So. I haven't posted since October. What a brilliant blogger I am.

I was redoing my room, watching all 6 seasons of Gossip Girl and spending too much on clothes.

But I want to start posting and being more productive in life, uni and here! So, today, I will be reviewing the SON & PARK Beauty Water!

Hello, chummies!

Today, I will do a post I'm excited to write, and it is about face/sheet masks! I've heard about them in almost every skincare post and they are incredibly popular, widely used by celebrities.

I wondered, what makes these face masks so special, do they really make a difference to the skin? Fan BingBing apparently uses one everyday! So, I wanted to try a few and see what they are like.

I kind of dragged my friends to a DAISO store in the city on ur last shopping trip there, and when I walked out I saw there was a shop, stall kind of thing. When I went past, I saw all the cute Tony Moly containers for hand creams and realised the whole store selled Korean and Japanese cosmetics and skin care. I could hear the *hallelujah* song in the background. Best discovery of the year. Now, I can easily get products without worrying about shopping online.

I decided to take it one step further with this review and see if the effect changes depending on whether they are cheaper or dearer. I wrote expensive in the title because it sounded better than "dearer", but the difference between the brands are only a few dollars, as far as I saw, they ranged from 1 to 5 dollars or so.

Hello, everyone~

I just wanted to write a quick post to say that, because of this university semester coming to an end soon, I have been pouring a lot of my time into finishing off assignments and studying for exams. So, my posts are coming a bit slowly.

BUT!

I have so many posts coming up! Lots of reviews on beauty products and clothing stores are in the process of being written, so there will be something up in the near future. Keep a look out!

Enjoy life!

Nina

Hello everyone~

I have watched quite a few videos related to Korean and Japanese skincare products, and one that has incredibly positive reviews and feedback, is the Cure Natural Aqua Gel!

I have wanted to try this product for so long and see what exactly everyone is on about, and finally I did!

After all, a gel like product that you rub into your skin and the dead skin just comes off? Obviously I had to try it out and see.

When I looked at the bottle, I was a bit worried that I would use it up quickly, but a few pumps of it actually lasts for the whole face so I don't think it will run out anytime soon. That, and the fact that it's not good to vigorously exfoliate your skin everyday so I won't be using it every day, so that'll make it last longer as well.

One of the great things about this product is that, although I use a scrub every week to exfoliate, I find that scrubs don't work well with around the nostrils of my nose, if you know what I mean, the crevices. That area has always been a problem area for me and I could never properly scrub it - but this wonder did the trick! Since it's a gel, it obviously can easily get into every nook and cranny of your face, so my face was properly exfoliated! Yay!

Sorry if you didn't want to see a photo of my face with the skin, when I was looking through reviews, personally, I wanted to see photos.

I don't know how this product works, but it must be magic. It's very gentle and refreshing on the skin, which is great for an exfoliate, and did a great job in removing dead skin and smoothing out my skin. So far, my skin hasn't had any major break outs since using it as well.

I'm really happy with this purchase and I think I'll be using it in the future!

Have any of you tried this product? Do you know any other products that work well for the skin? Let me know!

Enjoy life!

Nina

Hello, friends!

So, recently I have had a huge interest in Korean and Japanese skincare, since it is light years ahead of Western skincare! There skin always looks so perfect for a good reason~

I tried to to write this post in a simple way and break it down as much as I can since this skincare routine is quite extensive. Obviously, I am no skin care expert but I'm trying to learn more and more!

1. Remove Make-up

Well, I guess everyone would know it's important to remove your makeup. You don't want that on your skin all day, and definitely not when you sleep! When you're asleep, your skin repairs itself and you don't want it breathing through makeup that has most likely absorbed dirt throughout the day.

Benefits:

• It'll let your skin breathe and regenerate.
• Your make up absorbs a lot of pollution and dirt - which is what your skin is absorbing the longer it stays on your skin.
• It'll make your pillowcase dirty (or anything else you come in contact with) and it can cause bacteria to grow.

2. Cleansing

I'm sure everyone knows the importance of cleansing the skin as well - it's common in Korean skincare to "double-cleanse" (using oil to remove make up, and then further cleaning the skin with a cleanser) to make sure your skin is free from all makeup and residue. After all, if your skin isn't clean, how will it absorb the products you are about to put on it? It's like feeding a stomach that is already full - and your skin needs food!

Benefits:

• It removes dead skin cells, dirt, dust, makeup residue etc from the skin, allowing it to breathe freely and preventing the dirt from clogging your skin.
• It allows your skin to become a clean canvas for you to apply products onto

Remember to cleanse properly and gently, you don't want to irritate your skin and completely strip it off all it's natural oils!


3: Exfoliate

Exfoliation should be done sometimes, not frequently, as the purpose of exfoliation is to remove the dead skin cells from the surface and promotes blood circulation. 


