Here Comes The Sun

I’ll be honest with you. I’ve never been that into sunblock until about a year ago. I was one of those girls who thought tanning was a good idea. I’ve even excused myself from the dinner table a couple of times back when I was still studying in Ohio, to go to a tanning salon… Not very Malaysian of me but yes, that’s how little sunblock meant to me. And if you’re wondering why at a dinner table, it was because this Chinese restaurant that we used to go to had a tanning salon next door... How convenient… Yaaasss this szechuan chicken is going to look so good with my new Southern Princess Extreme Bronze 296XXX Ultimate tan.

Don’t get me wrong though. I still do think a tan looks amazing on everyone but if you could see yourself 10 years from now, you would probably cut down on the baking time too. And I’m not just talking about the time you spend in tanning beds but also the time you spend outdoors. Whether it’s jogging or running errands, be sure to take the extra step in your beauty regimen and slap on that SPF all overrrr your face and body. Turn on your favourite playlist and dance until your face and body is no longer sticky. You’d be surprised to know how many times people have walked in on me doing this. It's like a dance scene from the movie Honey but not really.

I do have a few favourites that I would like to mention not because I was paid to but because they have been kind to my skin. Kind in this context means no monstrous pimples appearing out of thin air.

If you haven’t tried any of the sunblocks from Clinique, you’re missing out. The one that I have been using for close to 4 months now is from the Even Better range.

Clinique Even Better City Block Anti-Pollution SPF 40/PA+++

I find it quite gimmicky that it claims to be formulated for "Asian skins". What does that even meaaaan? But of course I bought into it and guess what, no rugrats 😎 . Asian skin or not, I have seen vast improvements with my existing acne scars ever since I started using this sunblock. 

sunblock prevents sunburn = scars are protected = less darkening = maybe fades them a little if you're super careful 

This could just be one of the many benefits of using any sunblock diligently, but this one in particular has not broken me out or leave me smelling like I'm about to swim with the dolphins. So that's an A+ in my book. Oh and did I mention it has a slight tint?!?! Doesn't matter because I'm still too ugly and dependent on my foundation to even think of going au naturel with my makeup heh.

If you're into that Korean dewy goodness, which I am but not necessarily able to pull off  sometimes because it is humid here in Malaysia and we are all getting our glow from Mother Nature herself, this one is good for those drier and duller days. 

Laneige White Plus Renew Tone Up Corrector SPF 40/PA+++

I noticed with this one, my skin looks brighter instantly. Not because it's magic but because it has a slight pink tint to it, which gives you a glow, hideous or not, this product does not discriminate. 

This is a good pick-me-up product that I personally enjoy using before heading out for a quick jog. As much as I want to keep my face bare when I'm exercising, I do exercise outdoors most of the time and that means I'm exposed to the sun. Therefore, sunblock is not an option but a necessity to me when I'm smashing my guns. Wut.

These are the two sunblocks swatched on the back of my hand. I'm hoping that it'll give you somewhat of an idea of what the consistency is like. If not, then I hope you guys have a hand fetish.

• Clinique definitely feels more like makeup on the skin as it has a thicker consistency compared to to Laneige.
• Clinique has yellow undertones that can help even out the skin as well as correct any mild redness on the face.
• Laneige has pink undertones that can brighten the skin.

Now that my secret (yah, because I invented sunblock) is out, all you vampires can come out and play!

Till my next entry!

Go wreck someone's home! ♥

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The Kernel of Truth

You can find over a hundred articles on this. Don’t trust me? Google it. Now. I won’t even be offended if you had to stop reading my blog to do that.

Assuming you did Google and found yourself going down the Internet rabbit hole of blogs,

Image by Jenny Dean

Welcome back, rude child. 

As much as I want to talk about the different types of oils available in the market, I just want to focus on one that I have been true to for months now. This girl is loyal~

Apricot Kernel Oil (Prunus Armeniaca)

Whether you have oily skin, dry skin or even combination skin, incorporating apricot kernel oil into your beauty regimen is the best thing you can do for yourself. I'm going to make another outrageous claim and say that this oil has changed the way I look at skincare. I am now one of those annoying chicks who read the ingredients list and pretend like she knows what half of those things are on that list. But what I  did learn from being a pretentious prick is that the shorter the list, the better!

That is why I'm crazy about apricot kernel oil for my skin! There's literally just two ingredients in this OCM blend.

Apricot kernel oil
Castor oil

While olive oil is a superb carrier oil for your OCM blend, I have noticed that it's a tad too oily for the skin around my eyes. My eyes feel heavy after using this oil in the morning and that wouldn't have been a problem if women continued to play dumb and were seen as too ditzy to work but that's not the case now is it... No thanks to Betty Friedan and Sheryl Sandberg...

