A Journey in Adulting & Self-Care

 I have to thank my mother...even in the peak of the 90s pencil thin brows, she shaped my brows according to what suited my face and not what was trendy. So, while sparse brows are not my concern, I do have hairs that go every which way and create gaps and empty spaces. I have tried all sorts of eyebrow gels and even gone as far as to use eyelash glue to try and tame my brow hairs but by the end of the day, they seem to have been in an argument and are going their separate way. Enter, eyebrow lamination! Now, typically before I DIY a treatment at home, I like to get it done professionally. However, the images that pop up when you search "eyebrow lamination" remind me of old-school Grandpa brows! No offense to anyone who enjoys the feathered look but it does not suit me and I was a bit worried that a salon would try to give me this trendy shape and I would hate it. So, I got a kit from Amazon, watched a few videos on Youtube and tried it on myself! The process was easy enough ...

 Ah yes, September...for many of us this means back-to-school, end of summer holidays and crazy routines as we get adjusted to new schedules. It may mean putting yourself on the back burner but remember, pushing the pause button and taking care of yourself is just as important as helping others! Here are a few ways to inject Ahh...into the AHHH! of your daily life (too corny?) 1. Sheet Mask it up When I first got into Korean skincare, I would go through sheet masks like q-tips...I thought it was an essential part of getting slowly, hydrated skin. And don't get me wrong, it feels fantastic but I soon learned it was not necessary for my skin. However, it does feel amazing, especially when paired with a jade roller. I am not sure if the jade roller does anything but it feels good as it smoothes out any bumps on the sheet mask and massages my face gently. So, if you are answering emails or making last minute calendar updates, pop one on (bonus points if you chill it in the fridge for a...

 If you've ever marveled at the smooth under-eye areas in magazines and media, you are not alone. As we age, fine lines and wrinkles are common but what about wrinkles that are always under the eyes? I'm talking about wrinkles that you may have had even as a child! Look at this cutie! Yes, those wrinkles may remain into adulthood These wrinkles may also be be accompanied by dark circles and dry skin. Basically, these are a result of allergies or eczema issues you may have had as a child. Rubbing the skin under the eyes from itching or dryness can also further exacerbate the issues. Nonetheless, identifying the problem is your first step! Now, here are some steps you can take to lessen their appearance: Allergy shiner with less prominent lines underneath 1. First and foremost, do get tested for allergies . Identifying your triggers can help you manage your exposure. In my case, it was childhood asthma which was managed on its own as an adult. However, I did notice that taking Z...

 Dear readers, It has been a while since I have visited but I hope you have been taking care of yourself, mentally and physically. In the meantime, I have a few more topics that I will add over the next few months. I hope to see you back again!

British Vogue's editor, Sarah Harris AKA my grey hair inspiration! This was the year of my first grey hair. As someone who has experimented with a different hair color exactly twice in their life...this was an exciting event. I felt like a unicorn! That was fun and all but then a part of me felt like it reflected a more stressful time in my life. It was right on the heels of several major surgeries and that doesn't even include the election, current state of affairs, climate change...the list goes on. So, while grey hairs certainly weren't the enemy, I did not want them if they were a result of stress or nutritional deficiencies. Enter black sesame seeds. This "magical" seed is common in Asian cooking and is believed to have high levels of antioxidants which stimulate the production of melanocytes which help keep our hair its natural color. I honestly did not put much weight into this but the sight of my first few grey hairs made me curious. Could this actually wo...

 I recently found a fabulous salon where I was introduced to the Candela laser, an alternative to the GentleMax. It was surprisingly effective, where even after one treatment I was able to see improvement in my pigmentation and scarring. If you are a person of color and are interested in increasing collagen, reducing fine lines and addressing scarring, this could be a great option for you! I would definitely recommend lidocaine to help numb the skin beforehand. It make the process way more comfortable and helped my aesthetician get to all the areas she needed without me tearing up and needing a break. She was even able to get to my dark circles which, honestly, I just assumed were permament. Apologies for low-quality! But you can see that my dark pigmentation near my sideburn is longer and my skin is more textured in the left picture whereas the dark spot is a bit lighter and scarring is less noticeable on the right. I am currently on treatment 3 of 4 in a package so I am hopeful t...

