A Journey in Adulting & Self-Care

 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 that

 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