Back to Natural, Beauty recipes

Another post that I never thought that I would post. But... as it is really good... I think I should just write it down, just in case y'all need it.

For those who wants to go straight to the products, here is the product I am using daily:
erha 2 for oily skin (soap)
or alternatively, I use Hada Labo Tamagohada face peeling (also good for make up remover)
or Hada Labo es foaming face wash for sensitive skin

Daily moisturizer
Hada Labo Gokujyun lotion (they have light for oily skin and heavy for dry skin, initially, they only provide one, which was also ok)
or alternatively, I use the Gokujyun alpha anti aging lotion (red colored gokujyun)
Hada Labo SPF 50 UV protection (love it. it does not look like a sticky banana boat and friends)

When my oily skin suddenly went dry
Hada Labo Gokujyun milk (wham!!! dry skin go away!)

When I need to moisturize my skin so it won't be so oily:
Olive oil
Virgin Coconut Oil

When I need to wear make up
Revlon Colorstay Photoready

So, I have a vitiligo and I am a bit paranoid against cosmetics and any chemicals on my face. I am just worry that any of those chemicals will trigger something on my immune system and those immune soldiers will start to eat my melanin again. My dermatologist, who "fixed" my last vitiligo super outbreak (maybe 10 years ago), had given me a coumarin derived medication, forgot what's the name, but it is basically burning my skin so it will tan quickly and return my skin color. It does cover lots of the part that lost its color, around my lips and at the tip of toes and fingers, but it also tanned areas around it as I was not neat enough.

Anyways, back to the cosmetics. My dermatologist continued to give me his cosmetics (he is one of the franchise local dermatologist who produced cosmetics). That cosmetics actually peeled my skin, in a good way (not for the first few months) and well, I can say that my skin looks faboulous. But I feel that is not normal. Once I leave the cosmetics, my skin became dull within months.

I decided... this has to change. I stick to the soap from my dermatologist, which is Erha 2 for oily skin, as I still think that IT IS THE BEST face soap that I've ever used. It never fail me in removing make up, I have never seen any comedo or black heads (or white) outbreak while using only that, so I am perfectly happy with the soap. But I still have issues in finding the best moisturizer and friends.

So while I was in Singapore, I saw this brand called Hada Labo (Indonesian link here))and I thought why it claims that it is the no.1 selling moisturizer (lotion for face, long story, discuss later) in Japan. I was skeptical, but when I saw a Taiwanese TV program talk about it, I was sort of convinced and bought the Gokujyun milk instead of lotion (big mistake, but anyways, I still have it for severe dry skin remedy).

Only after I went back to Indonesia that I bought the full set of Hada Labo Gokujyun during a sale, and found out that the price of this product in Indonesia is so much cheaper as it is locally produced! Can't you imagine how happy I am? :)

I still unable to get my hands on Hada Labo es, for sensitive skin, but I am quite happy with my current access. I got the SPF 50 from my sister (well, it costs SGD 20, sooo expensive, but it lasts for months. Just like my erha 2 that lasts for 6 months at least).

Few months before I left Singapore, I started to use Palmer's skin therapy oil with Rosehip fragrance to remove uneven skin tone. My face is blotchy, like some part of it superwhite and some part of it is tan. Maybe thanks to the peeling cosmetics from my dermatologist + my tendency for vitiligo. I still feel that my face skin tone is still uneven, but you can't really see it unless you are scrutinizing with a strong light. After that, I started to use olive oil (Ginvera Bio Pure Olive Oil), and then I bought a VCO Cocolicious when I went to Manila in May. It's for food actually, but it so damn natural, it smells good, and it doesn't oxidize as fast as Palmer's. Been using that ever since.

To remove make up, I use my olive oil or just a normal baby oil (my fave is johnson's and johnson's baby oil with aloe vera). I put the oil on my left palm, dip my right 3 middle fingers into the oil and massage my face. Be very careful around the eyes, wipe it outwardly. After you massage all of the face with oil, use a cotton ball or ordinary facial cotton, dab a little oil on it, and wipe those make up off your face. After all make up layers have been removed, wash your face with facial wash (warm preferably, but with my erha 2, I don't need to worry about this). Immediately dab your face with towel, and use your moisturizer immediately. For me, I just need to pat my Gokujyun lotion. On days when I feel like I had abused my skin, I will go directly to olive oil or VCO.

