everything I tell you. I have concealer, highlighter, brow pen, brow powder, eye primer, face primer, eyeshadows, eye liner, lose powder, makeup spray everythinggggg. I used them everyday. Only one day, after I did my makeup, I had the time to really look at myself in the mirror and I didn't like what I see. I'd done a really good job at concealing my imperfection that I felt less as a human. I remember thinking that if I have a daughter, is this the kind of message I wanted to pass to her? That we should wear makeup and conceal our imperfection in order to feel pretty?

Ever since then, I stop wearing excessive makeup and focus and invest more on fixing my skin itself. I personally think this is a healthier way to live.

That's all. hope this helps.

Updated skin care routine

Wednesday, May 30, 2018

SURVIVING RAMADHAN

Assalamualaikum

If you're my best friends, you might have known that I always (literally) have chapped lip since......little? I think. People say it's directly correlated with dehydration and you have to drink plenty of water to heal it. Don't want to burst your bubble, but it can't! Drink as many water as you want, hydrate all you want, maybe it detoxify you, you would pee more but no, it will not heal your chapped lips...well at least for me it didn't.

So, for as long as I can remember, I always peel the dry skin off my lip and that is the sight that's so common to my best friends, when my lip bleeds, it doesn't surprise them anymore. They'll be like "oh, kopek bibir lagi,"

I have tried everything. really. Every single drugstore lip balm/lip care that they sell, I bought them...and none worked. seriously. I know it works for some of you which is great but I guess my case is too severe for them to help..tired of trying, I went commando and tried to live with it....and during that time, I feared Ramadhan. It's a whole new challenge. Not only it dried, it bleed with hard thick skin attached to it, it was ugggllllyyyyy. Last year Ramadhan was the worst and I decided that I had enough. I have to do something about it.

I did and life has been smooth sailing ever since

Estee Lauder Lip Conditioner

This workkkkssss! You have no idea how long I waited to write this review. I was cheated before. Some lip care worked for awhile around one or two months then it suddenly stop. I was devastated. Clinique worked for a good 4 months then it stopped too. So, this time, I waited for at least a year before I get really attached with the product..It's been a year already and this product hasn't give up on me!!! I love you foreverrrr please stayy close to meeeeee.

I am finally relieve from the misery of the curse lip....and what's so good about having a smooth lip? I can now wear lipstick!!! *throw confetti* Yup, never been able to wear any before because imagine a bold red lipstick colour on a chapped lips......OMGOSH WHAT HORROR STORY IS THIS??

Nowadays, I am obsessss with lipsticks....but then, this itself is a whole new challenge...because you can wear the best lip care in town, but if your lipstick is the drying type, you're dead too...In a way, I solve a problem to create another.

-__________-

SURVIVING RAMADHAN

Monday, July 11, 2016

BUDGET TRIP TO SEOUL - SUMMER (PERCUTIAN BUDGET KE SEOUL - MUSIM PANAS) : ARRIVAL AND DAY 1

This is a continuation of BUDGET TRIP TO SEOUL - SUMMER (PERCUTIAN BUDGET KE SEOUL - MUSIM PANAS) : PRE-TRIP

Assalamualaikum :)

Since our flight was quite early, we decided to spend the night at KLIA2. If you were there on 4th September, yes, we were the one s snoring by the escalator. -.-

It was my first long flight and it was the most tiring one. Remember Jaiden? (bukan nama sebenar). Thanks to him, we couldn't sleep at all! I know kids allowed to cry and throw tantrum, but if it is for 6 hours, boy, u pushed my button. T.T

Sleep deprived noona.

Jaiden, you're a cute kid. I sincerely hope that you'll grow well and please be good to your parents cause it is definitely not easy to raise you.

Once we arrived, we straight away went to the nearest convenience store to buy our T-Money.

This is T-Money. Similar to our Touch N Go but is more widely used than ours. If 99% of your transport includes train, please purchase the T-Money card. but if queuing for tickets is your kind of thing, you may skip this part. :D

Throughout our stay, I used close to 20,000 won (approx. RM60) for 6 days trip. 

Incheon Airport to Myeongdong

 AREX Commuter (Commuter because it's cheaper than AREX Express but faster than bus)

Incheon International Airport to Seoul Station

Seoul Station ---> Subway line 4 (blue line) to Myeongdong Station.

ETJ: 62 to 72 mins

Seoul Tower Hostel

Take Exit 3. Walk staight towards 7-eleven until u reach a diverged road in font of Pacific Hotel. Take the road on the left and walk straight until u see the hostel signboard and voila!

source: booking.com

I love the location of our hostel. It's in Myeongdong! Almost all tourist attractions are within walking distance such as Namsan Tower, heart of Myeongdong and Namdaemun market. plus there's a 24 hours convenience store nearby which we'd visited twice per day! Sometimes we had to check whether they changed their shift already cause we don't want the 'eh you again!' look.

A triple room cost us 432,000won (approx RM1,296) for 6 days 5 nights.

I'm shy. :*) In movies, the shadow of a female lead taking shower is super sexy and hot. In reality, hmmmm............. let's just say in the end, we'd agreed to shower as far as possible from the glass door.

No point it''s electronic if you don't know how to use them. everything is in hangul!

