La Vie En Rose: Nobyembre 2017

I'm the type of person who always pumps up the jam at home and listens with my heart's intent. I cannot simply go on with my days without listening to my fave songs for at least 2 replays. Let's admit it, it's pretty similar to any tv series or dramas that we watch. Once we have started watching the first episode, we can't help but to watch the succeeding ones. Simply because it's addictive. Now, this is the same reason on why I am hooked with music. There's just something that soothes my mind and my heart. Without further ado, here are my fave songs for this month!

CATEGORY

Rosé is my ultimate bias in BlackPink. I've recently become one of the 'blinks' (BP's fandom name) this August. I've been listening to Whistle and As If It's Your Last on repeat. For some reason, I only came to like them when they debuted in Japan. I was hoping to see them in their concerts, but unfortunately, I didn't have an opportunity to go there. Maybe next time!

These are the links for Whistle and As If It's Your Last for both Japanese and Korean.

I've also been pretty obsessed with Twice's song, Likey. It's been my jam for a couple of days. Many people think that they can't sing as good when they perform live, but I personally think that they've improved. I personally love the J-lines' part!

I also loooove IU's song entitled, Palette. It's a collab with GD which makes it even more special. The beat, her angelic voice, and the rap part is errrthing, my dear.

It's sad that some of the members of SNSD left the group, but the queens will forever stay in my hearteu. This song called, Holiday is da bomb guys! It's legit good so please listen to it if you have time!

I'm also currently watching a drama called While You Were Sleeping starring by Lee Jong Suk and Bae Suzy. The OSTs are to die for!!! But I have to say that Roy Kim's You Belong To My World is the best out of all!

I know that EXID has released their new song just recently, but for me, nothing beats this song. It reminds me of Carly Rae Jepsen's songs that makes me feel attached.

These 2 songs are from the OST of the drama, Age of Youth 2. It brings back so many memories of the drama itself that keeps me kill the replay button. (At least these YT channels can get monetized lol)

I'm aware that people have their own preferences when it comes to music, but I thought that it'd be a great idea if I share what kind of music I love, especially when it comes to K-pop. I don't just listen to K-pop songs. In fact, I listen to various songs from different countries, too. I hope this post became a good guide for you as a reference for K-pop!

Hope you enjoyed this one!

Take care,

Mata ne!

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My night skincare routine is actually pretty simplified because I wanted to avoid piling up too much skincare products on my skin. As my favorite YouTuber, Lia Yoo, (who is a skincare enthusiast) says that "Teenagers function best in an optimal condition. Even though teenagers wake up with a really ugly pillow crease, their skin bounces back quickly. This takes time for the adults. Many products that you're using may have a high concentration of actives that your skin simply doesn't need it. Respect what you already have with basic. Do a sufficient research first." In short, having a basic skincare routine is recommended for teenagers. You don't really have to do a 10 step skincare routine if you know that it is too 'extra' for your skin. Find your goal for your skin so as you can do more research about it. Search for the ingredients that's in the label of the product. And please, only buy what you NEED for your skin. That's all from me and Lia Yoo. 😉

Let's start!

For my cleanser, I use Perfect Whip face wash as what I also use in my morning skincare. But when I apply makeup on my skin, I stick to using Heimish's All Clean Balm, instead of the Perfect Whip ones.

CLEANSER

Heimish All Clean Balm

Heimish's All Clean Balm claims to be paraben free that's totally recommended for people with delicate skin. It is also marketed as a good cleanser even for thick makeup. Based from my experience, I didn't feel any tightness after cleansing and rinsing using this product. It removes all my makeup beautifully, without stripping my skin's hydration. It contains ingredients such as orange peel oil, rose extract, tea tree oil, bergamot fruit oil and etc which are all beneficial for our skin!

The packaging comes in a tub with a small spatula in it. I've brought this to Tokyo and I have no problems with leakage because it's sealed tightly. It might be a bit bulky tho, but that's the only cons that I could think of.

The balm will melt on your skin as it emulsifies with the water. It also smells very aromatic!

