Tiny Hacks of Cosmetic Life

Hey everyone! Mmmh, I've missed this blog so much.  I was busy with piano performance exam and all other dream-realisation projects! :D At least now I'm not thinking about the exam and one of my to-do-list has been done: to change Lai Maheswari's strings.  Horray! Now Lai sounds so...soooooo alto! :))

OKAY.  Enough with the greeting.  Ahay. How's your life, Cuties? Mine is good. I've been decluttering a lot! Don't forget to visit my garage sale page: Huraya Garage Sale.  You might find a goodie you want to adopt so much! ;)

Another division I try to reduce is...sure, my cosmetics! I'm using them religiously so it will be effective and useful, not being a rubbish.  And I'm still going.  No matter what.  But the happiest part of it is: the tricks! Tricks of what? Of substitution.  Hm? You don't get it? We can substitute almost anything, with many, many ways, and it will save your cash & space! I will talk about the 'closet-minimalizing' effect on me later, but today: SUBSTITUTION!

For example? 
Change your body lotion to some plant-based oil.  The best candidate is Virgin Coconut Oil.  It's local, natural, and perfect for tropical country like our beloved Indonesia. :)
If you need the oil that is more moisturizing, well, I recommend using Olive Oil or Grapeseed Oil.  There are still so many alternatives out there.  Please make your research. :D

Why? 
Body lotions are such a waste of money--at least for me.  We buy a bottle or fragrance and random oils and emulsifier plus dangerous preservatives, sometimes we get bored with the scent and leave it until it's too old to be applied and gross.  There are natural and organic body lotions out there.  But we still don't purchase them to get the 100% function, right? Sometimes we just want the scent...or anything else, or you just need a lotion.  Naturally, our skin will be alright without some lotion or butter.  If you leave in tropical country, it's even more vivid to say that.  Yes, some people have dry, flaky skin.  And the only thing you need might be: a whole cacao butter or virgin coconut oil / olive oil / canary oil, etc.  Who can even guarantee that the mix of Propylene Glycol and Parabens, with flowers and shea butter added may make your skin healthier? And it's more expensive than anything, if you count carefully.

Another idea? 
Perfume! I know, I love those beautiful fragrance bottles, too.  Pretty eau de toilette products everywhere.  New arrivals of body mist from your favourite brand. Tempting! I know that feeling, pretty ladies. I was there.  In the position of 'oh how I want to grab anything my eyes see'.  But, inhale, exhale.  It's unhealthy.  For you, your wallet, and Earth.  I know many girls are frustated to see bottles of fragrances on the box.  All half-empty but not finished yet for a looong time. You tend to get bored to some scent a lot.  Then you adopt another alternatives.  And another...and another.  I know that.  Once, I had 3 scents at the same period: floral solid perfume in a tin jar, edt in a beautiful glass bottle, a body mist in plastic spray...and I don't even use them periodically or alphabetically or anything! I only want them to stay because I think I'll be weary with same fragrances all the time. So they stay quite full for months.  Voila.  A clutter.

So...
Now I live with no edt at all.  Nor solid perfume or body mist.  WHAT? Yes.  I reduce meat consumption too (now officially a half-time Pescaterian), so I don't have too many body odour source, though.  And, since I don't use deodorant for health reason ( aluminum chlorohydrate issue), actually, the armpit is happier.  Somehow. Plus, my choices of shower soap.  Those synthetic-fragrances in the general soaps cause trouble on me.  First, it gets me dizzy. Second, it's boring. Haha. Just call me a hippie, people!

Anyway, everytime I want to have some specific scent, I take a small bottle of Nicole's Naturals' fragrance oil.  Just that.  A drop or two and let your bloodstream behind the neck and on the wrist work! Seriously.  If the magazine says we should spritz the perfume on that area, yes, it's true. And it works boldly with fragrance oil.  Better if you have essential oil! :D I don't want to buy too much bottles of oils, so I haven't get an essential oil.