I also use the VCO to treat my hair, by mixing it with honey, and leave it for at least 30 mins. Warm it with steam or hot towel, and wash with hot/warm water to ensure complete oil removal.

How has my skin been doing?

Great! I don't have those white or black heads as much as I was before. I usually need to do facial to remove the comedos every 1-2 months. Now it's been 3 months and my skin still feels clean. I just realized how my skin looks after I met a friend who told me that my skin looks great, and that when I am holding my concealer, I have nothing to conceal :p. Humble brag? I hope not. But I sincerely suggesting to use VCO and other oils for your skin. If my supersensitive skin can handle it, I'm quite sure yours should be able too.

DIY waxing

 Hello hello...

I'm still busy with my craft after moving to the new place. Plus, there's a new baby at home (not mine) so... basically, it's a bit hectic lately.

Anyways. I want to add an entry, which actually not really related with craft, but when I made this blog, I was going to write home-related things too. Well, especially DIYs. So, our current topic is waxing, and to be specific, brazillian waxing.

I am using the instant waxing strips from Body Shop. Why did I buy it? My consideration was because it is very practical, which means that I don't have to heat the wax prior the process. Most of the time, I will cut the strips to the size that I need. But, I think my method can be applied to most of the waxing product.

What we need:
- Instant waxing strips
- talcum powder, I prefer the ones with menthol to 'calm' my skin
- hand held mirror, but if you have small standing mirror, it would be better
- tweezers, use different tweezers if you also pluck your eyebrow. But, if you're okay, just wash the tweezers after each use.
- common scissors, to cut the strips
- small comb
- soap, water
- towel or a very good tissue


Let's do it!
1. first, I usually wash the area I want to wax with warm soapy water. It would be better if you use non-sodium liquid soap so that your skin will not be dry. But, if your daily bath soap does not dry-out your skin, then just use it. I personally use Johnson's pH 5.5 liquid soap.
2. Dry the area with a towel or tissue. It is important that you don't leave any fiber on the area, so careful with your choice of towel/tissue. If you feel you need too, comb the hairs downward. If you don't have comb, just use your fingers.
3. Cut the strips. I usually cut them without changing the original width of the strips (the narrowest side), so the size will be about 8 cm (width) x 2 (length) cm.
4. Peel the instant waxing strips. Since both sides are usable, remember to put the unused strip safely away from you. You don't want to have them stick to your hands or any other place when you accidentally touch them. Put the sticky side up. Hold the peeled strip on your hand. I'm not a lefty, so I hold it on my right hand by using two fingers only.
5. Stretch the area that you want to wax by pulling the skin upward using your other hand (I'm using my left).
6. Stick the strips downward carefully. Downward here means that they are following the direction of the hair growth. Do not let go of your stretching hands (here... my left).
7. At this stage, the original width of the strip (8 cm) will be sticking downward. (... please use your imagination). Or... the 8 cm will be the vertical length.
8. Still using the other hand to stretch, use your hand to improve and distribute the stickiness by gently press and rub (once or twice is sufficient) in downward direction. Body Shop suggest that you can warm the strips by rubbing them prior to use, but I prefer to just put my hands (so... don't be cold handed) for about 15 seconds on the sticking strip.
9. Get ready, and pull the strip upward.
10. Repeat the process from 2 to 9, with combing the hairs if necessary. Repeat until the area that you need to wax are mostly stripped, and the majority of the hairs are gone. Once you reached areas that are difficult too see, use the mirror.
11. In my experience, the wax from the strips will usually sticks hard to the hairs. The first pull usually have weakened the hair roots. So if you have hairs that are so difficult to remove, even after you use the strips multiple times, handle this problem by gently pull them using your fingers. They supposed to be pulled off easily.
12. Using tweezers, pluck the hairs that are hidden or grow at a difficult area. Tweezers can also be used to shape the area if you have any pattern in mind.
13. Apply the talcum powder to remove stickiness and to find hairs that haven't been removed.
14. Once you are satisfied, wash the waxed area with warm soapy water, rinse, and apply the talcum powder again.

It usually takes 20-30 minutes of my time, depends on how much hair I want to remove.

.... that's all for now. :D