After using a cleanser, I move on to my toner which is the Isofurabon soy milk toner. (It's the same as what I use in my morning skincare).

MOISTURIZER

Cetaphil moisturizer

This Cetaphil moisturizer hydrates my skin in a long period of time. It absorbs quickly, has a non-greasy formula, and lastly, it has rich ingredients like glycerin, macadamia nut oil and many more. For those of you who are acne prone, I absolutely recommend this moisturizer!

Sometimes, when I feel like my skin needs more pamper, I switch my moisturizer to Nature Republic's aloe vera soothing gel or Hyaluron face mask. Mind you that I never use them together because both of those two products' active ingredients aren't a good match, if used at the same time.

FOR PAMPERING DAYS

Hyaluron Face Mask

This face mask is A LIFE SAVER. Every time I'm going out the next day or whenever I have red huge pimples, I always opt to use this rather than using my usual moisturizer which is the Cetaphil ones. This actually soothes down pimples and surprisingly, the redness is also gone the next day. The main component of the ingredient is hyaluronic acid which makes your skin hydrated and supple.

I didn't choose to show you the formula of this face mask because I only have 4 sheets left. And since I'm a neat freak, I didn't want to touch the face mask and return it inside the container (again). #maarteprobs #sorrynotsorry. It looks the same as the ones above. Sorry to have scared you lol. PS, I only use this once a week in replace of my cetaphil.

Daiso: Reusable Silicon Mask

This mask is made to avoid evaporation of the essence from your original face mask. With this, your face will fully absorb the essence, making your skin extra moisturized. PS, you need to wear this under a sheet mask, then just hook it unto your ears and adjust the silicon mask. Simple as it is, yet very effective!

Nature Republic: Soothing and moisturizing aloe vera

To be completely honest, I didn't purposely buy this for my skincare routine. I bought this for my eyebrows because I'm still in the process of growing them out. It's not that I have scarce eyebrows, but it's just that I want to grow them out. I'm also tired of putting brow products anyway (thb, I think I'm just lazy lol) , so I thought of using aloe vera + pure castor oil to grow them thick. It's actually working pretty well. PS, I'll be uploading a YT vid about this so stay tuned! Sorry for blabbing way too much about my eyebrow ✌️

I've used this as an overnight face mask and my skin has been thanking me for it. I only use this for at least once a week or once every two weeks. (Whenever my skin needs more hydration).

ACNE CARE

Galderma: Differin (adapalene)

Adapalene comes in an easy to use pump dispenser tube. It targets acne vulgaris and keeps it under control. Since this is an anti-acne product, it can cause your skin to react by having redness, dryness, scaling, burning, and even to sting. So make sure to moisturizer before applying this.

After using adapalene, I use the Dalacin T-gel (which soothes pimples that are red). If I see that I don't have any redness on my pimples, I use Centella blemish cream of CosRX.

Anti-blemish Cream

COSRX: Centella Blemish Cream

Centella blemish cream of COSRX is made with a natural ingredient such as centella asiatica leaf water that calms down and reduces scars. It's an ointment type of cream that's non greasy. In fact, when I swatched it, the formula is very hydrating. My visible scars have disappeared because of this cream. But it was only effective to my minimal scars.

As you can see from the picture, after I applied it to my hand and have spread it, the color of my skin became lighter. So, don't be surprised too if you apply this to your face and your face turns brighter. It's kind of hard to blend, but other than that I have no complains about it.

Anti-acne Patch from COSRX

I hate it whenever I have zits in my pimples. Whenever it's urgent, I use this acne patch from COSRX. COSRX is a brand that's introduced by my face k-vlogger, Joan Kim. I'm so glad that I stumbled upon this brand and I immediately fell in love with it. It is overall an overnight fixer for whiteheads, blackheads, and zits. It adheres to your skin properly (made from hydrocolloid), so you don't have to worry about the patch falling out.

Whenever I order products from Amazon, the sellers are kind enough to shower me with samples. I make sure to do a lot of researching or better yet, I try them on my skin (only on certain area) just to see if I suit it or not. Hope you enjoyed this blogpost! ❤️

Take care,

Mata ne!

