Baviphat Lemon Brightening Sleeping Pack

Baviphat

Claims:

This sleeping pack actually advertises that it is a whitening product (though I thought it just brightened one's complexion tbh). The summary of the one I found online claimed to brighten the complexion. However, after researching this item a bit more in-depth, it is primarily targeting "hyper-pigmented skin" and "whitening."

How to Use:

1. To be used in the last step of night-time skin care process

2. Apply generous amount of product onto face 

3. Pat-dry for maximum absorption

4. Rinse off product in the morning

Review/Thoughts:

The online website that advertised this product didn't say anything about "whitening" but for those of you who aren't aware, in the skin-care world, the term whitening doesn't mean to actually make your skin white. Most products that claim to have this property will usually "lighten" the consumer's skin (not much, only about a shade or two). The actual product looks like a pale yellow glaze. It is actually very sticky on the face so when I wear this product to sleep, I usually have my hair up in a bun/ponytail. After rinsing my face in the morning, I do notice the my complexion is very bright and about a shade lighter. My only complaint is that I personally like my skin-tone the way it is, making it lighter isn't exactly ideal for me. Well, if you are wanting to lighten your skin tone a few shades, are looking for a good sleeping pack and/or enjoy a strong lemony scent, this is definitely something you'll enjoy! I personally won't buy this product again but only because of the lightening effect. Also, I wouldn't recommend this for someone who has a "more oily than not" skin type.

Super Origin Complete Control Cream Tinted SPF 30 PA++

Nature Republic (C.C.)

:

Claims:

It is a "control cream" (C.C. is commonly known as 'color correcting') that works as a sunscreen and a kind of foundation that works on almost-all skin types.

Directions:

1. Apply to your face as you would with sunscreen

2. You may choose to put on your favorite foundation over if you would like

Review:

C.C. cream in general is generally used to address problems such as redness, priming, sun protection, and moisturizing. I have come to love this creamy C.C. control cream that is dispensed through a small pump. It makes my skin feel really smooth and soft. The only quality this little miracle doesn't posses is long-wear (T_T). I do not recommend you wear this product if you intend on playing golf, tennis, soccer, etc. It's a very bad idea XD. I do not know how this cream fairs on darker/pigmented skin since I am kind of considered light-skinned/ slightly tanned. I took before and after pictures using the product on my wrist to display the creams consistency.

Super Aqua Max Soft Peeling Gel

Nature Republic

Claims:

This product claims that it removes dead skin cells and moisturizes skin at the same time. The worker in Nature Republic also stated that it can brighten skin as well. 

Directions:

1. Squeeze product onto hand and apply to face

2. Lightly massage onto face skin and let product peel of dead skin cells

3. Rinse face

Review:

The Super Aqua Max Soft Peeling Gel has an unmistakable gel-like consistency that does in fact turn into peeling skin residue after massaging for a few seconds. This peeling gel should be used as an exfoliator since it does a fairly good job. As far as exfoliators go, I've used more effective ones, but this is a very nice product that does very well at moisturizing! It has a clean scent that isn't overbearing and is translucent white in color. Do not forget to rinse it off!!! Unless you enjoy clogged pores.

Skin Smoothing Blackhead Removing Nose Patch

Nature Republic

Claims:

Nature Republic writes that this product is used to remove blackheads and clean pores while leaving the skin baby-smooth.

Directions:

1. Lightly wet your nose area (wherever you think the patch will come in contact with skin)

2. Place onto nose (the instructions also state that you are able to apply on forehead and chin too!)

3. Remove strip at approximately 10-15 minutes

Review/Thoughts:

After trying this product for myself, I've come to the conclusion that my pores did feel a lot cleaner when I removed the patch. Proof of blackhead removal was on the freshly ripped strip. I would advise any consumer to lightly wash the nose area after use to remove any sticky residue. My nose is cleaner, smoother and softer than ever before! I bought about 10 of these for around 90 cents each and will be buying them again!!!