If you want to have a great sticky scent, the more portable fragrance, use lip balm.  Lip balm with your favourite fragrance.  Make sure it's a clear lip balm, natural, even better the organic one.  Find one with shea butter or plantbased wax.  Don't find one with petroleum-based-wax.  If you wanna be vegan in cosmetic life, don't drop your choice on beeswax.  Read the ingredients.  If you can't find the ingredients list, don't trust.  Except you cook them yourself! Hahaha. As simple as that. Apply on 'fragrance-carrier' areas.  Finished.  The ozone is safe.  You're safe. You're ready to rock!

And again...
Hm, okay.  Blusher and lipstick have the same philosophy, right? They give you a shade of red or pink.  Or peach. Alright. You name it.  Purple... LOL.  If you're not a cosplayer, or a theatre actor, or wayang wong actress, do you need 10 lipsticks and 5 blush ons in your shelf?  Let me repeat the question.  DO YOU? :))
Haha, sorry.  Too much Capslock. But, really, DO YOU NEED THAT MUCH IN YOUR LIFE? They will be so useless in the end (please note, now we're talking about the-daily-life-without-being-a-performer).

Everytime you're going to buy a new one, please ask yourself: Will you use your magenta lipstick everyday? Will you love the lipstick you're going to bring to the cashier throughfully? Have your cheeks pale enough to be blushed again by some powder?

And please note that...you can buy a lipstick and use it as a blusher, too.  So it's better to find the lipstick with safe ingredients.  Because you'll swallow some part of it, and you'll apply the small amount on your skin. Avoid petroleum and mineral oil.  NO. And avoid carmine.  It's a bug being crushed.  Choose mineral colours or fruit-dyed, or anything you can spell.


Ah, I'm sleepy now.  Let's stop for a while.  And rethink of our consumptive habits. :)

How I Handle My Easily-Bored Trait

                           

Once upon a time,

I made a midi skirt, 

customized by a 

tailor.  

Then I get bored. 

Instead of purchasing a new skirt, I decided to 

cut and sew the skirt, so it changed into a reguler knee-length skirt. 

And I added a twist called "Galaksi Murbei" with my fabric paints and gliters. Now I have a new skirt from an old-abandoned-one.

HORRAY! 

Hore, Huraya!

Mari berkunjung ke blog khusus rotation sale saya! :) 

Tempatnya di sini. 

Intinya garage sale.  Tapi filosofinya lebih ke memperjelas status kita di Bumi, yaitu penghuni yang harusnya tidak serakah. 

Mari berbagi dan merotasi benda-benda yang terlalu sayang untuk dijadikan timbunan semata!

Rotate and Make Targets

So you can't stop shopping. 

It's normal.  For a while.  Until you realize how many stuff you get in your wardrobe. Then you think your shopping habit is abnormal.  You were left there with pile of clothes.  PILES. Maybe. You are confused because you wear anything similar everyday but when you open the wardrobe, you have so many to wear!

That's why we have to ROTATE.  Do the rotation. Use up everything you have.  Exception for party dresses or something.  Hahaha.  You're not wearing them to the nearest vegetable market, right? ;) 

I've done this with full consciousness for a month.  And, my fashion life has become better.  More efficient. And I save a lotta money if you'd like to know! :D It's like renewing all items in my wardrobe. It will make you more creative.  

So there's no reason to postpone the rotation program, right? Rotate, mix and match, take your time.  Love everything you own.  Donate or sell unused items to let some space empty.  Not to fill the area again. To boost your fashion ideas. 

Happy Thursday.  Thanks God tomorrow is Friday! ;) 

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Happy House Empty Trash Bin

First, let me take a selfie. OH. I'm kidding. Hahaha.
Okay, have you ever feel frustated with trash bins? I mean, you looked at your bin and gasped after seeing HOW MUCH RUBBISH INSIDE THE THING. It's like...Dude, what did I throw yesterday? What I throw everyday? Why I am so 'nyampah'?

Yeah. That's the world. The world postmaterialism.  Junks everywhere.  In every corner of our houses. Even somewhere on the display rack. We actually have pre-junk!

