Lost in Meadow with Wildflowers

Ahey! Hey, blog! I miss you! <3 

*smirk*

Good evening, people. How's your Wednesday? I actually have to be busy this week, but I choose to stay home whenever I have chance because I'm having a phlegm-y-cough (ah I don't know how to write this!). For a week. Straight. It's getting better now, though I lost my alto voice last Monday to Tuesday.  The sound was even more bass and blurry! Just like a broken cello... or unhealthy C-string on viola. Hahaha. 

But today, while I'm home and get some moment to blog,  I come with a splash of new product I have.  Not really new, I got it last month.Together with my John Masters Organic Antioxidant Day Cream. By the way, man, it's already March. Time flies fast!

Anyway, here's the baby I'm talking about. 

Whoa! Aster & Bay? What's that brand? Yeah, it seems unfamiliar around Indonesia, right? Here's the sneak peak about the cool little brand: CLICK THE LINK, BABY. Got it? So, a sweet couple made it.  Touching? Yes. Very. 

Now, the product I purchased. The name is Facial Serum No.3 : Purity - with watermelon seed & myrtle. Sounds like a fresh infused water or healthy smoothie! Or just a bowl of salad. 

Wrong. It's a small glass bottle of oil blend with a fabulous natural scent (reminds me of The Body Shop's Nutriganics range), transparent yellow, my skin adapts to it easily. 

I steal a little info from their website: 

Purify Facial Serum restores radiance to oily and blemished skin by neutralizing excess sebum and detoxifying pores. Watermelon Seed oil dissolves pore-clogging oil, hydrates, and provides essential vitamins. Essential oils of clary sage, green myrtle, and geranium eliminate acne-causing bacteria while chamomile soothes inflammation. The result is a balanced and healthy complexion.

This purifying facial serum is suitable for all skin types, but is most effective for skin that is characterized as oily or blemished. The oils in the blend allow the skin to breathe while dissolving the toxins and hardened sebum that causes acne.

Ingredients: Oils of: Watermelon Seed*, Hazelnut, Hemp Seed*, Jojoba*, Sea Buckthorn*; Essential oils of: Clary Sage*, Grapefruit*, Geranium*, Green Myrtle, Palmarosa*, Chamomile*; Extract of: Jasmine*; Vitamin E (non-gmo). *organic

If you're curious about the benefits of those materials, please visit this page. 

Okay. How's the effect on me? Hmm, I can't say so much.  Or brag anything about this.  I do notice a healthier skin, cleaner complexion.  But not as extreme as you might expect. I don't use it everyday! :) This is my favourite night regime.  So, I apply the oil, read a book, and sleep tight.  I wake up with a smile.  The oil doesn't linger on the surface.  It mingles with the pores happily. If I notice some development on pore size, or blemish stuff, I'm going to tell you. 

So far, I give this facial serum 5 TAPIRS. From 5.  But why? It doesn't give you miracle! If I need a miracle, I'll go change my name, my face, and my life.  I love the life I have now.  Whence, I'm not searching for a miraculous product. I only choose a lovely skin care with friendly (and preferably vegan) ingredients. The effect will appear if I use it more regularly. :D 

Haha! That's all for today.  Drop your comments, so I can hear from you, World. 

PS. No, I don't allow you to use my illustration for free! 

The Red Shade

Let's move to another 2 half-full packagings.  A hand cream and one lip stain.  

Stuff I just wanna use up. Until they are empty! :D 

Olala!

As you've read on the previous post, I was trapped between bottles, jars, and tubes of cosmetics since I could afford them myself. Then I tried to focus on 5 products every month to see if I can use them up until the last drop.

