- 00:25
- 29 Comments
About 2 weeks ago, I had committed to change my shameful adult struggle of not waking up when I am supposed to .I had my heart and mind set to get this done but as it always is (with me atleast) I did not think the whole plan through.
What would have been week 1 and 2 of the challenge, had me on leave from work, staying up nights preparing for my master's exam. I would study all night, write my paper at 11AM and sleep once I was back home at about 3PM. The routine was a mess, but thankfully, my papers weren't. Once I was done with the exams, I was ready to commit to the challenge.
I resumed normal life this Monday, that is 2nd, and yesterday completed the first 5 days of the challenge. Here's an account of how the week went.
MONDAY- 8AM
I was resuming work after a break of almost two weeks, so I was fairly motivated to get up when the alarm rang. I incentivised myself with some great coffee and to my utmost delight, grinding beans manually happened to be the best wake-me-uper ever! The action + aroma of ground coffee was enough to get me out of my daze. Good start!
Activities: Made coffee, cooked and ate breakfast, got dressed properly...eyeshadow and all!
TUESDAY- 8.15AM
I was on the phone till 430AM the previous night (ahem) so I was pleasantly surprised when I could wakeup on time without much drama. I had refridgerated a portion of the breakfast from day before AND had some ground coffee left. I think the fact that I had less chores helped ease my brain.
Activities: Made coffee, heated breakfast, packed lunch, got dressed properly (as in ironed my shirt, brushed my hair...that kinda stuff)
{did you just judge me there? Oh please don't! I usually spruce up on my way, I swear!}
WEDNESDAY- 8.25AM
Again, a night of late call with the bestie. Woke up quiet groggy.
Breakfast: Blueberry Kale Smoothie
Activities: Made smoothie, got dressed (no makeup)
THURSDAY- 930AM
Strange morning... all 3 of us (myself and my two flatmates) woke up late and at the same time! We bumped into each other trying to brush our teeth and giggled over our grogginess.
Breakfast: In Office
Activities: Quick shower and dash
FRIDAY- 620AM
I woke up naturally this morning, that is without an alarm and was pleasantly surprised (shocked, really) to note the time. I was happy to observe that I wasn't groggy and wanting to go back to sleep. (whaaaaaaa!) Yet, I chose to roll in bed until my mom called around 8 to gush about the flowers I'd sent them.
My parents celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary yesterday and I am so thrilled about this. They've had what I'd call an ideal marriage- full of love, support, respect, challenges, hardships and yes, lots of disagreements. Their love for each other is palpable and they've set the best #marriagegoals for me to look up to. I was a little bummed that I wasn't there but I did my best to make their day special from far...you know flowers, cake, having the extended family over for a surprise dinner...that kinda thing
My parents celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary yesterday and I am so thrilled about this. They've had what I'd call an ideal marriage- full of love, support, respect, challenges, hardships and yes, lots of disagreements. Their love for each other is palpable and they've set the best #marriagegoals for me to look up to. I was a little bummed that I wasn't there but I did my best to make their day special from far...you know flowers, cake, having the extended family over for a surprise dinner...that kinda thing
Breakfast: Eggs on toast
Activities: Spoke to mom, made coffee, cooked breakfast, watched the news (WAHOW!), got dressed properly
OBSERVATIONS FROM WEEK 1
Instead of cutting back 15 mins as per plan, I woke up FULL 60 MINUTES early almost everyday, which is A-M-A-Z-I-N-G! Yet I am not 100% convinced that this will be routine from now on. Therefore, my week 2 agenda is to stick to waking up at 8AM and make sure this retains
I also went to bed between 1 and 2AM (430AM on Tuesday) so its understandable that I did not wake up fresh as a daisy. But I am starting to think that people wake up like this only in TV commercials...
I don't remember a single morning when I woke up without heavy eyelids and a stiff body and a (strong) desire to just stay in bed. I have always been an indulgent sleeper and I really would just stay asleep till 4PM on any given day, if I have the choice. That I will some day start waking up daisy fresh and go like this is probably never going to happen and in light of this revelation, I am getting into the idea that waking myself up is something I need to actively achieve.