Korean Make-up Haul

Nature Republic + Face Shop

Trip: 

Hey guys! So I went to Oahu just for a day to eat, see friends 🌸 and to shop of course! I did a lot of damage in my favorite stores (i.e. Nature Republic, Face Shop, Banana Republic, Kipling, etc.)

Relativity:

Soon I will be posting each item with separate reviews. I hope to provide insight on these products for you guys to see! 

Clinique Brush-On Cream Eyeliner Review

Clinique Vs. MAC Fluidline

Lately, I've been struggling with finding a nice, free-flowing eyeliner. My all-time favorite was the Magic Ink by Benefit, but it has been discontinued (T_T). 

For many years, I have been using MAC's Fluidline, which was amazing at the start. My only complaint was that it was much too.. chunky? It came off my brush in clumps and did not live up to its name in being "fluid." The worst part about a clumpy eyeliner is that wearing falsies becomes a chore. Fluidline does not have good coverage, however, it is long-lasting and (for the most part) water-proof.

To the left is Clinique's Brush-On Cream Liner in No.2 True Black. It is most definitely creamy and slides on easy! The coverage is amazing, long-lasting, and water-proof,

The Brush-On Cream Liner comes with a tiny brush (although I use my own). It is light and compact, the perfect t   ravel size. I have had this eyeliner for a month or two and have barely made a dent! So much product!

My Extreme Diet Experience

Green Tea Slim

Disclaimer: I am not encouraging extreme dieting, nor am I trying to "body-shame" anyone. I truly believe that everyone is beautiful in every shape and size, but I am an extremely insecure person and have been struggling with my weight for a long time. Basically, I'm just recording my results and just reporting whether this works for me or not.

Things to Know:

My natural weight before I became a pescetarian wavered between 114-116lbs depending on my calorie intake. In my household, to be beautiful is to be at 110lbs which I am trying to achieve (my parents are very strict and, for lack of a better word, judgemental). Since becoming a pescetarian I am usually a solid 114lbs and sometimes go under to about 112.3 lbs. I just wanted to make a note that I am going into this diet as a pescetarian so it is most definitely possible that my results would differ from someone who is a vegan or someone who enjoys eating meat. I have started this particular diet on Friday 18, 2015.

What am I avoiding?

Carbohydrates, Meat (fatty meats excluding seafood), and sugars. I do consume some sugars and carbohydrates, however, when I consume them, I do it in small portions. It's hard do give up rice since I grew up in a Japanese home setting where rice is a way of life rather than just a starch. My big rule is no Carbohydrates for dinner (T_T).

Actual Diet:

Breakfast 7AM- Smallest Meal

• 2 Vitamin C
• 1/2 tablet of Daiso Brand Green Tea Slim
• Cup (8-16oz) of Ice-cold water

Lunch 12:10 PM- Largest Meal, Three types:

Savory Lunch:

• Fist Full of leafy greens (i.e. Spinach, Kale, Lettuce...)
• Olive Oil and Vinegar (dressing)
• Maybe a watery, low calorie fruit (i.e. Apple Pear, Pluot,)

Sweet Lunch (when I forget to eat and postpone till 2:30)

• Half a papaya

Sports Lunch (when I play tennis, I need energy):

• One small dixie cup's worth of leafy greens
• No dressing
• One piece of bread

Dinner

• Miso soup w/ shredded daikon
• 32 oz of water
• (once a week) three slices of raw/cooked fish (ahi)

What is Green Tea Slim?

Losing weight isn't just about your physical state. You have to be mentally prepared. Personally, I am always craving food, especially salty and savory foods. I use Green Tea Slim to numb the hunger pains. Whether  it's a placebo or not, it definitely works for me. If I take a whole tablet, I can go about a day and a half without feeling the need to eat. It's definitely a very dense and bitter pill to swallow, but it works wonders for me.

First Month Being a Pescetarian

General knowledge and my story

Many of my schoolmates often ask me questions pertaining to my new lifestyle and eating habits. They gave me the idea of condensing the most popular questions into this blog, and I hope it can help anyone out there who may have been asking themselves, or others, any of these same questions. 

me cooking fish in Japan at 110lbs two years ago (T_T) # missing it

What are pescetarians?