Benefits:

• Promotes blood circulation.
• Removes dead skin cells, buffering your skin and making it smooth.
• Helps your products to penetrate the skin better.

4. Toning

Toners play an important role in a skin routine as they balance the pH of the skin, making it less prone to oiliness and infection, and prepares it for moisturizing.


Benefits:

• Helps remove the toxins in the skin, detoxifying it.
• It shrinks and tightens pores.
• Reduces acne
• Hydrates and nourishes

Remember to pick a good toner according to your skin tone, an alcohol based toner could dry out your skin!

5. Essence

This is where the skincare routine really get long and meticulous. Also known as lotions, essences help nourish the skin, with it's watery texture that the skin absorbs quickly.

Different essences have different benefits, which is what makes them so great as you can pick and choose according to what your skin needs.


6. Serums

Serums are similar to essences, but the watery content is next to none, allowing it to be a concentrate of active ingredients for your skin.

Benefits:

• Anti-aging effects
• Adds antioxidants to the skin
• Brightens skin

7. Mask

After putting on these products, a mask helps seal the nutrients into your skin.

Benefits: 

• Draws impurities from the skin
• Removes dead skin cells
• Tightens and tones the skin
• Moisturizes the skin
• Brightens the skin

8. Eye Cream

The skin around your eyes is more sensitive and thinner, making it more prone to problems like dullness, fine lines, dark circles and puffiness. An eye cream can target these problems, especially since it's a cream designed specifically for that area.

Benefits: 

• Reduces puffiness
• Reduces dark circles
• Reduces fine lines (putting it on before concealer allows it to go more smoothly)

9. Moisturizer

Everyone knows about moisturizing, right? It keeps your skin hydrated, promotes elasticity, keeps your skin and much more! If you're cleaning and toning your skin, you need to bring back into the skin that was taken away when it was cleansed.

Benefits:

• Increases skin elasticity
• Keeps skin hydrated
• Keeps skin soft
• Anti-aging benefits

Make sure you use the right moisturizer for your skin type!

10. Night Cream

Night creams help to increase the anti-aging benefits of your skin care routine and adds that little bit extra to your routine. After all, at night your skin is regenerating and resting, so it's the perfect time to give it an extra boost.

Benefits:

• Deeply moisturizes
• Anti-aging effects
• Hydrates skin
• Repairs skin

Extras:

Mist

One thing I see commonly used in Korea, is a spray on moisturizing mist that you quickly spray on your face during the day if your skin needs a bit of a pick-me-up.

Suncare

Prevention is better than curing. Always remember to apply sunscreen, even if it feels like you don't need it! Sun rays can be damaging no matter what.

What do you think of the routine?

Has anyone tried Korea/Japanese skin care products or followed through some of the routine before? Any recommendations? How did it go? Let me know, I want to learn more!

Enjoy life!

Nina

Hello, peeps~


Recently, I have been very much into Korean and Japanese skincare and one of the products I saw used in Pony's Skincare and Make Up video was a sugar scrub to exfoliate! I got curious and did my research into reviews of the product and it was really positive, so I decided to try it out for myself! 

(not my picture)

Since I wasn't too experienced with scrubs, I didn't use it to it's full potential, where you scrub it into your skin and leave it for about ten or fifteen minutes. I just scrubbed and washed it off afterwards, which was a waste. I quickly learned from my mistake though.
After properly adding it into my routine, and I have to say, it made my nose feel much smoother and cleaner! The scrubs smells a little strange, but it's like the "you know it must be good for you if it smells strange" kind of strange~

I use it about once a week on Thursday which is my skin pampering night, since exfoliating is something that needs to be done, but not overdone! I get small portion on my finger, and, rub it into my nose first (since that's a major problem area of mine), and then spread it around my T zone. I have combination skin so using a scrub is too harsh for the rest of my face, I just clean the rest of my face and use a clay mask.

After about 10 or 15 minutes, I wash it off and continue with the rest of my routine.



My skin has smoothed out since I started exfoliation a few times a week and it helped clear up my break outs. It's important to exfoliate occasionally otherwise your skin will not absorb the products since dead skin builds up.

Finishing it off with a mask or some kind of moisturizer really helped my skin feel good afterwards!

Overall, I am quite happy with this product! It's benefited my oily skin and I haven't seen any negative effects so far!

Have any of you tried a product like this? How did it go for you? Do you have any other recommendations?

Enjoy life!

Nina

Hello, lovelies~

The other day I was watching a few videos and the celebrities were asked about their ideal type, which got me thinking, why is this question so often asked? Do people really have a clear understanding of what they would like in a partner?

Of course, when I think about these things, I think long and hard. I see everywhere how guys and girls alike hate the idea of someone having standards, since things like friend-zoning and all that is created. But, if you are looking for a partner long term, isn't having some preference important?

I'd imagine a lot of people don't consider marriage and kids straight off the bat in a relationship, but if it's something that will be considered, it's more than likely a lifetime commitment. With a commitment like that, you'd want it to be with someone you are compatible with, or who you can work with well, right?