I don't remember a single morning when I woke up without heavy eyelids and a stiff body and a (strong) desire to just stay in bed. I have always been an indulgent sleeper and I really would just stay asleep till 4PM on any given day, if I have the choice. That I will some day start waking up daisy fresh and go like this is probably never going to happen and in light of this revelation, I am getting into the idea that waking myself up is something I need to actively achieve.
A key step in achieving this is to not dwell on the sleepiness ('but I was up late!' 'just one snooze' 'maybe I will just lie with my eyes shut for 5 minutes, that's not sleeping!') and divert the mind to some task. Cue, coffee grinding! I am telling you, this is genius.
I also observed that because I am so used to waking up and dashing, I was not very great at managing the extra hour I had at hand. Which means I was still late to work. Bummer.
Deciding what to wear is a real time eater. Must be addressed night before.
WEEK 2 GOALS
#1 Maintain wake up time at 8AM
#2 Aim to leave home by 915
#2 Aim to leave home by 915
#3 Start ahead by packing lunch and setting out clothes the night before
#4 Try and set a bedtime
#5 Should I try to set aside 10 minutes each morning for self care? Anything from meditation, stretching or a quick HIIT workout like this ---------------------------------------------------}
Or is that being too ambitious?
We'll know soon I guess.
- 04:31
- 19 Comments
Especially, when it feels like you are almost biologically programmed against it.
The most pressing issue I have to deal with on a daily basis is the fact that I cannot wake up. I simply cannot make myself get out of bed at the time I need to. Or, about an hour after I had to. When I see these people luxuriate their mornings, I cannot help but flip out that I don't even have a set wake up time! Propelling myself out of the door while zipping my pants up is life that I know right now. Doing a sheet mask while sipping on fancy tea and contemplating my day is so nebulous that it seems entirely unattainable. Need I articulate how ashamed (and frustrated) I am of this situation?
In the last two years, I have gotten exceptionally bad at starting my day properly; partly due to depression that was undiagnosed for a while and partly because I can work from outer space and get my job done, so who cares about a desk! {smug bitch (me)}. On a tangent note, lack of sleep or too much sleep, over a prolonged period is an alarm for mental fatigue and its not to be ignored. I am still battling clinical depression and anxiety (sadly, yes, it takes this long), but I cannot help but beat myself over the fact that I have a 100% late attendance record at work last month. That's just unacceptable and unprofessional and just all round bad. Bad. I do work in an informal industry and my workplace is nothing short of the best place ever, but an honest human being knows when they are pushing it.
But.
If only it was that simple. If only. I tried many a tips that seem to be popular with everyone and to the following effect
TIP #1
Open curtains. and the sunshine flood in. Let the almighty sun let you know that its wake up time!
Open curtains. and the sunshine flood in. Let the almighty sun let you know that its wake up time!
Me: Put pillow on face/ roll over
TIP #2A
Get a loud/ shocking/ blaring alarm
Get a loud/ shocking/ blaring alarm
TIP #2B
Keep alarm away from your bed
Me: Go back to bed with a freaking vengeance. Like, HOW DARE YOU! YOU...YOU STUPID ALARM-BITCH! You think you got me! I swear with my hand on my heart that's exactly how it went down. EVERY TIME. Btw, did I mention I am 28 years old? For visual reference, enjoy this.
TIP #3
Coffee!!!
Coffee!!!
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| Checkout these coffee guys though. Super good! |
TIP #4
Eat a good breakfast
Me: Unless said breakfast is making itself and then magically transporting into my mouth while willing my nervous system to signal my brain to start chewing, this ain't gonna fly
Now onto the holy-grail of AM wisdom.
TIP #5
Whatever you do, DO NOT check your phone for emails/ instas/ whatsapps!
Whatever you do, DO NOT check your phone for emails/ instas/ whatsapps!
Me: Switch off alarm and open Instagram. I don't pay no heed to sage advice, coz I'm daring like that!
PRO: It keeps my eyes open
CON: Keeps me glued to phone and body in bed, thus defying the general purpose of getting up early. Dafuck!
CON: Keeps me glued to phone and body in bed, thus defying the general purpose of getting up early. Dafuck!
I think the most sure-shot method, thus far, is switching off the fan (done to 6 years old me during summer vacation). Slow clap, dad. Slow clap.
So here I am. In a bid to attract positive energy from the Universe webverse, I am putting this out here: I am going on a serious mission to address this morning issue. And that starts with setting a proper wake up time.