 I was recently asked about how I keep dry winter skin at bay and I didn't realize just how intensive my routine truly was! My philosophy is that I am lazy, plain and simple. Whatever I can do in one step to prevent future action is in my best interest. Of course, just like any other posts, feel free to cherry-pick and add or adapt steps that fit your lifestyle. Moisturize mee...moisturize me... 1. Use hydrating products in the shower This is a work-in-progress but currently these steps allow me to keep my skin pretty hydrated even though I enjoy taking the hottest shower imaginable. - LUSH Honey I Washed the Kids This body wash not only smells like delicious candy but it lathers up without drying my skin out. I've tried other body washes and even oil-based body washes, but consistency come back to this since everything else seems to dry my skin out. - Franks' Body Scrub I love a good scrub, especially since I use an epilator which can cause ingrown hairs. But I am pretty p...

 If you are anything like me...then 2022 seems like a crazy, far-off number that seems way further away than it actually is. That could probably be due to the fact that 2020 and 2021 didn't actually feel like a real year...whole thing was just a flaming dumpster fire. So while I have no expectations when it comes to how 2022 be, I do have some lessons learned when it comes in the self-care department. Here are some things that I have reflected and learned as we bid adieu to 2021. Anti-aging? Nah, aging gracefully This was the first year I got my first grey hair and started seeing wrinkles that stuck around even after I was done smiling. It was followed by aches and creaks in parts where I normally had no issues. So, yup...seems like time was catching up to me. But I was also the best I have ever felt, inside and out. Your 30s are a time when you feel like nothing rattles you. Old insecurities fall aside and I am proud of the person I have become. So aging was definitely not the ene...

 If you are a POC who is reaching a certain age, then maybe you've seen them creeping up. The little 3-D freckles that pop up and seem to get darker and more noticeable with time? You've definitely seen them on celebs such as Morgan Freeman. My grandmother had them, the guy who ran the Indian grocery store had them...everyone who was brown and over 50 had them. These are benign papules that develop on the face or neck, sometimes as early as adolescence. Sometimes its sun exposure, sometimes its genetics but they are generally harmless. However, in case anyone is kooky enough to take medical advice from a blog, please always see a dermatologist for any weird or new skin growths! Yeah, yeah they are normal...but I don't want them! There are a few ways to prevent and treat DPN if you decide they are bothering you. You can use glycolic acid to prevent new ones from forming and the ones you have from getting more noticeable. Larger ones will need a doctor to remove them in a way...

 Oh, you've done it now...you got super excited about your new skincare haul and went a little overboard with all your products and now your skin looks...weird. How do you know if you have damaged your skin barrier? And if you have, what do you do next? Signs you've Over-Exfoliated: - super shiny skin...like Saran Wrap - feels tight or dry - skin cracks when you make facial features or open your mouth If you are seeing any of these signs, then it is highly likely that you have damaged your skin barrier. Your skin needs to by hydrated in all its seven layers, otherwise you run the risk of drying it out and creating micro tears and allowing fine lines, wrinkles and even bacteria. Steps to Repair Your Skin Barrier: 1. Stop any actives! I remember when I found BHAs...they were fantastic at making the blackheads on my nose disappear. If a little bit works then obviously a lot must work even better, right? WRONG! I was pulling sheets of skin off my nose because I had damaged the barr...

 This has been the year of health for me. No, not being the healthiest but actually trying to figure out what causes the discomfort and aches I experience. It has meant a few surgeries, way more tests than I'd like and a lot of doctor's appointments. However, knowing that I have a self-care routine that I can adapt to fit my needs and time has been a great comfort, even when I feel bleh. So, here are some ways you can incorporate taking care of yourself even when its the last thing you want to do. 1. Listen to your body For all those people who have lovely periods that they don't dread, please don't feel offended when I say I hate you. Nothing personal, but since mine started, I have never known anything but gut-wrenching, nauseating pain that makes me want to crawl inside a heating pad and stab someone at the same time. I would like to take this moment to apologize for anything I may have said during those times. I swear, its not me...its my insane uterus. But regardle...