Advantages:

1. The location. super strategic as mentioned above. and, it is just by the road side. No need to climb any stairs.

2. The room is perfect for the 3 of us. not too big or not too small. just nice.

Disadvantages:

1. They will only clean the room if you ask for it.

2. Every time you leave the hostel, you need to return your keys. Every single time. T.T

At night, we went to Myeongdong. 

This is my first purchase,

BANANA MILK! I totally get why people love it so much. It's yummy!

I totally love this picture of me in Myeongdong. I don't fit in at all but who cares! hehe. I even use it for Jumitraf's cover page. 

Myeongdong is all about cosmetic products. and what's even weird, there's a lot of outlets from the same brand in Myeongdong itself. You'll be like, 'Eh, Missha again? I thought Missha was over there?'

but sorry all. I'm a loyal girl. :D

Cosmetic stores competition in Myeongdong is so fierce. It was more like Pasar Malam than a brand store itself. A lot of promoters will be standing in front of their store and yelling all the discounts they have to attract you to their store. 

After all the efforts to attract customers, their in-store services were quite bad. A lot of them can't even speak english. Well to be honest, it's no surprise but since I can understand Korean a bit, I don't mind broken english. The surprise is on how they respond to english speaking customer. If the word is too complicated such as 'pigmentation', they'll frown and ignore you straight away!

Even Skinfood staff! I tried to deny it but it was so obvious I am senseless if I ignored it. I'll do separate review for skinfood later but for now, remember don't shop for cosmetics in Myeongdong. Don't give profits to rude people.

As for the rest, I let pictures do the talking.

BUDGET TRIP TO SEOUL - SUMMER (PERCUTIAN BUDGET KE SEOUL - MUSIM PANAS) : ARRIVAL AND DAY 1

Friday, October 17, 2014

Skin Food addiction

Assalamualaikum. :)

HI!

As per title, I am currently addicted to all Skin Food products. All.

My addiction starts when I was browsing for new skin care brand because the current brand I’m using bore me already. Hehe. mengada. I love skin care products and I love buying them. Especially when I read good review about it. Macam ‘wah bagusnya, harus try!’

Normally I would google ‘good skin care product for (skin type) skin’ and spent hours reading reviews for various brands. But this time, I specifically google ‘ Skin Food’ as they have one outlet at Delta Mall and the outlet is so cute, so classic, so bright, so preeettty! I’m hooked already. Hehe rupa luaran counts rupanya. :)

Then I found their website and tambah-tambah lah keobsesan terhadap Skin Food. Their products sound so yummy. And the packaging, classic! (sekali lagi rupa luaran sebagai daya penarik)

Erm erm. But, I know, nice packaging does not guarantees good quality. So I read reviews. Dan biasalah review, ade ok ade tak. Tapi nasib baik mostly ok. so tambah lagi keyakinan untuk bertukar kepada skin food.

And then there this one reviewer, she suggest everyone to look for Skin Food Malaysia fb page, as the admins are friendly and will kindly give advises to everyone personally. And yes, it’s true. Another reason why I’m hooked to Skin Food. The admins are so kind and sweet. They still reply you even you ask so many recurring annoying question. You can talk about anything with them. From skin care regime, product price to services at skin food outlets. Boleh complain atau nak puji. Good customer service thru fb.

Jadi harus bergegas ke outlet sekarang.

This is what I got from my visit to their outlet here in Sibu.

Good Afternoon Apple Cinnamon Tea BB Cream SPF 36 PA++

Actually I want to try the Aloe Suncreen BB cream as it is recommended for beginner by my favourite reviewer, then the salesperson recommended me to try this newly release Good Afternoon BB range. I’d used it twice and I love it. Easy to blend. Not as thick as other bb cream. However, I don’t think it gives good coverage though. For me it’s ok because I have only one spot (recent pimple scar) to cover, but not recommended for people that have lots of spots to cover and need full coverage.

Wildberry Milk Cleansing Cream

This is also recommended by the salesperson. This is super important for people using bb cream. I read about it somewhere. You need to do double cleansing if you’re using bb. Because bb is a strong tinted moisturizer. Therefore, at the end of the day, you need to get rid of the entire product from your skin, you know, to let it breath. Normal cleansing is not enough. Why? I don’t remember. And I don’t feel like googling it now. You can google it yourself, ok. sorry :). And oh, it is not just for people using bb cream, it is also recommended for people using sunblock and heavy makeup.

black sugar mask

This one, no reason. I just read good review about it and I want it! hehe :)

this one, I just feel like buying. gila tak?

And this is several that I would like to buy later. bila ada banyak wang.

Gold Caviar Prime Gel

this i learn from makeupgeek. it is super important to apply primer before any foundation, powder or any makeup on your face. it is to prevent the product from going inside your pores. plus, it prepare your face before applying makeup by giving 'canvas-like' surface.

Red Orange Makeup Finish

I learn this also from makeup geek. this is the final step in doing make up. mist. face mist will blend all product you apply on your face, to be less cakey. it will give more natural look. well makeupgeek use MAC Fix It Spray which is super expensive for someone like me. this is a good alternative.

and it can be use to freshen your face too. not necessarily for make up purposes.

Coffee Body Scrub

I don't even like coffee. but for Skin Food I would try anything. :D

Skin Food addiction

Saturday, February 25, 2012