Of the 1000 articles / videos I have seen on this, the one point that stuck with me was to ease the body in to doing something that it clearly doesn't want to do. That I believe. To this, I am adding another wisdom: the body takes 45 days to get used to something. Hmm.
So, what's the plan homey...what's the foolproof plan?
So, what's the plan homey...what's the foolproof plan?
The genius plan, bloglanders, is that I am going to cut back my wake up time by 15 mins starting tomorrow in order to ease my body into a routine. This is a whole new level of taking it slow. If I cut back 15 minutes per week, I am looking at a 8 weeks ease-in program to waking up at my desired time. 
WOW! That's either enough time to cajole my body nee brain, or too much time to fall out, rather or fall back. ANYWAY! 8.45...how hard can it really be?
Such are the chronicles of an almost functioning adult. Sigh.
WOW! That's either enough time to cajole my body nee brain, or too much time to fall out, rather or fall back. ANYWAY! 8.45...how hard can it really be?
Such are the chronicles of an almost functioning adult. Sigh.
- 12:20
- 3 Comments
I did something crazy recently.
One fine day, Facebook dutifuly informed me that a friend of mine from Delhi was visiting US for a week. We hadn't spoken in a few weeks and she was due to visit me in Bombay soon. At 3AM that random night, I sent her a Sephora link saying "Hey! So if you happen to pass a Sephora somewhere, mind looking this up?" Vague, random and potentially, rudely opportunist.
I then went about life forgetting this ever happened. Then last night, said friend arrives in Bombay and somewhere between endless banter and looooong yawns, she quiped, "Oh! I got that thing you wanted." What thing? I never...when did I...Facebook? What! Wait...you BOUGHT it!
What she fished out of her bag, is only just the one beauty product of my dreams! See for yourself. I have dreamed, lusted and desired this for what feels like eternity, though honestly, all this beauty madness has only started recently so excuse the exaggeration. Long story short: gasp, squeal, disbelief, delight, slobbery kisses went down while I clutched this beauty of a palette in my hands and passed out.
Tarte, is a very hard to find in India and while the company does ship to India (I love them more for this) free shipping requires a minimum of 8K billing. Asking a friend was basically the most logical though, tad embarassing way to get my hands on it. Which brings me to today's thought blurb: all this dedicated blog reading and beauty awareness is making me crave / desire brands that are quite literally, out of my reach. While I am all eyes and ears open for where people are travelling to, here are 3 US origin brands that have me stalk and desire them like a crazy, dejected-ex.
OH GOD! I cannot even verbalise how much I need this brand in my life. First off, I have read ITG for a while and I remember when they came up with the first lot of products. I now feel like a proud mommy when I witnessed their Phase 2 set and basically just died out of desire.
LUSTING AFTER: Milky Jelly cleanser (I am gonna order like 6 to get me through the year when I get the chance); Boy Brow in Black and the Stretch Concealer in Deep. Closely followed by both the masks and balm dotcom. I know I know, why leave the rest out, but I try to exercise control when I can. I love how they have segregated their kits and I am willing to risk buying concealer without trying because they themselves understand the plight and have the coolest youtube channel that'll give you an idea on the shades.
PS: how beautiful are their models! They are all friends and associates of ITG/ Glossier aka Real Women!
PPS: major crush on Emily Weiss' voice
SW Basics: I was sold (at an extremely superficial level), just to the packaging. I mean how gorgeous!
LUSTING AFTER: It doesnt quite matter what I purchase, but I have narrowed down on these two as my first purchase. This fantastic read about founder Adina Grigore inspired me to compile this list.
DS & Durga: I have come across this brand quiet a lot on the blogosphere, but it wasn't until I read co-founder Kavi Ahuja Moltz's interview, that it quickly crawled up my need list.
LUSTING AFTER: Sadly, this one, I will have to personally experience to buy so boohoo!
(IMAGES USED ARE NOT MY OWN AND USED FOR REPRESENTATIVE PURPOSES ONLY. THE SOURCES ARE LINKED ON THE IMAGES)
- 06:21
- 14 Comments
Agreed that 2014 was indisputably the year of Sam Smith. But, I still believe that Hozier should have been recognised at the Grammy for the amazing talent that he is. His melancholic song writing, the hearty vocals and that unique sound...bluesy rock, with a faint faint hint of country, made for one hell of a debut.
