These are a Few of My Favourite Things: November Favourites

November has come and gone and here are my favourite things for the month.
1) Drunk Elephant Virgin Marula Luxury Facial Oil

November is significant for a number of reasons but a primary one is the Sephora VIB sale, of which I partook. A lot. A dear friend and I always exchange our lists which is both a blessing and a curse. I found myself buying a few things that was not on my radar. Oops.

As I've mentioned before, I've been mourning the demise of my skin. It's really lost its glow and no amount of water, vitamins, steaming has helped.  One of things that was on my radar was the Drunk Elephant AHA kit, which contains the B-Hydra Intensive Gel, C-Firma Day Serum, and the TLC Framboos Glycolic Night Serum. But the scene stealer has been their Virgin Marula Luxury Facial Oil. As one reviewer noted on the Sephora website,

"I need look no further for the most effective anti aging antioxidant multi purpose oil. It hydrates, brightens and healed my dry sensitive skin. At 56, I am always trying new products that promise to even my skin without irritation.
This product delivers!"

SOLD. And it really *has* made a difference on my skin. It feels much plumper and the inner dryness seems less. I wear it only at night and use the C-Firma Day Serum during the day, but if you can afford the splurge, this really has changed the way my skin feels.

2) hakuho-do + Sephora Pro Large Teardrop Pointed Powder Brush and Fan Cheek Brush

Pointed Powder Brush

Fan Cheek Brush

 When the brush first came out, I didn't initially justify the cost to get the brushes, but when I saw it on sale, plus the 20% off from the VIB sale, I decided to give it a go. When I first got the powder brush, I had intended to use it for my highlighter, but the brush was too soft for it to properly work the way I had originally intended. Instead, I find it is really nice to blend my setting powder and the brush feels so soft as it sweeps across my face and blends the powder to my foundation.

The fan cheek brush, I find, is wonderful if you are using it to create more defined blush area and also for highlighting. If you want to highlight a certain area of your face, this is a good brush to try.

3) Laura Mercier Secret Brightening Powder

When my friend recommended this powder to set my foundation, I was hesitant. I wasn't sure if it would really make a difference. And, I can say it really *does* brighten your skin without caking it on. I like to use it with my Beauty Blender and pat it on the areas that need the brightening, viz. the triangle in the front of my face. Then, I like to use the powder brush as mentioned, supra, to sweep and blend the powder. It gives my a lasting glow that I like for a large portion of the day.




4) AVK Aloe Vera Foot Cream

A very popular product in Korea, I love this on my feet. The product does what it claims, primarily, soften the feet. I have very dry feet and this product has really reduced that dryness. I don't have necessarily calloused feet, but someone I know how does has claimed it also reduces the callouses tremendously. This is clearly one that I absolutely adore.






5)  Tangle Teezer x Hello Kitty

My hair has grown so much and it oftentimes get tangled. My friend recommended this brand and after seeing the Hello Kitty compact style, I had to get it. This brush gets it. I love how it untangles my hair as stated by the name of the product and I love how I can use it on both wet and dry hair. This product is also great in that it's the compact style and is easy to travel as well as put in your purse.

The only downside to this product is that if you use dry shampoo, which I do, the powder used for the dry shampoo will cling onto the bristles. You will have to clean it out periodically but there are YouTube videos that show you how to do it.

6) The Cold Weather

Persimmons are such a fall fruit

I love the cold weather.  I love how I can wear sweaters and boots and layer as much as my little heart contents. I really miss the cold weather back East. It has finally got cold enough for me to wear cardigans and boots and trench coats and I am enjoying every minute of it. If only it was this way forever....








Would love to know your November favourites,

xo Jane

Life in LA: Santouka Ramen (Various Locations)

Today, I thought I'd expand a bit and talk about my life here in Los Angeles. I moved here from Washington, DC less than a year ago and the adjustment, to be frank, has not been easy.  Moving when you're older always is significantly difficult than when you are younger, and when you move without any social safety nets, the barriers can be daunting. That is not to say it has all been so tough. Los Angeles is a vibrant city and a city where, if your personality matches its vibes, is a great one.

I am of the belief what works for one in a city does not work for another, so please take my experiences with a grain of salt. Yes, the adjustment not been smooth for me, but that doesn't mean the same applies for you.