(I love you Ali Wong! If you guys don't get the reference, WATCH THIS RIGHT NOW: Ali Wong)

Okay, I digressed a little there. What's new haha :D

The difference between olive oil and apricot kernel oil is that the latter is lighter in consistency and is gentle enough for sensitive skin. I’m not sure if I came up with this saying but when in doubt, choose products that are made for sensitive skin.

I would like to think that I’m making sense here but just in case I’m not, here’s some "Wiwin-logic":

What causes irritation?

Men. Lol I’m kidding (not really).

Alcohol, fragrance, ammonium/sodium lauryl sulphate and the list can go on until tomorrow. These are the ingredients you’re most likely to find in products. When your skin is irritated, your skin is thrown off balance making it susceptible to acne, dryness and oiliness.

Sensitive skin-friendly products usually don’t have these ingredients in them (or at least they have them in low amounts).

Less harsh ingredients = Less irritation = Less skin problems

In other words, don't piss your skin off.

Therefore, you’ll save yourself a lot of trouble (and money) by just getting products made for sensitive skin! 

*end of Wiwin-logic*

Another plus point for this oil is that it is known for its ability to penetrate the skin without leaving an oily residue. So for my oily chickpeas out there, this oil won’t leave your face looking like a greasy hummus! Instead, you'll notice after 3 to 4 weeks of doing the OCM and also using this as a moisturizer that your skin has finally learned how to produce the right amount of oil for your cute lil face. 

Jam-packed with good vitamins such as vitamins A, C and E, this oil will keep your skin looking young and healthy. Almost like a youth elixir! I know this may sound annoying especially coming from a 23-year-old. But I do want to mention that once you get wrinkles, no product on this planet will make it go away. Unless your down with getting botox, then this does not apply to you. Assuming that I won't be making a lot of money for myself in the future to get botox, I'm just going to keep on slapping this oil on my face to prevent wrinkles and all those old people skin stuff.

Your face is forever and there is nothing glamorous about subjecting the world to a dull you. It's not too late to turn things around and start caring for your skin because

"Beautiful skin requires commitment, not a miracle."

- Erno Laszlo

And before anyone bashes me, Betty Friedan and Sheryl Sandberg are amazing women and I highly recommend you read their books if you're feeling stuck:

1) Feminine Mystique by Betty Friedan
2) Lean In by Sheryl Sandberg

Till next time!

Much love! ♥

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One Method to Rule Them Oil!

Imagine waking up with perfectly balanced skin every morning with just one simple step. If you’re anything like me, you’re probably going “Yeah sure. I’ve heard of that one before.”. But the only difference this time is that I’m not trying to sell you anything you don’t already have lying around in the kitchen somewhere.

What am I talking about?

Let’s build on that suspense… Continue reading, jangan malas!

I’m in no way product shaming any brands out there nor am I telling you to throw your current skincare out the window. Nope. Nothing like that. I want this to be a journey for you. Just like everything else in life, be sure to ease into it naturally.

I started incorporating the oil cleansing method (OCM) into my skincare routine about 2 months ago. It was more of a makeup-removing step rather than one complete cleansing step for me. I felt weird if I didn’t follow up with a cleanser after rubbing oil all over my face. So that’s what I did for a good 2 months.

Now that I’ve had the time read up on the benefits of certain oils for the skin and that it can completely replace your current cleanser, I made the switch!

It took me a while to find the right blend for my skin. A lot of trial and error were involved but because oils are so gentle to the skin (please don't use minyak masak on your face), you hardly see any major skin reactions. Nothing cray cray. Unless you're allergic to oils, then please stop. Go away. There's nothing to see here! But for those of you who are keen to dip your cute lil toes in this gentle cleansing method then stick around!

If you're just starting out and don't want to spend a lot of money on different types of oils, here's a foolproof recipe:

1/4 Castor Oil

3/4 Extra Virgin Olive Oil

1. Mix the two oils in the palm of your hands and massage it into your skin. Take this time to think of all your problems and get reaaaally anxious about it to increase your heart rate. BOOM. Cardio right there.

2. Soak a washcloth in hot water, wring the excess water out and place it over your face. Repeat this step at least 2 to 3 times before wiping the oil off your face.

And that's it, guys. No cool flying brushes needed. Just a washcloth and your perfect blend of oils. 

If you guys would like to know more about oils, let me know because I do have some personal favourites that I would be more than happy to share with you chickpeas!

Until my next entry!

Spread love! ♥ 

jangan malas - don't be lazy

minyak masak - cooking oil (like Seri Murni and Cap Helang)

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