 Before my title causes you to get out the torches and pitchforks, allow me to explain. Olaplex changed my life. I was trying to figure out my hair texture and the weird curls and texture I would see in the shower led me to believe that I secretly had curly hair that was being mistreated and heated to a frizzy, sad mess. That is, until I started using Olaplex. Immediately, my hair was smooth, bouncy, shiny, soft...all those adjectives you read on the back of a shampoo bottle! I was hooked! Gimme no. 6, no. 4, no. 5! Oh wait, there a no. 8? Yes! I'll take a no. 7 and a no. 3! No, these aren't entrees from a Chinese takeout menu but products from their hair repair system and I tried (nearly) all of them! At my peak, I was regularly using at least 5 of the 7 products they had in the complete system. Which was all well and good, until it wasn't. I first noticed a problem when my hair just felt limp upon waking up instead of bouncy and voluminous. Ok, weird. Maybe I slept extra-...

Putting my money where it counts is important and sometimes...you make mistakes. Dysport is a mistake for me. I got a Groupon for 50 units of Dysport and while I understood that it was weaker than Botox, I figured...I only got 10 units of Botox, so 50 is perfect! Nope, wrong! That was not the case for me. When I entered the clinic, the lovely receptionist showed me to the back room and was gracious and patient in listening to my concerns. Looking back, I should have recognized this wasn't the clinic for me as  it seemed the receptionist believed in the "more is more" philosophy when it comes to filler. She was a beautiful, sweet lady but it was clear from a mile away that her upper lip was not God given. So when she told me 50 units wasn't enough and there was no way I could redistribute it around my face as I had done with Botox...I was admittedly a bit surprised. I had hoped I could apply the cost of my Groupon to switch over to Botox but they insisted it would be t...

As I am learning more about my skin, I am learning to see it in a different light. When I was battling cystic acne, it felt like a betrayal from my skin which literally had one job...keep germs out...and instead I was dealing with broken skin and active breakouts everyday. Now that the dust has settled, the scars and residue of those battles still remain. Upon consulting with my dermatologist, we talked about ways to help deal with these concerns, mostly acne scarring and hyperpigmentation. Some interventions I had already begun, mostly Vitamin C and tretinoin. I was ready to try lasers but as a POC, I was concerned about further exacerbating my hyperpigmentation and needed something that would be safe. She suggested Gentlemax Laser. Used for laser hair removal, this heats up the layer of skin underneath to activate the body's healing mechanism. However, compared to some stronger counterparts such as Fraxel or CO2 lasers, Gentlemax has no downtime and doesn't even require anest...

 So, as the title indicates, it has been 6 months since my husband gave me the Dyson Airwrap as a gift and I wanted to check-in to let you know how it has been so far. Read on to learn if I still use it, what is the most useful and pros and cons I have discovered. Do you still use it? Yes! I got rid of the curling iron with 7 attachments, the blow dryer, hot rollers, flat iron and foam curlers, leaving Dyson the only hot tool I have now. Every time I wash my hair, I have to use the Airwrap. Trust me, I tried not to one night just to make sure my hair texture hadn't magically transformed into silky, smooth waves. Turns out frizz is still my friend and Dyson is somehow keeping it at bay. So, is your hair fried from all that use? Nope! Don't ask me how but my hair is smooth, shiny and looks like glass. I didn't even notice until I was taking a video where my little one was arranging my hair in a heart shape pattern on the floor. I realized all the shine and light gleaming was ...

