The Perfect Gift

[Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. I was compensated for the review, but all the thoughts and opinions I have expressed are my own.]

Mother’s Day is coming very soon. Have you thought a gift idea for your mom? How about a piece of jewelry? Now, you'll be wondering what kind of jewelry that has a meaning just like your love to your mom. The answer is, anything with diamonds on it! Yes, diamonds are a girl's best friends. Furthermore, diamonds are forever. Rest assured that your mom would love it.

I would recommend to get the jewelry at Anjolee.com. Anjolee is one of the largest diamond jewelry manufacturers in the United States that based in San Diego, California. In 2008, Anjolee launched its own website and began selling directly to consumers. That decision allows consumers to purchase directly from the manufacturer at the best possible prices with faster delivery on all customized orders. All of the pieces can be customized at Anjolee.com according to preference of metal type, diamond size, diamond or gemstone quality, and length or size. Anjolee also offers high-resolution pictures and 360 degree views of all jewelry items on the website. You can view each jewelry item in white or yellow gold and click the 360° rotation button to see the item in extreme detail. That provides the customers the ability to examine each jewelry item very carefully before making a purchase. How cool is that?

Here are my top 3 favorite designs from their collection on diamond bracelets for women that will be endearing for a Mother’s Day gift. As I (and I believe my mom) prefer a white gold, I changed all of the bracelets' metal type to white gold. Let's take a peek!

Diamond Pea Pod Bracelet

Shiny Column Link Diamond Bracelet

Wavy Link Bracelet

Too afraid to purchase a diamond online? Anjolee guarantees that all diamonds carried and sold from its inventory are natural, authentic, and genuine. They never sell treated, enhanced, or lab-created diamonds. If a diamond or gemstone falls out due to an issue with the setting, Anjolee will cover a courtesy inspection and replacement. Moreover, if for any reason you are not completely satisfied with your purchase, you may return any item in its original condition within 30 days of receipt and they will gladly provide a refund, replacement, or an exchange. All customized orders can be returned for full refund within 30 days of receipt!

Oh dear bumblebees, please let me know what's your favorite bracelet from their collection ;)

Silver Swan

Greetings, my dear bumblebees! Lately, I've been obsessed with falsies, especially the natural ones that made locally. If you have read my previous post, you'd notice that I just reviewed Indonesian handmade false eyelashes recently. This time, I'm going to review another one for you! Keep reading :)

Silver Swan Chapter 1: Indigenous Beauty

020 Lillifee. Every single piece of the timber platform is never the same.

To be honest, the reason why I put an eye on this brand is because their unique packaging that's so elegant like a swan, and then I browsed on their collection and found a lot of natural looking falsies. Seriously, they are so perfect for me! Silver Swan products are adapted to all standards and highest quality to create perfection. All of them are handmade with 100% human hair.

Whether you like the adhesive or not, it'd be there.

To all grammar nazi, can you spot something?

Oh-la-lash!

It said it can be used up to 5 times, but I don't think I can make it to 5 times usage.

These are the series for you to go mix and match with casual outfit! Lillifee gives my lashes volume and length without making it looks like a real fake. It's lightweight and the length fits perfectly on Asian eyes like mine, I didn't have to cut the corner to adjust them. I haven't used the adhesive yet, since I'm still using the adhesive that I got from Yukkiyuna (it's a complimentary gift from the reseller to me). I think the reason Silver Swan is more expensive than Yukkiyuna is because they provide the glue as well in a glass bottle and the packaging looks more exclusive as it's so much bigger. However, I kind of wish they use a plastic to cover the hole. Right, the hole's covered by nothing at all. I was a bit surprised too when I opened the package LOL.

Price: IDR 34k per pair

Outfit by Milcah. One of my favorite Indonesian RTW.

Other products that I used:
Face:

• Etude House Sweet Recipe Baby Choux Base in mint
• Etude House CC cream in silky
• Etude House Nymph Aura Volumer in #3
• Za Perfect Fit Concealer in #1
• Dior Diorskin Nude Compact in rosy beige

Eyes:

• Za Ever Brows in #2
• The Body Shop Brow & Liner Kit in #2
• Urban Decay NAKED Basics
• Revlon CustomEyes Shadow & Liner in naturally glamorous
• Mizzu Eyeliner Pen in brown
• Etude House Dear Girls Cute Eyes Maker

Lips:

• Etude House Rosy Tint Lips in #8
• Etude House Fresh Cherry Tint in cherry red

Here are some tips for all newbies in falsies world just like me: link 1, link 2, link 3. Do you have any other tips for me? Please let me know in the comment section below.