A highlight of Los Angeles is the wide array of food that you can explore and find throughout the city. It's absolutely lovely. One of my favourite places to go is Santouka Ramen.  Whilst it's so nice to go to restaurants, sometimes, especially when you are here alone, it's tough to find someone to go with, and, yes, I've gone to restaurants alone before, but it's not something I prefer to do each and every night. Santouka Ramen is nestled in the Mitsuwa Supermarket and in their food court. If you are looking for a quick bite to eat, this is the place for you.  I love how they are Hokkaido style ramen, with their thin and chewy noodles. There are a variety of soup bases you can choose from, from shio (salt) to shoyu (soy sauce) to spicy miso (which is the one I normally get.) You also can get a variety of sizes. I prefer the small and I also get a soy sauce infused egg on the side. It's not only absolutely delicious but just enough for me to finish without feeling stuffed. If you're extra hungry, do get the larger sizes; in fact, most people there do get the medium or the large.

Sadly, Santouka does not do take-away nor do they take credit card. It's cash only and no bills above USD $20. But if you're in the LA area and you don't want to sit alone in the ramen shop, give this a go. And after you are satiated with such a delectable meal, go to the supermarket section of Mitsuwa and load up on all the Japanese treats that you can. I generally get a nice chunk of maguro and red snapper as well as all the Japanese candies and potato chips my heart desires.

xo Jane

Empties: IOPE Skin Renewal Night Treatment Cream

My nightly routine is such that I wear some kind of night sleeping mask when I got to sleep. Sometimes, I actually wear a gel sheet mask to sleep when my skin is especially in need.

After moving to LA, much like many aspects of my life,  my skin has had a rough time adjusting to the sun, the heat, the water. It misses the drop of the temperature during the wonderful fall and spring seasons and even the humidity of the summer of the East Coast.

This cream could be used as a lotion, but I like to use it as a night mask. The consistency is thick and it feels like greek yoghurt. The scent, however, unlike greek yoghurt, is heavenly.

On its own, I don't think it really did much to my skin, but it did feel nice putting it on and I loved putting it on before I went running.

Recently, my skin feels very dull and dry; it's missing that inner glow I had when I was back East. This night cream isn't something I would buy again, but if you're looking for a light night cream which does hydrate, just not intensively, this might the cream for you.

The search for that inner glow continues. 

xo Jane

Coffee Talk: Maturing

As I've said before, I'm no longer in my 20s. My skin, much like my age, has been through a lot. It no longer carries the youthful glow, as much as I try. I can cover my flaws with makeup and create that youthful glow with liquid highlighters, but at the end of the day, I wipe off all those masks and my real face, my real skin, spots and all, come to the forefront.

I often have looked at my skin with such consternation at the flaws that keep popping up, regardless of the care I take of it. The struggle is real.

Each potion I use, each lotion that assures me that this is the miracle cure, only confirms to me how much I am fighting so many things to hold onto an idea that, if we are truly honest, is exactly that, an idea. When I was younger, I was struggling with other issues: loads and loads of spots, oily skin, etc, and yet here I am wistfully wishing to go back to that time.

Each wrinkle I have, each white hair, all the sagging of my skin, only emphasises how much life I've experienced. Whilst the rote comment about beauty as we age may be a panacea to some, for me, the gifts of age only underscores a certain level of frustration as our youthful dreams become replaced with a quiet acceptance of the futility of life. Like the elixir of youth that so many, including myself, wish was a reality, I know I look for that same elixir on other parts of my life.

Even as I struggle with time and the slowing of our bodies, I still try and fight. It's not easy; some days are easier than others. And, when you see others who have clearer, more firmer skin, it can be tough, but I also know it's a dangerous path to go down when you wallow in that misery.

If only there was a potion that allows some people, like myself, to be content with what we have and not wont for more.

Jane
 

October Favourites

The past few days have been a bit crazy, with the election and all. Whether you are celebrating or crying in your beer, here are a few things that might pick you up:

fresh Black Tea Eye Cream: I love fresh. I love their products and love how they smell. I have been using this and I like how it isn't sticky, like the Shiseido, but it does moisturise.

IOPE Anti-Wrinkle Intensive Cream: This is my second one and I really like to use it at night. It's heavy, so for those with dry skin, this might be a good fit for the day, but because I have combination skin, I love using it at night to keep my skin feeling soft the next day. As the nights are getting cooler, and the weather drier, this is a really nice addition to your skincare routine.

Jurlique Rose Hand Cream: If your hands are constantly feeling dry, this is such a good hand cream to moisturise those chapped hands. I love the smell of roses, but if this is too "old lady" for you, there are other scents that are just as moisturising and just as divine in scent.

Trader Joe's Pumpkin Spice Cream Cheese: I know this isn't beauty, but I love this. I love how it tastes on bread and apples and basically anything. If this makes me basic, I'm okay with that; I love this that much.

xo Jane