Pescetarians (also spelled pescaterians) are those who live and eat as vegetarians do, however, they are allowed to consume fish as well as other forms of seafood.

Temptations?

Hell yes. I chose to be this particular type of vegetarianism to help transition myself into becoming a full-fledged vegetarian. Although, living in a house full of meat-eaters who enjoy cooking bacon and eggs each and every morning really tests ones self control. My mother isn't very supportive of me, but my father really makes an effort to make things easier on me and whenever we go out, he always asks me to choose so we both can eat together. School lunch is the biggest obstacle for me. My school's lunch is usually very good and the salad bar is quite limited. All in all, meat is everywhere and it's up to how committed a person is to stand strong.

Why are you doing this to yourself? No bacon?

I know, no bacon (T___T). I am quite insecure about my overall physical being. I am 5'0 at 114lbs (before I became a pescetarian). After doing a lot of research and read reviews online, I heard that eating a bit healthier and avoiding the fatty meats is great. I then took it upon myself to test this theory until the 21st of September (which is tomorrow) to see whether or not I would feel any better. In all honesty, I haven't felt this great in a while. My goal is to be a natural 110lbs, but my dream weight is to be 100 lbs (which will be explained later). 

Are there any side effects or problems?

A few weeks after I changed my diet, I most definitely encountered two significant health problems. The first problem was a skin condition called eczema. My skin was very irritated and itchy. My doctor told me that because of my diet change, I wasn't getting enough fatty acids in my body which in turn dried out my skin. He recommended that I eat at least one egg a day to replenish my body with fats and nutrients. My second side effect was a drop in my immune system. At the beginning I ate fruits literally everyday, but these past couple of weeks I hadn't been eating them and as a result, I wasn't getting enough vitamins.

Ashitaba Ice-Cream

Japan Adventures (Pt. 1):

明日葉アイスクリム

Ashitaba (pronounced ah-shh-tah-bah) can be translated, literally, as "tomorrow's leaf." It is a type of herb usually consumed as a tea and is well known for its' plethora of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. 

About two years ago in the Summer of 2014, I had traveled to mainland Japan and later went down to the more rural parts within the country. For about a week or so, my taiko group, family, and I stayed on this very small island named Hachijo. After venturing around this very tiny island, our tour guide led us to a small, yet regularly frequented ice-cream shoppe where only two flavors were being sold... Vanilla and (to my surprise) ASHITABA!!! Rather than green tea (which is arguably the most popular flavour in Japan), they sold such an unheard of flavor.

As we moved on to other parts of the island (and consulting Google of course), I found out that the residents of Hachijojima have had Ashitaba as apart of their diets for hundreds and hundreds of years. Most of these residents and those who came before them believed Ashitaba to be a "longevity herb," and I soon found out that it is also know as a most popular ice-cream flavor as well!

This photo was taken at a different location than the first. I am holding my ice cream in front of a Milk Vending Machine (*-*). This was at a well-known cow farm on the island and they had their own cute little milk carton vending machine full of fresh milk. At the time, I was unaware that my ice-cream would be previously served, frozen, and packaged. It doesn't quite look like it, but I promise you this particular ice cream cone was harder than a rock.

If anyone was wondering, Ashitaba tastes very much like green tea, granted it is a bit more aromatic than green tea. Unless you have been living in Japan all your life, or raised in the states drinking only Japanese tea, it would be very difficult to even taste the difference. Sweet is sweet. <(^-^)>

New Blogger

よろしくお願いします

Welcome to my blog! This is a very new experience for me, but I hope to learn a lot! There are so many things that I love such as food, clothes, beauty products, and anything cute!!! Just your average Pescetarian, taiko-playing, beauty/fashion junkie who fell in love with all the amazing things the world has to offer!

My Goal For This Blog:

• Review Beauty Products
• Share Experiences
• Post Fun Things From My Travels
• Dieting Journey
• Everything Else In Between

I look forward to sharing my experiences and adventures with you all!