I am rediscovering his debut album this gloomy Thursday and it's making my heart flutter like I met someone new
- 23:30
- 0 Comments
Is everyone clear on the difference between an abbreviation and an acronym?
So just me then?
Great.
Last night, around 3AM, I had to get out of bed and switch on my laptop to put this inquisition to rest and here's what Google told me
abbreviation
əbriːvɪˈeɪʃ(ə)n/
noun
- a shortened form of a word or phrase."SKU is the abbreviation for Stock Keeping Unit"
So, IBM is an abbreviation
acronym
ˈakrənɪm/
noun
- an abbreviation formed from the initial letters of other words and pronounced as a word (e.g. ASCII, NASA ).
Therefore, NASA is an acronym
Now since I was already online, I wanted to go further. Remember in high school how we'd create a string of abbreviations to memorize certain information? Like,VIBGYOR- the reverse order of colours in a rainbow or BODMAS (!) in Maths? .
mnemonic
nɪˈmɒnɪk/
noun
- 1.a system such as a pattern of letters, ideas, or associations which assists in remembering something."the usual mnemonic for star types is O Be A Fine Girl Kiss Me"
So VIBGYOR is a mnemonic but also an acronym?
I wonder why SKU is not pronouced skoo and become an acronym?
I need to get some sleep.
- 02:41
- 0 Comments
Ever so often, even lazy, uninvested girls like yours truly comes across a product or two (or three) that changes life beyond expectations. At said times it is our moral responsibility to share this information with fellow comrades fighting for time and good skin.
2015 ended with 3 incredible skincare / beauty finds and after putting them to good use for almost 3 months, here's some honest review of my current favourites.
INNISFREE GREEN BARLEY BUBBLE CLEANSER
Korean beauty was having a serious moment in 2015. Among the few brands I registered, Innisfree was on top of my wish list along with The Face Shop and Missha. I was on a frantic hunt online but these brands are hard to come by locally. So imagine my delirious delight when I happened to spot a full on outlet in Gurgaon, NCR! I basically lost my shit.
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The stores are only in the NCR: Delhi: Khan Market & Gurgaon: Galleria Mall. Lucky NCRites!
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I came out with three purchases: Green Barley foam cleanser, the Jeju Volcanic Pore Scrub Foam and a capsule pack of the Jejuja volcanic clay mud. I am yet to try the pack, but the cleanser and scrub have my heart.
Last year, I stopped using soapy (sodium based) cleansers and my skin has been super thankful for it. I have tried everything from Cetaphil to Vichy to Avene last year, and this one is the clear favourite. It is super gentle; a little lathers up a long way and I love how squeaky clean my face feels without the horrible dry, taut feeling.
My weekly TLC is now super special thanks to this guy. Once a week, I skip the above cleanser and use this to clean my face and follow it up with a mask. The grains in this scrub are super super fine, leaving no abrasion on the skin. The face feels incredibly clean and soft- prepped for a good mask. Added bonus: I LOVE the smell!
Yet to try this out
PRICE:
GREEN BARLEY CLEANSER- Rs. 650/-JEJU VOLCANIC PORE SCRUB FOAM- Rs. 750/-
VICHY NORMADERM HYALUSPOT
After a momentary respite from breakouts thank to my dermat, some recent skincare experimentation coupled with horrible dietary practise has birthed a fresh crop of juicy nasties on my face that are a piss off to deal with in winter. On one hand my skin screamed for hydration and then next morning I'd wake up to plumped up boils! I kept my moisturiser to a basic water based one, but to no respite. Desperate measures were needed and I decided to finally try the La Roche Posey Effaclar Duo. I always thought that it is a spot treatment product for acne and blemishes, but apparently the ones available in India are more like topical moisturizer for acne prone skin. Seeing me all gutted, the sales attended recommended I try the Vichy Normaderm Hyaluspot. I have tried the Vichy Normaderm Purifying Gel last year and loved it, so I was warm to the brand. And seeing that I was about to spend 1500 bucks on the Effaclar Duo, I didn't hesitate too much to give this a shot at almost half the price.
Now before I spend the words, here is some visual aid
If you see, I had to zoom into the last image a little to show the remains of the zit. I am floored! Day 1 was last Monday and today, i.e. 9, I have a faded white spot in place of the Day 1 monstrosity. What impressed me more was the lack of blemish; my skin is super super blemish prone, therefore this is a killer benefit that I realistically hadn't hoped for.
