THE FRUIT COMPOTE | The Good and The Forbidden

How I Maintain A (Relatively) Acne-free Skin

September 18, 2018 Leave a Comment

Acne is such an intrusive, problematic issue for most people. I mean, who wants to have acne? No one, I’m quite sure!

I battled quite a horrific hormonal cystic acne when I hit 25, 6 years ago. I was really stressed out because they kept coming by the day. Painful? It sure was. It was an eye-opening moment for me that I needed to take better care of my skin. Not just simply washing my face every day and slap on a moisturizer, for the sake of it.

Fast forward today, I’ve learned a lot of things during my skincare journey. And it doesn’t stop there, because I keep coming across new knowledge every day, experiencing different things and in general, a better understanding of my skin and health. That’s why, the sharing will never end for me, hopefully.

In all honesty, writing this post kind of terrifies me a little. Part of me wants to share it, the other is scared of jinx-ing what I’ve been doing to get into this point where I can say that my skin is at its best shape at the moment. But, I can’t be selfish because I hope that whoever reads this can find an enlightenment, or two 🙂

My Biologique Recherche Facial Experience at Four Seasons Hotel Jakarta

August 26, 2018 Leave a Comment

I’m writing this post just a couple of days after the treatment (despite my period cramps) because I don’t want to lose the euphoria of the exquisite experience of Biologique Recherche facial treatment over at Four Seasons Hotel Jakarta.

If you don’t know yet, Biologique Recherche is famously known in the beauty world for their exclusive treatments. It’s so exclusive that the products are only sold at a very few handfuls of spas across the globe. Not just that, they’re actually reluctant to sell the products without having a consultation beforehand, ensuring us (as clients) can get the best match for our skin and achieve maximum results.

Biologique Recherche is also synonymous with its Lotion P50 (and its variants) for being the top authority on exfoliating acid toner. I believe, Caroline Hirons is the one responsible for making this product incredibly popular.

With the brand’s existence along with their treatment services (face, body, and hair) almost a year ago, it definitely adds another excitement to the ever-growing local beauty scene. So, without further adieu, let’s begin.

Image from Four Seasons Hotel Jakarta.

Baby Foot To The Rescue!

August 20, 2018 Leave a Comment

Baby, what?

It’s Baby Foot, a Japanese brand that sells foot peeling pack for that soft and smooth feet, since 1997. Apparently, there are many brands out there, even with similar names. So this whole foot peeling business isn’t new for some people, but intriguing for many!

Fun fact, over the years, Baby Foot has kept improving its formula. The older versions needed 2 hours of use. Then they changed into Fruit Acids, developed an all-in-one pack with the booties. Made it into 60 minutes, until the 30-minute pack that is sold now in Indonesia (other countries might sell the 60 minutes version).

I personally have been using this product for over a year and after a few times of uses, I’m ready to write it all down.

Kyoto – For The Love of Scenery

August 7, 2018 Leave a Comment

Let me just say I suck at writing travel posts. Part of it is because I didn’t take a lot of photos so I don’t have much to show you. But I suppose, it challenges me to write and let the words become the visual aid here, hopefully.

So, one of our favorite cities, Kyoto, was the next destination after Sapporo. We took a domestic flight early in the morning from New Chitose Airport to Haneda (Tokyo). From there, we took a train to Shinagawa Station then boarded a Shinkansen (using JR pass) for about 150-160 minutes to Kyoto.

We spent 3 days and 2 nights in this beautiful city.

The Wedding Nails 2.0

July 26, 2018 Leave a Comment

Well, whaddya know, another wedding-related post. I was going to post this sooner but the old tale was I got caught by so many different excuses :p

Anyway, we were very lucky that we get to hold another wedding reception which was 3 weeks after the D-Day. This time, the guests are our friends! I suppose, call me for being extra. But I did want my nails to look different. Plus, the previous nails were getting long and I wasn’t comfortable with the length.

This was what I decided on.

Lancôme Advanced Génifique Light Pearl Eye Mask

July 25, 2018 Leave a Comment

After eye creams and serums, what else can it be? For some, eye treatments can be seen as a marketing gimmick for people to spend more. True, some products can be a hit and miss. Or maybe they just didn’t do anything on me.

But then again, I don’t set my expectations that high, unlike some people. There are variables that can’t be changed drastically. For the ones that made a difference though, will make me keep going using them.

This particular product has been in my routine for the past year. It has become a secret weapon for tired eyes. And it has a really long name, Lancôme Advanced Génifique Light Pearl Eye Mask*.

#TFCKitchen: It’s Not Always Rainbows and Glimmers.

July 12, 2018 Leave a Comment

I’ve heard it often. More and more these days. From my girlfriends’ friends, even a few of my husband’s colleagues had made these questions or comments regarding what I do.

From the least harmful to the one with a certain insinuation such as:

“It is true that your wife is sponsored the brands?”

“How does it work, really? Do you get paid and then promote the products?”

“Must be nice to get free products all the time!”

“And got paid too!”

“Trying out beauty products, sounds easy!”

etc.

I’m aware, in general, many people out there are questioning the work of bloggers and influencers (a term I personally don’t call myself with), especially with the rise of numbers. I get it, it’s a question out of curiosity. But some actually think that we’re just in it for the freebies, or for the money; that brands paid us to say good things about the products.

Well, I’m sorry to disappoint you but it’s not as simple as black and white. Not for me, anyway. Sometimes I feel sad and offended when I’m being passed with that kind of generalization and judgment. That is not fair.