You know the best way to make yourself feel better? REDUCE. REUSE. THINK. I really mean think.  Where's 'RECYCLE'? It is good, too.  But for you, Indonesian Citizen Darlings, maybe we haven't found an easy access to the recycling machine / company / organization.  Right? That's why I didn't mention it in those 3 important words.

REDUCE. 
The most familiar word in the Earth issue. But do you get the REAL philosophy of it? 
"Oh, do you mean reducing plastic bag?"
Not JUST that. Yes, please reduce using it. Don't be hesitated to say 'no thanks' to the cashier attendant. BUT first thing first, don't you think we should reduce the purchase, too? 

What to do with 1 dozen of lip balm jars and sticks? You shall just sell it, not using it! And you can use Virgin Coconut Oil instead, you know.  An enormous bottle of it for months. No toxic. Literally moisturizing. Lip balms are addictive products. They dry your lips even more SO YOU WILL BUY ANOTHER. Selling trick. Clever. 

And with Virgin Coconut Oil, you use it for lips + face + body. As a moisturizer. To add to the sugary scrub. To deep clean your skin. Even to be digested and it's oh-so-healthy. It's definitely local, delicious, aromatic, and useful. What else do you want? :D

Should you buy 3 packs of bottled water everyday? Hey, there's a dispenser out there.  And water filter if you trust the machine.  Instead of givin' away bottles easily to the bin (actually, to the SEA) without guilt, we can change the lifestyle.  BRING YOUR TUMBLER. If you already feel the guilt forever before reading this but still buying bottles, DO IT NOW.  SWITCH. SWITCH! Sea gulls and turtles and fishes and everyone need our help!

You need to buy new clothes everyday? Think again. Do you don't.  You're probably just bored. Bored of what? The same clothes you take all the time because they are the only options? Ah, I think you are just too lazy to rotate and mix-match your wardrobe.  You can do it.  You HAVE TIME for that.  Actually.  Society manipulates us to be quick and busy.  Meanwhile we're not that hectic every single time, right? 

REUSE.
Not every item is reusable.  You won't ever reuse a plastic wrap of your batagor, right? Hahaha. I know. I won't, either.  Yuck.  
But, okay, if you find anything reusable, would you love to take a look at it and think for a minute? Cereal boxes may become a handmade notebook.  Even a juice box are decorate-able and will be your next pencil case.  Plastic bottles from shampoo? Hmm, you may use them to keep some liquid materials in a smaller version like...liquid detergent. ;) 

I don't suggest using shampoo, though.  If possible, please change to shampoo bars. Or just a soap bar. Make sure to try avoiding palm oil. Nice try. :) 
PLEASE NOTE: You'd need a vinegar after washing your hair with soap substance. 

Back to the REUSE.
Another items you can reuse? Plastic fork / spoon a café gave you away. Wash and bring them home or office. Or studio / workshop/ whatever you call it. Then you have emergency eating tools! 

The rest of it, use your creativity and EFFORT.  Folks. Don't use your effort to judge people, to modify a story and turn it into a pretty hot gossip. To do bad things. To kill an ant. No. Effort is needed for good things, okay? :D 

THINK.
The root of everything. Got it? We think, so we stop purchasing useless items. We think, therefore we'll be trapped in a pile of junks in your house.  WE THINK, because it'll be too hard to think of the way to skip these manners or to think about the possibility of moving to another planet. We think and combine it with effort. Let's be a thinker. It may be tiring for a while but it won't last. You'll adapt to the new lifestyle. Love you, folks. :)

Rotasi Planet Saturnus

 

Selamat siang! :)
Kita masih cuap-cuap soal perbajuan kan kemarin? Sip. Sekarang, kita urai satu-satu tips-tips lucu buat membuat bosan-bosannya kita makin berkurang!

Kalau kemarin urusannya merombak dan memadupadankan, kali ini satu hal yang juga penting:


ROTASI. 

Kenapa mesti segede gitu hurufnya? Biar afdol dan menghantui pikiran. Haha.
Rotasi artinya Bumi berputar pada porosnya...eh, gini, intinya sih berputar.  Berapa banyak sih, baju yang kita punya? Masa kita kehabisan? Tiap minggu sudah mengenakan baju-baju yang sama terus? Kebanyakan pengulangan? 