All Pink

Hey, my dear bumblebees~ Let's welcome Spring, the cherry blossoms, and the delightful love that blooms! Some of you who live in the northern hemisphere probably haven't got the feeling of the Spring season yet since it was snowing last night in New York! Crazy climate change, can't you be any weirder?!

Finally, these are the two things I've been promising to review. You know how much eye makeup can change the overall look, right? Especially when I have these asian eyes, it's important to create an illusion of bigger eye.

My double eyelids are not big, still I am thankful for having double eyelids. Sometimes, I feel like I need to get blepharoplasty because my desirable eyelids are the ones like Park SoRa. HA! Every time I said I want to have plastic surgery (or at least some fillers), most of my friends and sister would be like "EW! ARE YOU NUTS?!", only those who are with me would be like "I'm coming with you too!" LOL. I really am never against plastic surgery, I mean if it can change your look to be prettier or more good-looking, why not? At least, someone makes an effort. Studies have shown a lot of advantages to be good-looking people. Not to mention, inner beauty is just as important. However, those good looking people who have ill-mannered aren't difficult to survive in life anyways. Real story. It's of course unfair, but c'est la vie! Okay, I rant too much.

Wearing makeup on the other hand, helps us to look prettier without surgery. Well, there are some ways to make my eyes look bigger. What I usually do is; make my aegyo sal more noticeable and wear eyeliner, eyeshadows, falsies plus color contact lenses. I don't wear falsies in daily basis, though. I'm still a newbie so it takes me like 10 minutes to put falsies *lolwutt*

This time, I'll be reviewing two of the ways, keep reading my bumblebees ^^

Etude House Dear Girls Cute Eyes Maker

Let's create an aegyo sal in two simple steps.

Product description: Lovely item that create charming volume under eyes with ingredient offers moisture to eyes and protects eyes. Paraben, benzophenone, ethanol, and talc free. Step 1 – Creates shadow line under eyes. Step 2 – Fills between eyes and shadow line.

Directions: Create shadow line under 3-5mm from eyes with Step 1. Fill between eyes and shadow line with Step 2 to create charming volume under eyes.

Step 1: Brown tip; Step 2: Pink tip.

The packaging is really girly, I love it! It's called Cute Eyes Maker because I think the aegyo sal is called "cute skin" in English. The product texture is creamy and a bit powdery. It's so easy to apply it once you are used to it. It only takes me a couple of time application to master this. Step 2 contains shimmering creamy particles but not too shiny and not too pink once it touches the skin. Overall, it's a must-have item for those who want to look like an ulzzang!

Tip: Apply concealer to your dark circles beforehand.

Price: IDR 90k

Yukkiyuna Sweet Look Series

Sweet Nature.

Sweet Angel.

Sweet Blossom.

Hell yeah to local brand! I'm a sucker for cute pinky packaging. However, the falsies are affordable! I have used one of them up to 3 times already. I chose like the most natural design because I basically don't want people to notice me using false lashes (like how can that be possible, right?), and these series give me that chance. Except the Sweet Blossom. It's too noticeable in real life! I think it'd be better to wear it on special occasion. Anyway, with these falsies I can say bye to my short lashes for several hours!

I love it when Indonesian brand use Indonesian language on their packaging.

Human hair handmade and reusable.

There are other series, such as Dolly Look and Queen Look that would be perfect to those who wants bolder eyes. They also sell the bottom falsies as well, called Perfect Look. I didn't buy the bottom ones because of what I said it earlier, I'm still a newbie :P

Price: IDR 15k per pair

This is how the finish eye makeup look like with my favorite eyeliner and eyeshadow palette. I'm using the Sweet Nature because it's the most natural of them all. Oh, don't forget to curl your lashes first before applying the falsies!

Outfit: Sweater – GAP / Stud earring – Juicy Couture.