 Ok, I have to admit...I have a major sweet tooth. I used to love sneaking into the fridge and swiping a scoop out of the can of condensed milk because it tasted like heaven. My favorite "cereal" was white bread with loads of sugar poured on it. However, as I have gotten older and more conscious of the impact of sugar on my health, I was also surprised to hear how sugar itself can cause you to prematurely age. This process is known as glycation and is different than regular aging because it has more of crosshatch appearance to its wrinkles. It is also characterized by sagging as the collagen underneath is separated and damaged. Basically what happens is that the sugar molecules prevent circulation and bind to the collagen molecule, which essentially ends up being destroyed. As we age, collagen is produced at a much slower rate and when the collagen can't bind together you see a loss of firmness and elasticity. In fact, this damage can render certain collagen induction tre...

 So as summer winds down for us in the Northern Hemisphere, our Southern Hemisphere friends are getting ready for warmer temperatures and bare limbs. Depending on your personal choice, you may opt to shave/wax/expilate your limbs. This can lead to ingrown hairs, especially those who epilate. But no need to fear, there are plenty of ways you can go about addressing these annoyances. Step 1: Exfoliate If you can reduce the loose, dead skin on the surface you can help prevent ingrown hairs. Dry brushing or brushing your skin before removing the hair with a stiff exfoliating brush (I like this one) helps prepare your skin. Skin on our body is much thicker and stronger than skin on our neck or face and can withstand much more exfoliating. I also like exfoliating in the shower. Wet skin makes it easier to permeate deeper and remove more than the surface skin layer. A good body scrub combined with an exfoliating towel (I use Frank's Body Scrub and Salux cloth) can work wonders at leaving...

 Similar to my Skincare sins I will never repeat, my journey has had me overdoing or messing up my skin in more ways than one. Luckily, I was able to fix these fairly easily as well. So pull up a chair and learn from my mistakes! - Overexfoliating my skin So, if AHAs are good...and BHAs are good...and retinol are good...then all three must be good! Nope, I damaged my skin barrier so much that my skin had a weird plastic-y sheen and felt so tight. After some research I realized I had stripped all the moisture our and had damaged my skin barrier. I had to use the seven layer method and lay off actives for a while before my skin stopped looking like Saran Wrap - Actives every day...and night I had blackheads on my nose and was so excited when I saw results from the CosRx BHA lotion. I started applying it twice a day and had my skin flaking off. Even with sunscreen, it wasn't enough to help protect my skin and I was shocked that I could pull dead skin off my nose. Again, slow and gentl...

 Even if you are brand new to skincare, you have most likely heard of The Ordinary.  One of the first skincare companies to approach skincare from a scientific approach and less marketing-oriented, The Ordinary believed in empowering customers to gain knowledge around skincare ingredients and routines but they also priced their products incredibly low. There are other subsidiaries with different formulation and higher price points but the Ordinary quickly gained traction with simply, transparent ingredients, clinical packaging and helpful routines. It was my first foray into cherry-picking products to customize my own routine. Below are the items that worked...and what didn't: The Good Argireline Solution This was huge at erasing wrinkles around my eyes and eyebrows. It could have also been an issue with hydration but I noticed when I stopped using this, my wrinkles were deeper and more noticeable. I will continue to use this as a spot treatment, especially for my tech neck! R...

 Does it seem like whenever you have a big event or project where you'd like to put your best face forward...your skin somehow decides to go rogue and bam! A giant pimple hits you out of no where? Unfortunately, the cortisol we produce when we are stressed can increase sebum production which can acne. So while relaxing spa treatments are not an everyday option, we can certainly take some steps to help minimize any unwelcome visitors. - Do not pick I hate this advice because as a WOC, my skin always left hyperpigmentation marks, regardless of whether or not I picked at it. I did notice that they healed faster and there was less collagen damage if I didn't pick at it. So if possible, hands off! No matter how tempting. - Ok, but you want to pick at it, don't you? Ah...I see you ignored the last advice. If, and only if, your pimple has come to a head and is soo close to oozing that you just can't help yourself...we can get through this together. First of all, wash your hand...