I remember someone saying, or I read it somewhere, that the purpose of our existence is basically to reproduce. That's a bit harsh, haha. I was also thinking about how scarily similar I am to my dad, and how scarily similar my brother is to my mum. It's not always the case the children take after the parents, but it's pretty common that they pick up some things up from the parents. That needs to be considered too, since you'd want the best for children and want them to be the best people, so you'd your partner to have the traits you'd want your children to have. They need to be the best that they can be in this harsh world, after all.


I think standards has gotten such a bad reputation in the recent years that people forget why they exist in the first place, we can't really function in society without a few rules or guidelines. Obviously, it's not good to be unreasonable with what you would like to expect from another person, but if it's meant to be, it'll work out, right?

These are just a few of my thoughts, what are yours? What is your experiences when it comes to standards and their impact?

Enjoy life!

Nina

Hello, everyone!

I'm just quickly posting a little update, since I'm a little excited, about me cutting my hair! It's been a few years since I had a hair cut, but I am now determined to grow and take care of my hair! 

My hair is naturally thin and curly, so it was a bit of hassle to manage. I felt like it had gotten unhealthy and I couldn't stand looking at it, haha. So, after some time I decided to get it cut to my shoulders. While searching online, there was a lot about how shorter hair suits my hair type more, since the hair above my shoulders is much thicker,

I wanted to try Sulli's hairstyle from 2013, 'Rum Pum Pum Pum' era. It's so cute, and I think it's somethhing realistic I can achieve.

Of course, knowing my hair, it would still need a lot of taming! Challenge accepted, though! I want to learn more about taking care of/styling hair and finding how to manage it better. Now that I have less hair, I should make some progress, right?

I'm super excited!

Please excuse my no make up face and unstyled hair, it just would be pointless to make this post without an after photo.

Anyone have any tips for taming frizzy hair or how to style it? If you do, let me know!

Enjoy life!

Nina

Growing up in Australia, I was exposed to many different cultures and backgrounds, since Australia is a very multicultural country.

I'm half Russian, half Australian and for a large part of my life, I was listening to different music from all around the world because of my parents interest in it. At some point, I noticed how different this was to a lot of my classmates since they predominantly listen to American music. 

After I was introduced to the Internet, I could learn more about music and develop my own taste. For quite some time I was trying to adapt to everyone else's music taste and try to match that but I realized that was pointless and decided to do otherwise. 

Halfway through high school I got an interest in anime/manga, which grew to me loving Japanese fashion and culture. Then, my love for the Korean culture began randomly.

I remember watching Michelle Phan's tutorial for 'How to look like a KPOP Star' and heard Girl's Generation's The Boys for the first time. It sparked my interest and I downloaded it.

I'm not too sure what happened after that, but my love for KPOP grew a lot in the past year as well as for their culture, fashion and shows. The politeness, how well and simply they look after their appearance and catchy fun music is something that really suits me about Korea.

________________ ♥ ________________

Since it matched my personality, it kind of helped me to grow as a person in a way. I don't know really. All of my interests And experiences have helped me grow as a person but since I spend a lot of time listening to music and wearing clothes, it's taught me and inspired me a lot.

1. To look after my body and health

I went to Japan last year and it was incredible how young and fit everyone was o,o I saw a mother pushing a stroller and she looked like a supermodel. 

My family is quite healthy, we don't eat fast food or smoke and all that. (Of course, it's anyone's decision and I'm not saying that what I do or think is the only right thing or opinion).

It's no joke how well KPOP/JPOP singers look.  The diets of people in Asia are quite healthy to begin with and they're quite active. Of course, it's not healthy to aspire to look or act like someone else and to drastically change your diet. But, I still was inspired to do my best to improve myself, my lifestyle and work hard as well. I don't want to use the excuse that "I'm skinny therefore I can eat whatever I want" anymore. I want to do little things to make myself feel good on the outside and inside.

2. Working harder in school and appreciating little things

At first when I saw these idols, I thought that their life must be ideal because of their popularity and beauty. But, I soon realized that they give up a lot in return. They can't go out in public, or go to school as much, or sleep and eat well sometimes. Now, I appreciate all those things and realize how I shouldn't take school or things like sleep for granted anymore because I am living a normal life.

I can sleep in, I can study new things, I can go outside freely and safely, I can live a normal life. That's why, I wanted to start to get up earlier and make the most of out of each day.

3. How I dress

Fashion is interesting as it is so easy to express yourself through fashion. Harajuku in Japan really fascinate me as there were SO many different styles there and everyone was accepted. The elegant, reserved fashion style of most Koreans and Japanese is something that I really enjoy. It suits my personality and taste and it felt so nice to find a style I feel so comfortable in!

❤

How has your hobby or interests influenced you? Do you see yourself having the same interests in the future?

Enjoy life!

Nina