Other products that I used:

Face:

• Etude House Sweet Recipe Baby Choux Base in mint
• Etude House CC Cream in silky
• Za Perfect Fit Concealer in #1
• Etude House Nymph Aura Volumer in #3

Eyes:

• Za Ever Brows in #2
• The Body Shop Brow & Liner Kit in #2
• Urban Decay NAKED Basics
• Mizzu Eyeliner Pen in brown 

Lips:

• 3CE Lip Pigment in electro pink
• Etude House Woo Baby Plumping Tint in pink

Happy Easter to all my Christian readers! Hope you have an amazing long weekend!

Spring Showers

“Eight out of ten people wash themselves with gels costing up to £4 a bottle.”

Now the question would be like, is it worth the money or not? Well, there's a few benefits of using body wash:

• No more dried out prune skin
• No more soap scum on shower doors
• Save money by skipping the lotion afterward

I am a fan of body wash instead of soap. I know there are certain people (like my dad and best friends) who don't like using body wash because it leaves the greasy and unclean feeling. However, did you know body washes have been known to clean as effectively as bar soaps?

Of course, many traditional soaps are formulated to cleanse the skin very well, removing both dirt and oils. But soaps can't moisturize as effectively as body washes, because in its solid form, soap can't hold the same moisturizing properties.

If your skin is dry, I recommend you to use body wash instead of soaps since body washes are made not only to cleanse but to moisturize and improve the condition of your skin.

However, don't worry, I'd review a body soap too on this post. Keep reading!

The Body Shop White Musk Libertine Body Wash

Look how feminine the color is.

White Musk Libertine joins the original cruelty-free White Musk scent that launched in 1981. It was created to mark the 30th anniversary of White Musk in 2011, in the White Musk line-up. Whoa whoaaa.. It's such a classic, right? White musk is my all-time favorite scent among all The Body Shop fragrance. This one has a sweetly floral musk scent that lingers on and makes my skin soft and smooth after showering. One more reason why I like using body wash over soap bar, because it can be a shaving base to help razor glide easily. Muahaha!

Product description: A rich, fragrant body wash with the sensual scent of White Musk Libertine: a floral musk with sweet notes of Turkish delight, baby orchid and Chantilly cream. It's a lather-rich, soap-free, contains cruelty-free musk body wash.

Tip: Use a shower puff. It will make your body wash lasts a lot longer.

Price: IDR 139k per 250ml

I like trying out new body wash, especially the one that has fresh scent and cute packaging! I've tried body wash from Victoria's Secret, Bath and Body Works, L'Occitane, Leivy's, Lux, Etude House and many more that I couldn't even recall. Kindly let me know what's your favorite. I would love to know :)

Kojie San Skin Lightening Soap

Kojic acid. Oh the hype!

I'm a sucker for bright skin! I guess I am not the only one who is not content with my skin. I've been wanting to try Kojie San ever since I read all the positive review on an Indonesian beauty forum. Back then, we Indonesian can only purchase Kojie San online, the price was a bit pricey (like around IDR 70k per bar). However, we can get it at some drugstores and supermarket now with a cheaper price. 

Product description: Kojie San has an all-natural kojic acid formula that helps lighten dark spots due to acne, age spots, freckles, sun-damaged skin, and other skin pigmentation. Kojic acid was discovered in Japan. It is a by-product of Koji, or Malted Rice, for use in the manufacture of rice wine. In cosmetics, kojic acid is popularly known for its excellent whitening effects and anti oxidant properties.

Safety warning: Kojic acid has a drying effect on skin. Skin irritation is the most common kojic acid side effect. Many people have noticed an increase in skin sensitivity after using kojic acid regularly. As kojic acid reduces the amount of melanin in your skin, it weakens your skin's natural defense. It is therefore important to remember to wear sunscreen with a high SPF value.

Directions: Lather the soap on your skin for five minutes before washing it off.

Do I like the soap? As I already stated earlier, I'd rather shower with a body wash. Even though this product claims to lighten skin, I don't really feel there is a noticeable result on my skin. Instead, all I got is dry skin. Remember, don't use this on your face yet if you don't feel okay when you apply it to your skin. I only use the soap when showering at evening or night.