I have read a plethora of mixed reviews but for my skin (which is combination and sensitive to harsh chemicals) this worked as you can see above. It didn't burn me at all when applied on the pictured boil, but recently I am experiencing very very minor prickle on a new nasty. I will take that happily if the result doesn't waver.
PRICE: 750/-
MAYBELLINE FALSIES BIG EYES
You know what's better than finding a product that blows your mind? Finding an unconvenional use for a product and blow your mind! That's the case with this mascara. I am too new to the beauty game to be a mascara fan. But this guy, with the genius lower lash wand is my current favourite, wait for it, brow product!
I am blessed with decent brows and I use this mascara to just straighten the hairs out and make them neater. Life changing hack! The mascara is black, so are my brows; but it doesn't give me painted, over dramatic look that I love. Now ever since I got into this roll, I skip the eyeliner, put on some lip colour and I dig the freshness of the look. I am still shy to post my pictures so can't exhibit a before and after.
I also got into using it conventionally and with a little eyelash curl and one swipe, I can totally skip liners for day time. I love that it doesn't clump up, as was the problem with the VOLUME EXPRESS FALSIES one. Hooked!
PRICE: 599/-
Phew! So much gushing! I'd love to know if you have found anything new lately. I am on the hunt for a good night cream. Any suggestions?
(INNISFREE product pictures from their website)
- 05:06
- 17 Comments
Who isn't?
- 05:01
- 1 Comments
It has been so difficult to emote what it feels like to celebrate our first birthday, that I am 3 days late in talking about it! Bad girl. To have had my tiny mouthpiece on the blogosphere for a year now has turned out nothing like I imagined. Here are some truths about COCA and emotions that were so hard to word...
1) It was about 6 month after I started this blog that I suddenly realised that the blog title acronym is COCA! Just how freakin awesome is that? You know, because of the whole cola addict connection thing...? It seemed cosmic almost that I chose this title and it was a big moment for the blogger in me :D
2) I started this piece with no agenda. COCA was started with the intention to motivate myself when I was at my lowest and I wanted to journal my progress and I thought if I said my goals out loud, I'd sort of stick to them. I did not popularize this blog on my facebook page or any other social media and it blows my mind to see the readers who visit, read and leave their comments. Thank you so much for your time and mind. This leads to the next point which was huge for me...
3) This space has been nothing but kind! There is so much said about cyber-nastiness and its not easy to talk about your life without the fear of being considered conceited. But it was amazing to feel like a part of a community that is understanding and real and welcoming. In October, the lovely Miss Jose bestowed a Leiber award and thrilling that it was, I was mostly too shy to talk about it. It was a huge burst of encouragement...one that I needed badly and I am just so so grateful for the kindness
4) I have had a bit of an emotional 2015 and there have been times when I wanted to take to this space and talk about what I was feeling but something held me back. I do however feel that should the need arise to reach out for supportive hearing, there is no dearth of wonderful people out there
5) Lastly, I am extremely shy and awkward to plaster my face here and I often worry if I come across as impersonal. But the truth is I am just not good at putting my face out there and I am OK with that
In 2016, my hope is to give back the encouragement and inspiration I take from the blogging community and make COCA part of something meaningful. Thank you so much for being around.
- 00:13
- 0 Comments
Christmas is a festival that transcends religion, as far as I see it. And for good reason. What's not to like about a day filled with fun, family, food, presents? My Christmas memories growing up are these fancy orange-jujup cocktail sticks my aunt would make, plum cakes my father would bring home every single Christmas eve, strolling down a gloriously lit Park Street and the thrill of finding a present under my pillow...
As I have grown up old, my love for Christmas has only multiplied and even though I am away from my family, I have a 10-step plan to make the most of my favourite holiday with loved ones who have become my family in this city.
1. GET INTO THE SPIRIT & DRESS UP!
No, not like a Christmas tree but a little something to add the festive spirit. I've been infusing the Christmas vibe with a red lip here, gold sandals there, with my emerald earrings thrown in the middle. OR go all out and be that girl who rocks a santa cap like a boss. It's christmas after all!