THE GOOD NEWS IS, I FINALLY FINISHED TWO PRODUCTS! Yes, my Rose Allure Body Oil and Nature's Minerals Foundation! Yippiie! Now I've been drying the bottle and the jar after they are washed. :)

Anyway, I've stocked up for the future, too.  Here's the stuff I've been keeping in my drawer (thanks to Lynn) :

Juice Beauty Sport Sunscreen - smells like a mix vegetables juice--seriously! It's a little tinted, nor too hard due to the absence of beeswax. Easy peasy to be applied.  Yay! First natural sunscreen without beeswax! <3 

100% Pure Super Fruits Healthy Foundation - My very premiere liquid foundation! Yipiie! I really love the tone 'Golden Peach', and how it mattifies your face without making it feels thick.  Yes, you should apply 2-3 layers to cover everything as a porcelain-like, but trust me, it doesn't really matter for me! 

Aster & Bay Facial Serum - That literally consists of good plantbased oils--this one 03 : Purity has watermelon seed and chamomile oil.  Love it! The scent is similar with TBS' Nutriganics-field of grass with a touch of fresh air and fragrants flowers. Lovely! And as an oil-form serum, it's pretty modest on my combo facial skin.  It isn't greasy nor heavy.  You'll love the ingredients list of this. I'll review this tiny bottle soon! 

So that's the way I survive life, lately.  :)

Almost Famous, Almost There

Hey Doodles! How ya' doin'? LOL.  Forget my classic Memphis style talk, whatsoever.

I haven't prepared any review, honestly.  But I already hold some products to be chit-chatted about.  Not today! On this lovely Saturday, I'd like to motivate you and myself to start this 'Almost There' quest.  The point of this game is to check whether you already need to buy a new product, or not yet.  We're going to talk in details: separate some of my products into groups and check whether I will empty it soon or later.

Ah, to be quick, TADAA! There the first gang of Goggle-Five of the talk:

Aye, aye. 5 products in total! How's their condition? 

Okay. Start with the concealer.  I rarely use this paste, so, okay, the reduction is just sooooo...small.  Can anyone find me a reason to use more concealer? :))

And this 4-years-old foundation? Horray! It's seriously almost there! :D Look at the very tiny amount on the corner. 

And yes, I've been trying to use a body moisturizer religiously and sometimes I fail.  

But anyway, I've been through 70% of the oil and it's nearly empty! 

My two stick-formed face appliance (what?).  My sweet 100% Pure Lip & Cheek Tint is actually only a quarter more.  About the Babo Botanicals sunscreen, the remaining stick is invisible, but, I think it's not a long way to go.  Furthermore, it is already a bit dirty and get more sticky.  Is there something wrong with this sunscreen? :/

As you guys maybe have recognized, I have way too many products.  Sometimes, I have double or triple  stuff with exactly the same function.  What a waste! What a pile!

To make your sight better, here I paste the picture again:

Thankfully, I've finished some of them: Cocoa Love Body Butter, solid perfume, one of the handcream, two jars of Aromanaturals, the scrub, oh, c'est tout. Yes, at least I've tried.  And, to make the challenge easier, now I will show you the products that the status is 'Almost There' a.k.a Tinggal Sedikit or just call them 'near empty'!

So, at least, for this month, I promise myself to empty those 5 bottles and jars and containers! For tidiness' sake! Natural products aren't super strong to be kept too long, though.  Seriously, people, we really have to reduce buying without thinking.  I've learned it my way.  What about you? Do you have a pile of cosmetics you definitely frustated with? I guess, eventhough we love to possess A LOT of beauty products, we have the limit.

Because, unused items will be a stack of trash.  And the trash would be swallowed by happy fishes out there in the ocean.  Imagine yourself, what would happened after that. Note: the case is, trash' material is non-biodegradable plastic. Sad.   :')

Yes, I know, I will still buying stuff.  But I'll reduce it.  I'll pay for what I need.  Not paying the pre-rubbish items. Do a swap or buy preloved if needed. Yeah, let's hold hands and learn the new habit together, folks! Yippie!

The Tale of Mr.John

Oh, dear, it's nearly 2015 in 3 days! What have you planned for next year? I have no specific plan. 