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Acne BG 😒

I've struggled with pimples ever since I was in grade school. YES, IN GRADE SCHOOL. You might wonder about why I broke out at such an early stage of my life, because honestly, with such a baby smooth skin, I didn't know at that time that I don't need any products for my skin. Unfortunately, (and not surprisingly) it was the cause of trying a skincare product without researching and scanning its ingredients. I later learned that I was allergic to it. I blame my sensitive skin. 🙄 What I also want to emphasize is that consumers should ALWAYS conduct a research before buying any skincare/beauty products. I've been a victim of my stupid mistake for countless of times and I'm also saving you from it. So, always 👏 do 👏 a 👏 research 👏!!! Oh and just in case you're wondering about the skincare product that caused my breakouts, it's actually the Clean&Clear face wash and Clean&Clear Acne Control Moisturizer. I absolutely don't recommend it. You're welcome.

PS, I was able to cure my acne by going to several dermatologists back in the Philippines and here in Japan. So far, all the skincare products that they have recommended me worked pretty well. For my dermatologist here in Japan, he only recommended me to use Dalacin T-gel and Galderma's Differin. But since I'm a skincare enthusiast, it made me wonder (so much) on why he didn't recommend or give me any moisturizer since anti-acne products are VERY DRYING to anybody's skin. Also, it's a bummer that he didn't recommend any sunscreen that's non comedogenic. It's so kulang kulang. (It felt like something was lacking). Honestly, without a doubt, I like my last dermatologist in the Philippines better because she gave me every products that I need (from moisturizer, scar removal cream, and sunscreen) even if it's a lil pricey lol. Thus, (bec of my Japanese dermatologist) this lead to my exploration in finding the best and efficient skincare products to support the needs of my skin.

Introduction To My Skincare Routine

It took me years to figure out on what products work best for my skin. I've been doing lots of research & try and testing for the past few years, and now that I've found the answer, I am going to share you my routine!

Just a friendly reminder that I have a combination type of skin. If ever you decide to try any of these products that I've mentioned, please make sure to do a research first before buying any of it.

PS, just so you know, I still do breakout because of different factors such as not eating healthy, red days, not exercising, and sometimes, when I try new products. It's perfectly ok to have pimples here and there because we're not perfect, after all. And that's totally fine. Sometimes, you just have to embrace it and not give a darn about it. Embrace your skin, dear!

Morning Routine

FACE WASH

SHISEIDO: PERFECT WHIP

This is by far, the only face wash that works wonder for my sensitive skin. I've tried the Biore and the Rosette face wash, but both of them sadly didn't work. In fact, I only broke out from it. With this Perfect Whip face wash, my skin didn't feel any tightness after washing. I've learned from beauty gurus that a face wash should not make your skin feel tight especially after washing. They say that feeling the tightness after washing is the sign of stripping nutrients from your skin after cleansing, using a wrong face wash. Worry no more! This face wash is a gentle foam cleanser that is perfect for sensitive skin types. It contains a plant extract, namely, sericin, a scientific name for silk protein. Plus, it also keeps your moisture level on a good scale.

TONER

SANA: TONYUU ISOFURABON TONER

This is my holy grail when it comes to toners. Isofurabon soymilk toner is one of the famous and most hyped products here in Japan, making it the best seller. It's a toner that doesn't leave you greasy and dry, instead, it hydrates your skin because of its rich ingredients. It contains squalene which is one of the most recommended ingredients to moisturize your skin for it is a good source of replenishing fatty acids.

The packaging comes in a squeezable bottle with a small hole in the lower center part. It may seem like the product isn't controllable, but honey, it's not. Thank goodness!

Just in case you're wondering if I use my hands to apply my toner, the answer is no. I use a cotton pad that's 100% natural from Cosmos. I recommend it because it's cheap and it does its work!

ACNE CARE

DALACIN T-GEL

This is one of the anti-acne products that I use directly to my pimples. It has clindamycin which is an antibacterial ingredient, commonly used to treat infections in acne. It's not a holy grail product, but it works well especially for pimples that are red and big. It soothes it down the next day, however, I can't assure you that it will magically remove your pimples in a snap.