Nah.  Artinya kita kurang rotasi! Apa yang dirotasi? Baju-baju kita.  Hayo, seberapa sering kita cuma ngambil baju paling atas di lemari? Pasti banyak yang kelakuannya gini deh. Hihi. Memang praktis dan cepat, tapi itulah sumber kebosanan utama kita.  Padahal mungkin di bawah baju itu-itu lagi masih ada puluhan potong pakaian lain yang dapat menyemarakkan hari-hari. *ciee

Kalau kita memang selalu mengenakan empat-lima jenis baju yang sama berbulan-bulan, artinya kita menelantarkan seonggok baju lain yang ceritanya mau kita pakai.  Kasihan kan.  Sayang banget. Coba deh, setelah mencatat punya apa saja, mulai lebih rajin menukar tumpukan. Variasikan warna-warna yang kita miliki. Benda yang jarang dipakai, dikeluarkan dan dipakai! Siapa tahu menguak kreativitas (karena katanya kalau kita mendobrak rutinitas, bisa memicu jadi kreatif).  
Dari situ, kalau mau mendata benda tak terpakai, bakal lebih mudah! Alhasil, nggak akan keseringan belanja! :D 

 Siap untuk rotasi pakaian mulai hari ini? Mari! 

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Abaikan Bosanmu

"Lemari bajuku sumpek banget.  Banyak baju nggak terpakai, dobel-dobel nggak keruan. Aku bosan sama koleksi ini.  Pingin ganti beli baru, ah!"

Hmm, itu kalimat yang sangat ironis! Katanya lemarinya sumpek, penuh, tapi mau nambah lagi? 

"Aku jual aja yang udah bosen. Atau sumbangin. Hampir seisi lemari!"

Yakin? Nggak pingin coba cek dan data ulang baju-baju yang dimiliki dan runut dulu mana yang masih kita sayang, yang tidak layak sumbang atau jual, atau yang memang bisa dijual? Nanti nyesel lho. 

Hihi, itu percakapan yang lucu. Terjadi antara emosi dan logika saya.  Tahun lalu, saya mulai membuat garage sale di Instagram. Sebelumnya, saya pernah menjual barang-barang saya di acara teman.  Biasanya, setahun sekali, saya sekeluarga juga mengumpulkan baju-baju paling mubazir dan mendonasikannya lewat lembaga-lembaga.

Tapi saya merasa agak salah kaprah.  Masalahnya, saya nyumbang bukan karena betul-betul pingin ngasih baju ke orang.  Saya jual bukan betul-betul biar punya uang dan nabung.  LEMARI BAJU SAYA PENUH.  Masalah klasik? Bukan klasik lagi.  Barok. :p

Kalau lemari saya penuh dan kondisi saat itu: sedang pingin baju baru, saya menjual atau menyumbang supaya punya space buat menampung yang baru. Dodol deh. Atau setidak-tidaknya, ada uang buat beli baju baru dan alasan kalau beli adalah 'kan yang itu sudah dijual, boleh beli gantinya dong'. Entah kapan, saya menyadari betapa saya terjebak dalam lingkaran materialisme ini.  Jual-beli-buang. Jual-beli-buang.  Terus saja begitu dan roda industri semakin bergerak.  Mending kalau roda industri ini hemat energi.  Kebanyakan sih tidak begitu. Dan saya harusnya mendukung roda industri lokal. Tapi saya malah...ah, lupakan.

Dibarengi kekacauan prinsip dan merasakan himpitan materi di kota, saya pun memulai sebuah kebiasaan bulanan: mencatat apa yang saya punya di lemari.  Lumayan penting. Saya bisa memeriksa apa yang sudah jarang dipakai dan bisa dikeluarkan dari lemari, atau yang dapat dijual.  Saya periksa mana yang ganda dan satunya mubazir, mana yang sudah buluk, mana yang harus disimpan atas dasar nilai sentimental, juga mana yang investasi jangka panjang.