I'd like to have a glimpse on a product I invest for days ahead. 

It is called John Masters Organic - Rose & Apricot Antioxidant Day Creme.

First, why I choose antioxidant? Because the world's air is quite poisonous lately.  Need something to intoxinate my skin! 

Secondly, hey, it's apricot.  How sweet the sound! 

And, creme? For oily skin? Come on, not all creme is bad for skin with oil trouble.  Our concern is the ingredients.  If it's in gel form, oil free, but contains dimethicone, it could cause traffic pore jam or blocked pores! If you're allergic to avocado oil, it may gives you red spots.  Whatever.  Really, don't eat what people say.  Try to see your condition first, baby. 

So, day after day, I was Googling about this day moisturizer--one thing I didn't have months ago. Here's the information I got from the official source: 

a light moisturizer enriched with natural botanicals

This light yet potent formula is infused with apricot oil and peach & rice extract to help reduce wrinkles and promote cellular turnover. High in omega-6, this creme hydrates and protects the skin against harmful bacteria, while oat kernel extract stimulates pro-collagen production resulting in soft, healthy skin. 

key ingredients

• rose flower oil - softens and nourishes skin
• apricot - treats dryness
• peach - a natural source of alpha-hydroxy acids; tightens skin, reduces wrinkles and lightens age spots
• rice - softens and heals while helping to prevent wrinkles
• oat kernel - stimulates collagen production; revitalizing; protects against UVA rays; anti-inflammatory
• borage oil - restores moisture; highest GLA source
• aspen bark - new all-natural preservative; protects against harmful bacteria

properties

• enriched with anti-oxidants
• extremely gentle for sensitive skin
• increases hydration and retains moisture

usage

• for normal to dry skin
• can be used over serum for extra moisture

Voilà. After I read that long essay, I dropped my choice.  And after a month waiting, tadaa, the bottle arrived safely! Along with a cute natural-like box.

Now, to the ingredients list:

ingredients

Aloe barbadensis (aloe vera) leaf juice*, helianthus annuus (sunflower) seed oil*, cetearyl olivate, sorbitan olivate, glycerin*, butyrospermum parkii (shea) nut butter*, rosa damascena (rose) flower water*, borago officinalis (borage) seed oil, populus tremuloides (aspen) bark extract, cetyl esters wax, avena sativa (oat) kernel extract*, oryza sativa (rice) extract*, malpighia glabra (acerola) fruit extract*, camellia sinensis (white tea) leaf extract*, spirulina platensis (algae) extract*, triticum vulgare (wheat) germ oil*, sodium hyaluronate, prunus armeniaca (apricot) extract*, calophyllum inophyllum (foraha) seed oil*, prunus persica (peach) extract*, rosa damascena (rose) flower oil*, tanacetum annuum flower oil, anthemis nobilis (chamomile) flower oil, xanthan gum, rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary) leaf extract*, potassium sorbate, geraniol†

* Certified Organic

† A natural component of essential oils

So far, there's nothing too dangerous inside.  I was a bit skeptical about shea butter on my skin, but, thankfully, it's nothing but goodness! :D Horray!

Look, the base is aloe vera juice.  What a blessing! I also see rice extract--known to absorb excess oil sometimes.  And, acerola fruit extract! Don't forget the...APRICOT! The star of this creme. 

How it goes on me? Oh, it slides nicely on the face, not really light, but not terribly waxy.  Just the right expectation of a facial cream.  It aids my skin from the season's windy dryness.  I don't see any pimples popped after using this during these weeks. The scent is herb-y, reminds me of a valley where I can sing, "The hills are aliii~ve with the sound of muu~sic." with my deep alto voice.  Hahaha. 

Anyway, please note, you only need a veeeery small amount.  Around a corn seed-size for every application.  Moreover if you're a chihuahua. Your face must be sooo small and cute! Woof!  But I guess no chihuahua needs moisturizer, right? 