SUNSCREEN

SKIN AQUA: UV SUPER MOISTURE ESSENCE

This is a moisturizing sunscreen in SPF 50 PA++++. It is an 80 g product that has long-lasting UV protection in a lightweight formula. It can be used for both face and body. I also recommend this for the base in makeup!

LIP BALM

This is one of my holy grail lip balm that I own, aside from the di Paloma ones. Like what is says on the label, it sticks to what it is. It is deeply moisturizing and has a nice honey scent at the same time. It doesn't leave any weird white cast on your lips, making your true lip color pop.

Hope you enjoyed this blogpost! I'll be posting my night time skincare routine by tomorrow. Stay tuned!

Take care,

Mata ne!

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If there's something that I love aside from my extensive skincare products, that will be none other than — my shoes. I've always been the petite gal in the block, so it's not surprising to see that I hoard shoes that give me extra inches. 😛

Let's start!

1st category: HEELS

This is my go-to party heels from Zara Basic. The frills in front make the heels look overall very feminine. It may look all pretty and comfy, but sadly, looks can be deceiving. Since this is a 5 inch heel, it's pretty painful especially if I use it for a long duration of time. But girl, sometimes you gotta tiis ganda because beauty is pain, as they say.

This second pair of heel is from Topshop. Compared to Forever21 and H&M, I find that Topshop is usually expensive, lined up with Urban Outfitters. PS, I do not own this photo, but I own a pair of chunks that look almost like the picture placed above. (Except for the fact that the heel is about 3 inches, so it doesn't cause any discomfort at all). I was about to picture my chunks, but due to my clumsy mistake of forgetting it, I just searched a picture of chunks on the website of Topshop. Credits to the owner!

Now this is one of my oldest collection of heels, but it has served me sooo much memories for I've abused it (again) by using it A LOT. YES, A LOT. It may not seem obvious that I've owned this for 5 years now, but that's because I take good care of it. *Pat on my back* The main reason on why I bought this is because of the ribbon detail in front. It's just too cute to ignore it!

I'm not sure if you've already noticed that I don't own a pair of stilettos, but that's because I'm purposely avoiding heels that are thin and sky-high. Considering the fact that this has a chunkier heel, it doesn't cause my feet to be in throbbing pain. Props for that!

2nd category: BOOTS

I honestly only own a pair of boots, but I gotta say that this is my most worth-buying shoe that I have. Everyone was raving about this in the UK (the last time that I've been there), so I told myself on why not join the bandwagon haha. And this is the result! PS, I've been overusing them a lot, especially on colder weather days.

3rd category: SHOES

Pardon the flower sticker on my slip-ons lol. I was just bothered by the dirt so I covered it. 🙈 I feel like almost everyone own a pair of slip-ons, especially white and black ones. I haven't been bold enough to buy the white slip-ons because I feel like they can easily get stained. Thus, it explains on why I chose black.

I also happen to be gifted a pair of Converse from my aunt which is a gray-colored one. They're one of the most comfy shoes aside from my neon orange Nike Roshe! It just fits my feet so perfectly that it almost feels like they're custom made for me.

*PS, I also don't own this pic. I made another clumsy mistake of forgetting to take a picture of my Roshe, since it was inside my gym bag*

Since the picture above is heavily filtered, you won't be able to distinguish that it's actually in a neon orange color. What made me choose this color is because my brother recommended it. I have to admit that it's hard to match outfits with this, but other than that, this shoes is very durable and comfy!

*I also own a pair of air max, however, since they're so worn out, I just decided to exclude it. I used it for hiking, so it's no wonder that they're many scratches from side to side. #regrets.*

4th category: FLIP FLOPS!

I love flip flops. 😍 I'm obsessed with them, not only do I find it so comfy, but it's also cute at the same time. Not everyone may agree with me, but this is just my opinion. It's a sad thing that people in Japan don't usually wear flip flops, as they're version of this is the crocs. But I loathe crocs.