2. DRESS THE SPACE
It ain't Christmas without some green, red and gold! My tree is still under construction and I need to have it up before midnight. I am also yet to put up these amazing golden snowflakes that make me soooo happy! Can't wait to wrap up work and rush home to all this craftiness!
3. ATTEND MASS
Bandra is home to some of the most beautiful churches in Mumbai. I am hoping to attend a midnight mass at either St. Stanislaus, St. Peter's, St. Andrews or Mount Mary's.
4. BLAST THE CHRISTMAS PLAYLIST
Ho ho ho! Merrry Christmas! It's 25th morning and before I can even think coffee, there will be three things I do: put on my red socks, put on my santa cap, put on my christmas playlist. Somehow and I don't know how, nothing feels like Christmas more than George Michael!
5. WAKE UP TO A SPECIAL BREAKFAST
Santa is being very kind this year and he is bringing to town my closest friends to stay with me the long weekend. They arrive tomorrow AM and I was giddily excited to come up with a festive breakfast to welcome them.
I am thinking French Toast rolls with cream-cheese & cherry jam filling. It remarkably fits the christmas colour scheme so double yay!
6. WATCH A HOLIDAY MOVIE
At some point in the day (most likely after the festive lunch we are scheming) I will squeeze in a lazy, sprawled-on-the-couch viewing of either of these two holiday movies...I don't know which yet but just to clarify, I have seen both a million times :D
7. BAKE!
I was gifted an OTG this October that I have not yet. So with a little help from my visiting bestie, baking will be the last new thing I do before the year ends. So far I am thinking salted caramel cookies but I could be persuaded otherwise. Yesterday I stumbled upon Cup of Jo's chocolate recipes and now my mind is running wild!
8. BE MY OWN SANTA
So Santa doesn't cater to adults...but I am not one to deny myself a good holiday present. I already bought me my christmas pressie and I am in LOVE! Say hi to the newest member of my modest window-sill garden. Isn't she a beauty?
9. SLOW DOWN AND SOAK IT ALL IN
Apparently Mumbai is seeing one of it's coldest winters in a decade, which is perfect for some blanket snuggles, sipping my awesome hot chocolate (yeah, no modesty about my culinary triumphs #sorrynotsorry), nibbling on the aforementioned cookies and enjoying a round or many of Taboo, UNO or Monopoly Deal. #bliss
10. PLAY SANTA
Apart from the obligatory office secret-santa, I haven't gifted anyone for Christmas in years. So this year I plan to buy a present for someone I love or someone in need. Or maybe both!
Thank you for spending this time here and I wish you and your loved ones a very happy christmas!
- 04:13
- 2 Comments
- 02:22
- 0 Comments
A couple of months ago, I had this epiphany concerning the credibility of my vocabulary. It sent me into a googling frenzy as you can read here and I am very happy to report that I am still tripping on my word-search frenzy.
In discussion today is a word I was fairly certain of but upon searching, ended up discovering a much more robust meaning.
CONCEDE
WHAT I THOUGHT IT MEANS: Accepting defeat
WHAT THE DICTIONARY SAYS:
HEARD ON: Girls- S4 E9
USED IRL: Unlike my understanding of "accepting defeat" I love how the word allows space for being convinced rather than just hopelessly accept defeat. Used twice, in ideation brainstorming at work.
- 23:48
- 1 Comments
For as long as I can remember, CTM has been an enigma. For the uninitiated, CTM is skincare 101 though I doubt there are many who don't know about it. Blessed with decent genes and lazy bones, I ignored this beauty holy grail until very very recently and now I am a convert. But its not these 3 steps I am talking about. I promised 1 step and that's what it is.
So as with all good things, my breakout free skin hung up its boots soon after I turned 25 and introduced me to the agony that is called ACNE. Thanks genes! Way to kick a girl in her prime.
When ignoring didn't make it go away, I went crazy with a facewash trying frenzy, thinking that would be my cure. While I was sort of right with the cleansing idea, trying multiple, drugstore anti-acne facewashes screwed my face into a dry, patchy mess and now I had two problems to deal with! Good time to mention that my once dry to normal skin had now turned somewhat combination, swaying from dry to oily as I combated the other. Fun!
As you too will also realise one day, girl-talk can solve anything; from bad skin to world peace and that's how I discovered the good thing that is Cetaphil. After patiently hearing me rant one coffee break, my colleague suggested I switch to using a non-soap cleanser like Cetaphil, clearly stating that "...at first, you will thinks it shit and doesn't clean anything but just give it three days..."