I have no regret for purchasing this small brownish bottle.  It's my skin saviour! :D 

I'm Here, I'm Here!

And surprisingly getting slimmer.  

Ho? What's with the body shape topic? Nothing.  It's just me and my mirror, and friends who told me I look thin.  Blame my pescaterian lifestlye, or my process into ovolacto.  Then my habit of drinking homemade almond milk and I decided to not eating instant noodles for (at least) 3 months ahead. 

Well, the fact is, we're here, December! And it's already on the middle of the month.  Getting nearer for me to step on 23rd yearly stage of my life. 

What does that mean? I'm getting older! Simply.  But let's not say 'old', therefore, use the word 'wise'.  Adding an age on your life path is another chance to gain some wisdom.  Plus to remind you that you're  better than yesterday, you're smarter, braver, you're Winnie The Pooh! (?)

Anyway, I usually have a birthday list, but this year, I don't really feel like making it.  Instead, I started reading my old middle school (and a bit elementary) diaries! Yes, I have a lot of them.  Two-three books per year.   And you know what? Somehow there's a magical clue inside my puberty-based-real-life stories! 

For example, I met a boy I know once and I wrote there: 'I wish we could see each other again'.  I was there, not knowing that 8 years later, I'll meet him randomly and found out how grown up he is (honestly, charming).  

Then, I started to like a guy who were similar to my fictional character in the first place, not realizing that I'll be here, still adore him without a will to own him.  LOL.  

What else? I had dreams (I mean dreams you have in your sleep) which becomes real somehow. 

I said I haardly want to see Keane live.  And I fulfilled that ambition. Horray! 

I was an insecure little girl when I was a teenager--due to my 'Moon in Cancer' trait.  I can really feel like I'm not reading a Capricorn-lady's journal.  Seriously, it's sooo...watery.  X) I cried, I was sad, I was feeling guilty, I tried to be nice to everyone, then, tadaaa, I had a lot of things going in my mind! 

My diaries are so detail, I poured everything out.  Maybe because I had no Path, Instagram, Facebook, Friendster, Twitter, and other instant-curhat-medias. Oy.  Another exciting thing to do? I add some weird notes from The Future Ningrum on some amazing statements I made on those silly pages of teenager-tale. 

Ah, it's funny to see the process of growing up.  How fluctuative I could be.  I miss my school life.  When everything seems too heavy, serious, then if I see it from a different perspectives, those physic patterns, economic theories, they are jokes.  Real jokes.  What really matter is the way I achieve happiness between worries and anxiousness. 

And, hey, I survived these apocalypses anyway! 

When saving money to buy a new CD of Keane is such a struggle.  

When a wish to eat something I want can be very important. 

When having a Bioré facial wash is a pride. 

When I couldn't handle my nervous face everytime I saw my crush at school.

When one acne means doomsday. 

There's one interesting idea I found, too.  Since middle school, I always have wanted to gain a lot of money to donate an orangutan saviour foundation or something.  I'm lucky to keep my ambition on this.  :) 

Now start counting down.  Day four, day three... 

Welcome to The End of Octopus!

...I mean October. What an epic typo. 

So, the edge of October means the closer we'll be to November. 

November means one month before December. 

Oh, how I love December! This twelve month of Masehi calender means celebrations! It started with my brother's birthday, continues with my uncle, cousin, a bunch of acquaintance, and me! <3 I know it sound childish, but, who doesn't feel enthusiastic about birthdays? Two days after my-oh-I'm-getting-old-reminder, there will be Christmas.  Pine trees, decoration, cake, and everything!

Not so long after that, hey, New Year Celebration! 

OMG, I can't wait for December to come faster! 

And here's a picture of natural beauty stuff I've been waiting for to get into my life soon. <3 

Ugh, yeah!

Happy Halloween, folks. Trick or treat! Brick or retreat! Don't think about that last phrase! :p