Kalau dikumpulin dari tahun 2012, begini penampakan data busana saya: 

Berkat pendataan sok iye ini, saya bisa melacak baju-baju yang sering dipakai, jarang disentuh, atau bahkan cuma tenggelam di dalam laci lantas terlupakan.  Haha! Kemudian, kalau ada yang bisa dijual, saya tulis supaya inget.  Jika sudah pergi dari lemari, ya dihapus dari daftar.  Makanya saya bikin pakai pensil. :D 

Tapi masalah terpenting juga, saya menyadari bahwa kita sudah tak terbiasa dengan kebahagiaan memiliki sebuah benda kesayangan dan merawatnya dengan maksimal. Saking massalnya produksi garmen, baju, produk jadi, tas dan sepatu, dan sebagainya, kita menggampangkan.  Kita menghilangkan 'nyawa' barang-barang.  Kalau rusak, kita yakin ada gantinya.  Kita tak peduli lagi benda itu rusak atau kenapa kecuali kalau harganya mahal.  Tapi kita pasti cuma agak konsentrasi untuk benda tersebut selama maksimal 6 bulan pertama.  Sisanya, kita akan mulai cuek.  (dan yang sedih, hewan peliharaan pun diperlakukan seperti ini kadang-kadang) 

Gara-gara pendataan, saya jadi sayang sama tiap helai baju yang saya miliki.  Merawatnya sesuai petunjuk, supaya jangka hidupnya panjang.  Bak baju-baju vintage. Saya punya empat produk vintej produksi Jepang, tidak tahu umur persisnya--mungkin 10 tahunan lebih.  Ada yang dikasih, ada pula yang saya beli sendiri.  Yang saya amati sih, kualitasnya jauh lebih baik dan tampak akan awet dibanding produk sekarang.  Setidaknya kalau perbandingannya produk massal, ya.  Produk massal itu banyak yang bahannya ringkih.  Misalnya sifon. Kain ini kan agak rapuh.  Beberapa jenis poliester juga gampang berlubang.  Kalau katun dan kaus, harus jaga-jaga supaya tidak melar. Tapi, lihat, bahkan saya ngelantur gini, tanpa sengaja menjelaskan bahwa semuanya tergantung tangan kita. Kalau kita cukup bijak merawat keutuhan baju kita, kreatif memadupadankan, mana mungkin kita bosan dengan baju kesayangan? Lagipula buang-buang baju sembarangan, menyesaki Bumi! 

Kemarin, saya baru memotong & jahit bagian lengan salah satu blus vintej yang lengannya panjang dan agak longgar di bagian pergelangannya sehingga agak repot.  Bahannya juga agak gerah, sehingga sebagai blus lengan panjang, agak terlalu deh. Mana sekarang cuaca labil.  Dingin-dingin pakai ini bisa tiba-tiba tengah harinya cerah.  Berkat kekutungannya, sekarang dia lebih mudah dipadupadankan! Lebih sesuai untuk daerah tropis juga.  :)) 

Berbekal satu potong blus, kita bisa membuat 3 tampilan berbeda.  Nanti hukumnya berlaku untuk sepotong rok, kita dapat berkreasi sebanyak 4 gaya, misalnya.  Tambahkan aksesoris yang kamu suka dan sesuai mood.  Hebat! 

Menurut saya sih, kreativitas gini mampu mengerem niat belanja, lho.  Mendadak kita malah fokus menyesuaikan ini dan itu dan lupa mau nambah barang.  Jadi kita nggak lagi ngotor-ngotorin Bumi gara-gara rakus belanja!  :D 

Ya, seperti pembalut kertas dan kain.  Karena yang kain harus kita simpan dan cuci rawat sebaik-baiknya, kita jadi mengurusnya.  Alhasil kita mengurangi limbah, kan? ;) 

Gimana? Saya pingin tahu berapa besar semangat kalian menyiasati siklus materialisme yang ngawur.  Apa kalian suka bikin garage sale? Atau punya saluran sumbangan baju? Atau kalian suka modifikasi pakaian? Kasihtau saya di komentar, ya! 

Catatan tambahan : harap jangan setrika dan cuci mesin baju dalam, oke?