5th category: SANDALS

I've been rocking this sandals in my Tokyo vlog last summer here in Japan. The pop of color just stole my heart. It may not make me look taller, but sometimes, you just have to accept it. And in my case, since I'm only 4'10 (due to my scoliosis, I apparently didn't grow much, as how I am supposed to).

Sandals from Zara is the bomb. They have wide ranges of options that you can choose from. In my case, since I was head over heels over neon color, I picked this one.

And the last pair of my sandal is this rose gold ones from Zara. *cough* *cough* Zara might want to sponsor me one day lol. The pros of wearing this is that it instantly makes you look dressed up, all looking fancy.

That's it for my shoe collection. Hope you enjoyed this one!

Take care,

Mata ne!

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If I could be blessed with any super power, I would baldly choose being able to travel anywhere within seconds. From as long as I can remember, I have been traveling ever since I was a baby. Being a biracial, I had to go back and forth from Japan to the Philippines. (How stressful and handful it must be for my mom to handle me and my twin brother hehe 😅 Shoutout to my mom up there 👆 with papa God for being so patient and very loving). In fact, because of traveling countless times, I remember owning a mileage JAL membership card as young as I am. And I am so grateful because I know that not everyone gets to travel around the world. In fact, it's a privilege to be able to have the time and money to explore and wander to places that I've been meaning to visit in the longest time. Now before this intro gets any longer, I'd like to introduce my personal useful tips when it comes to traveling!

Let's start!

Tip #1: Blend in with the locals by trying their traditional foods. (Or foods that they totes recommend!) 😋 PS, don't be afraid to try the bizarre ones!

England, UK

Fujian, China

It's always been such a great pleasure to try foods and drinks that I usually don't get to eat/drink back in the Philippines or here in Japan. But living here in Japan makes me miss the authentic foods in the PH! 😢 OK! Back to the topic! As you can see from the pictures above, I've attempted to order a food and a drink that I don't normally (within reach) have in the country that I'm currently living in. It's always nice and exciting to try and explore foods from different countries, so make sure to give it a go!

Fujian, China

During our exchange student experience in China, me, my classmates, and my friends had a chance to make dumplings all from scratch. It was such a refreshing experience, because I never had the opportunity to cook dumplings back in the PH (let alone make it from scratch). There came a small issue on which we ran out of dumpling wrappers, but this was quickly solved because I volunteered to make them even if I have never made one. I honestly don't know on why I even dared myself, but one things for sure, my friends even preferred the dumplings that's covered with the wrapper that I made myself. What a surprise and a relief at the same time lol. 😂

Also, don't be afraid to cook outside your homeland because you'll be surprised on how it'll taste the moment that you take a bite of the food that you've cooked. From my experience, I personally like the fresh asparagus and sweet cherry tomatoes in the UK than in Japan. I was also astonished by the fact that I can cook only if I try to.

Fujian, China

England, UK

Whitby, UK

England, UK

Edinburgh, Scotland

#2 Opt to walk or bike (if you won't be going to places that are distant)

I know that it might be bothersome for some of you to walk or even to bike during travels, but girl, I assure you that you'll get to appreciate the place you're visiting, especially if you take a moment to look at it with your eyes wide open, feel the nature, listen to it, and realize the beauty of that place.

For visiting Japan, if you happen to be traveling somewhere far, I totally recommend riding a shinkansen or a bullet train rather than riding a plane. It will cost you a lot more to ride a train, but you won't regret it, I promise! You'll get to have more leg room and it's just overall chill! Plus, train stations are less hectic than cramped airports. 😜

#3 Stay away from overhyped tourist spots and explore the places where locals usually flock!

This is an area where my dad regularly goes to back in his junior hs days. It was compelling to see places that my dad treasured for years, filled with plenty treasured memories. I, sometimes, find it enigmatic on why tourists come to areas that are so jam-packed.

Always ask your friends or acquaintances who are locals in the place that you're visiting, so as you can make use of your time wisely. And for sure, they know it best! 😁

ps, miss you my girls! If you're reading this, I just want you to know that ilysm! ❤️

Take care,

Mata ne!

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