Let's talk about the other sides of this soap, it produces a lot of foams which I really like because a soap doesn't produce that much normally. It has the fresh orange scent, but the scent fades after washing it off. Lastly, the orange soap melts! I store it inside my empty case of NuSkin Body Bar. Well, it doesn't melt the way NuSkin Body Bar does and turns into bloody weird smell (since the NuSkin Body Bar is a soap-free formula) when it's stored inside the case. The soap still in its shape at least, just the melting orange color that annoys me LOL. Told ya, I'm really not a soap fan. It's just that shower gel is more practical to use.

Despite the annoyance, I would still purchase one more time because I am extremely curious why it didn't work on me! Btw, this soap only lasts for two weeks on me.

Price: IDR 20k per 65g

The Body Shop Bath Brush Clear Frosted

All products of The Body Shop are cruelty-free, yes including the brush.

Time to say goodbye to dead skins and back acne. Your skin can shed 30,000 to 40,000 dead cells per minute naturally; however, many people need exfoliation products to help reduce acne and get smooth skin. If you want to exfoliate outside of the shower, you can use circular motions with a long-handled, natural bristled brush.

Product description: This long-handled brush has soft bristles to gently massage and exfoliate skin. Ideal for dry skin that needs regular exfoliation and great for hard-to-reach areas.

The bristles are so gentle and soft.

Directions: Pour a small amount of body wash onto the brush and rub over the body in circular movements. Use two to three times a week. Hang to dry.

Final verdict: Although the product descriptions proclaimed it's great for hard to reach areas, I still felt it's bit difficult to reach my back. If only they extended the handle a bit more, this brush would be perfect then.

Price: IDR 69k

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OMO! I love IU. She's pretty, cute, and talented! New MV from her! This time is including a new group called HIGH4. It's actually their debut song. HIGH4 is composed of vocalists Kim Sung Gu and Baek Myung Han, and rappers Yim Young Jun and Alex, all four members of which are also songwriters. Did you know that the song was written by IU as well? Let's welcome Spring, love, the cherry blossoms, and the delightful love that blooms with this song (or probably not)!

HIGH4 with IU - Not Spring, Love, or Cherry Blossoms.

You know, it's not a big deal if you got no spring, love nor cherry blossoms, because all you need is a nice hot bath! LOL, not really! I'd choose love or travel to Japan to see the cherry blossoms, maybe? But half an hour of hot bath is so good to ease tired muscles and to cure high heels hangover!

It was an exhausting day but it's definitely one of my happiest days in my life.

Daily Face Protection

Hello, April and my dear bumblebees! I'm going to review my sunscreen routine. If you've followed my Instagram I did actually posted my daily essentials that included sunscreen in it a long time ago. So yeah, wearing sunscreen has been basically a habit for me.

Based on the new FDA regulation, manufacturers are no longer allowed to use the word 'sunblock', it's now called 'sunscreen'. I have recently changed my sunscreen from the chemical to physical ingredients. In case you're wondering what's the difference between those two, physical sunscreens protect your skin from the sun by deflecting or blocking the sun's rays, whereas the chemical sunscreens work by absorbing the sun's rays. The utmost reason why I converted is because physical sunscreen does not cause free radicals! Plus, it is also safe for sensitive skin.

L'Occitane The Immortelle Brightening Shield SPF 40/PA+++

According to Fragrantica, Immortelle is a flowering plant of the daisy family. The leaves of the plant have a strong aromatic smell. This is a small perennial shrubby herb with narrow, silver-hairy leaves and small, yellow dry (straw-like) flowers. It is known as the everlasting flower: it never fades, even after it has been picked. The flowers produce the essential oil, its oil is rich in active molecules with unique anti-ageing properties.

Immortelle essential oil has traditionally been used for its anti-inflammatory, analgesic, cell regenerating, pain reducing and calming properties. Immortelle is used in many skin care products for its ability to stimulate the production of new dermal cells. This property makes it popular in facial care for acne scars, dry and weathered skin and for mature skin.

Product description: The Immortelle Brightening Shield SPF40/PA+++ includes both Immortelle essential oil and Bellis Perennis (Daisy) extract.  Immortelle essential oil helps minimize the appearance of wrinkles and make the skin appear younger looking while Bellis perennis extract helps skin appear more even toned. Additionally, skin is protected by mineral origin UV filters, to help prevent the appearance of dark spots caused by the sun. A combination of Sunflower, Ivy and Rice Loaf extracts fight against the harmful effects of pollution.