No truer words have ever been spoken.
Word of mouth, two years of trial n error & then a consultation with my dermatologist later, I landed on my current skincare must do and I feel obligated to share this with anyone who'd listen. Basically, the simplest step to good skin, in my experience is cleaning your face, twice. I swear. Its just that simple.
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| THE MAGIC COMBO |
I have been doing this for over a year now and I cannot do it any other way. From using a generic soapy facewash, I moved to using Cetaphil like a facewash for quite sometime. But then my dermat asked me to use it like a cleansing milk, and it turns out to be a better way to use it .
(I wasn't thrilled about this at first because I am a very lazy person but man, am I a convert!) Generic acne facewashes stripped my skin off moisture and I somehow always thought that the dry, tight and squeaky feeling is a sign of clean skin. But after using Cetaphil and seeing the dirty cotton pad, I realised that I can have clean skin that's soft and not stripped.
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| DOUBLE CLEANSING |
I have also tried to follow the cleansing process with this toner and its awesome to see specs of brown still come off on the pad. On the negative side, the salcylic acid kinda dries out my face if I use it daily so I am still experimenting with the T part.
I have a feeling that by the end of 2015, I will have my CTM routine down and if this is all I will need to do for good skin, my lazy ass is totally down with it.
P:S : I learnt a cool way to hold cotton pads from this video and it was such a DUH! moment :D
NOTE: Image of the gorgeous Blake Lively is from her website and used for inspiration ONLY
- 02:14
- 1 Comments
Bookmarking is the next best activity to virtual shopping or carting. Every time I come across these inspiration exercises, I am very prompt at bookmarking them. I even got brave this year and undertook not one but two 30days challenges! Just don't ask me how they went. (Hint: they didn't)
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| CHALLENGES! CHALLENGES! EVERYWHERE... |
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| IT STARES ME EVERY MORNING |
But today when I received this exercise from a friend, instead of the usual desire to just bookmark it, something magical happened. Reading the questions gave me a jolt of inspiration to write here, after a very long silence. Silence that I have been ruing everyday thinking this is just one more thing I quit mid way...
But maybe not. As soon as I read the questions, I realised that more than using this as an exercise, I am curious to find the answers to some of these questions...it seems fitting to get speculative about life, this time of the year, don't you think?
So starting tomorrow, me and my friend will be answering on question, in particular order for 30 days. We will be exchanging notes everyday and I am kinda tingly wondering which my first question would be...
30 days of writing prompts
Courtesy: Thought Catalog
1. Describe yourself from your
pet’s point of view.
2. Share the most incredible thing you’ve ever seen in the most
boring tone possible.
3. Provide your stream of consciousness during the the worst
nightmare you’ve ever had.
4. Write about leaving home.
5. Pick ten sayings for a fortune cookie that you would never want
to see come true.
6. You wake up with a key gripped tightly in
your hand. How did you get this key? What do you do with this it?
7. Write a compelling argument pushing the
worst advice you’ve ever been given.
8. Describe heartbreak.
9. Give 14 pieces of advice to a teen who is
graduating high school.
10. Write the autobiography of the life you
weren’t brave enough to lead.
11. Write a love story from end to beginning.
12. Pick a person you can’t stand and write a
letter describing every wonderful thing about them.
13. Write a love scene from the point of view
of your character’s hands.
14. Turn the thing that makes you the
angriest into a poem.
15. Write about the way things should have
been.
16. Write your own obituary honestly.
17. The person you loved who didn’t love you
back.
18. A coffee date with the person you were a
year ago.
19. The horrible secret the grocery clerk was
hiding.
20. Write a love story starring your algebra
teacher.
21. Write a letter to your future self.
22. Write about writing.
23. You approach a stranger on the street and
ask them to tell you one thing they have never told anybody. What do they tell
you?
24. You only have room for 5 things on your
bucket list – what are they?
25. Describe the exact day you just had, but
from the point of view of a psychopath.
26. Personify regret.
27. Write the back cover of the fiction novel
that is based on your life in high school.
28. Detail the adventures of a day where you
say “Yes” to everything.
29. How do you feel about love these days?
30. Write ten facebook status updates written by yourself in 2025- 04:58
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