The 11,52% of titanium dioxide is FDA-approved and can filter both UVA (UVA II) & UVB.

The product expires in six months after first application, remember that an expired sunscreen no longer works as a sun protectant. You may experience changes in the color and consistency of the product as well as skin irritation.

One pump for the face and another one for the neck area.

Even though it is being said that titanium dioxide can be problematic for some people, I don't find this product troublesome for my skin. The BA told me the product can be used for young people as well.

Directions: Shake before use. Apply each morning to clean, dry face and neck, after the daily moisturizer.

What I like:

• fast absorbs
• matte finish
• brightening effect
• not too oily nor too dry for my combination skin
• does not leave a flashy white cast
• does not break me out

What I dislike:

• strong fragrance
• not effective against UVA I rays
• glass packaging

Who would love this: Those who look a natural sunscreen alternatives from the zinc oxide.

Who would not love this: Those who are allergic to ragweed.

Price: IDR 735k per 30ml

If you are looking for a travel friendly packaging product that offers the same SPF 40/PA+++, uses 100% mineral screen and has less strong fragrance, I recommend Clarins UV Plus HP. The price is slightly cheaper than L'Occitane, it's around IDR 650k per 30ml. However, it only has 8,1% of titanium dioxide (the higher the concentration of a physical blocking ingredient, the more effective a sunscreen is). My mom who has dry skin uses this product and it doesn't dry out her skin. Furthermore, if you're probably allergic to ragweed, UV Plus HP is definitely a great alternative. It uses an extract from the pulp of a cantaloupe melon variety cultivated by organic farming.

Well, did you know the benefits of wearing sunscreen? Maybe you won't feel the benefit of it directly now, but 20 years later, you'll totally regret why you didn't wear it when you were young. Trust me!

Firstly, let me explain what the Ultraviolet radiation and SPF are. Ultraviolet radiation (UV radiation) is part of the electromagnetic (light) spectrum that reaches the earth from the sun. It has wavelengths shorter than visible light, making it invisible to the naked eye. While SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor. The number associated with the SPF is the number of times longer that you will be protected from burning than you would be without sunscreen.

Secondly, let me give you some understanding about the difference between UVA, UVB and PA. You would find theses abbreviation in a lot of sunscreens. UVA stands for Ultraviolet A rays, these rays penetrate the skin more deeply than UVB (Ultraviolet B rays), which have long been known to play a major part in skin aging and wrinkling.

How UVA and UVB reach the skin layer.

Illustration courtesy of skincancer.org

Also, studies over the past two decades show that UVA damages skin cells called keratinocytes in the basal layer of the epidermis, where most skin cancers occur! UVA rays are 30 to 50 times more prevalent than UVB. UVA is further divided into two wave ranges, UVA I, which measures 340-400 nanometers (nm, or billionths of a meter), and UVA II which extends from 320-340 nm. UVA present with relatively equal intensity during all daylight hours throughout the year, and can penetrate glass! Therefore, if you're just staying at home, let's say you're browsing on the net at your room with windows and you think you're safe, sorry dear, you are not at all! Scary, right?
Despite the fact UVB is the shorter waves, it also contributes to the development of skin cancer and primarily being the cause of skin reddening and sunburn.
While PA is a Japanese rating system in place before the new regulations that was a way to show how much protection you are receiving from UVA rays. There are PA+, PA++, and PA+++ as the highest rating of all.

Some active ingredients that can be found on your sunscreen.

Remember the thing I mentioned earlier about chemical and physical ingredients?

As I'm not a dermatologist expert, so kindly click here, here and here to read more information about sunscreen, skin cancer and anything related to it.

Now, I hope you get how important wearing sunscreen for daily basis. I know sometimes I get lazy too to use this additional sunscreen because my base cream, BB cream and CC cream are all included with SPF. But hey, they are only like SPF 25ish that would not be enough for outdoor activities and usually has limited ray protection! Btw, if you wear the chemical ingredient, you must wait 20 minutes after application for effective sun protection. Reapply every two hours, or immediately after swimming or excessive sweating. In addition to using sunscreen, wear sun-protective clothing, broad-brimmed hats, and UV-blocking sunglasses.

P.S: The more you make sunscreen a daily habit, the easier it will be to remember.