rabbit

It's interesting that my favourite outfit of Simon of Permanent Style is one from a hat review xD

But tell me this isn't the most handsome outfit:

Posting mostly so I have a reference photo for the day I commission a bespoke coat just like this one (plus detachable black fur trim for the collars). ONE DAY!

skincare routine: ATL 2019

in which I try high-key backlit photos:

For cleansers, I've been using the travel size Shu cleansing oil that I bought...when I went to Japan? Currently using the anti-oxi (purple) one, and am liking it a lot. The texture is not too thick and not too runny, doesn't sting my eyes like the porefinist (pink one). I'm considering getting full-sized version of this in the distant future (aka after I have a downpayment saved). As for second-cleaner, it's my always reliable Hada Labo foaming cleanser. I am tempted by the heavenly scent of the Sulwhasoo cleanser, but alas now is not the time for skincare inflation.

The rest of my routine is shown above:

• Secret Key FTE: as with all the other FTEs I've used...I don't notice much improvement, but I suppose my skin tone is pale and relatively bright already. Was just using this up, will not be repurchasing any FTE in the foreseeable future
• Hada Labo shirojyun toner mixed with Komeyu rice bran oil: I swear the secret to having a glow is to use facial oil haha
• Melano CC vit C serum (morning only): this "oily" feeling vit c serum has been great in the drier winter times. I felt that my skin's texture has improved slightly, and that my hyperpigmentations are fading faster, at least initially. My PIH fades from a fresh scar to being able to be covered up by base makeup in about a week, which is good enough for me. Will repurchase (actually have a backup tube because I bought 2 by mistake) but am switching to a water-based vit c (Timeless vit C) now that I'm in humid Houston for the spring/summer
• Komeyu rice bran serum (evening only): I love the texture of this serum and how quickly it sinks in. Not sure how much impact it's had, combined with the relative difficulty in sourcing this, I will not repurchase. 
• Hada Labo shirojyun lotion: this will probably never be replaced haha. I was tempted to get a Sulwhasoo water (essential or snowise) but have not found an emulsion or lotion that is noticeably better. 
• Sulwhasoo essential eye cream: still using the sample, this tiny bottle lasts a long time! The pump is prone to over-dispensing product too. I don't have an opinion on this really...since I'm using it preventatively, but it does smell nice and is textually nice. 
• IUNIK tea tree serum (during breakouts only): I don't think this is as effective as the LJH one, but it does work as well. I can notice a reduction in how inflamed (or angry looking) an active acne is the morning after applying this. Won't immediately repurchase as I want to try some cica products to compare the two ingredients. 

Luckily I've used up some these products (the FTE and the serum) at the same time I'm moving to Houston, which is great since I need to use less products in the humid-er climate. Now my regular  routine is probably the most pared-down it's ever been haha, just cleansing, tone (with oil only at night), then lotion and eye cream. 

...

Morning make-up:

After a month of try-harding with mascara almost everyday in Toronto, I'm back to a lazy, no eye makeup routine:

• Mamonde primer: this is an unexpected hit for me, especially since I was convinced into buying this by an SA. But turns out I do really like it. The lavender color correcting primer is very effective, I can see my skin tone becoming brighter and more white (as in less yellow). It also has a high enough sun protection, although I doubt I use enough of this to reap the listed protection. But given that I'm in an office all day, I'm okay with slightly dubious sun protection. Will repurchase.
• Sulwhasoo perfecting cushion: my opinion on this drifted a lot. I didn't think it was all that special in the beginning, but am now fully appreciating its "perfecting" name. It really does just that, it gives your face a soft blur filter. It looks super natural, I swear most people cannot tell that I'm wearing base make-up. The glow from my facial oil also shows through. Although that's also the downside, this cushion has pretty much non-existent coverage of pigmentation. It does wonders for making your skin texture look perfect, but it does show all the scars / redness underneath. This is also why I'm using the color-correcting primer underneath, as it helps even my skin tone so that this cushion doesn't have to. Will repurchase
• Innisfree powder: this goes on my T-zone and wherever my glasses sit on my face. It is really great at absorbing oil, and the effect lasts pretty much the whole workday for me. Will repurchase, although this container has lasted me years. 
• Lipsticks: Mamonde, Aritaum, Burberry. It was such a hard decision picking which lipsticks to bring with me. In the end I settled on a bright red hydrating one (Mamonde), a glossy bright pink one (Aritaum), and a matte MLBB one (Burberry, this one is just slightly cooler and pinker than my natural lips). I tend to default to the Mamonde one, and choose the other two depending on the colours of my outfit

pole

The latest episode of Secular Buddhism "stepping into groundlessness" is a good summary of my lessons learned so far from dating Jeff. I still feel averse to groundlessness, but at least my first reactions are less disruptive and my second reactions are minimized. In fact, let me pat myself on the back here, my reaction to the latest incident went from very negative, to positive (!!), and oscillated between slightly negative and neutral for the couple days after as I processed through the situation.

So that's the short version.

stir

Frozen pizza is the ideal move-out food, it requires no utensils to consume (y)

But before that, I had a kale & white bean pesto pasta:

Lemma again rant about my perpetual problem with taking photos of my dinner: the image is never as sharp as I like because I don't have enough light so I open my lens to max aperture such that only a sliver is actually in focus "orz
Someone buy me nice lighting equipment plz
and a tripod
and the newly released xf 16mm f2.8

Killing Commedatore

This is likely my shortest post on a Murakami book: one quotation and one impression.

The quotation:

Their gaze had a strange radiance - "a frozen flame" was the phrase that leapt to mind. That flame had warmth, but at the same time, it was cool and collected. Like a rare jewel whose glow came from deep within. That light expressed naked yearning when projected outside. Focused inward, it strove for completion. Those two sides were equally strong, and at perpetual war with each other.

The impression:
My feelings about this book is like the underground river setting that the main character ventures into to save Mariye: the river separates absence and presence, and is covered by a white mist

Acne Jensens

My #3 bbs:

I've had an eBay alert for these in my size for years, and it finally paid off! Got them for 50% off retail price, which is amazing for how lightly worn these are. To put it in context, that's slightly cheaper than the Everlane boss boots, which are essentially the Jensens anyways. The only downside is the lack of original packaging :(

Wore them for a maiden voyage earlier in the week and felt great. They're not super comfortable as the toe box is both low and narrow, but I wouldn't categorize them as uncomfortable either. Not sure where exactly the toe stiffener ends, so there is a chance that they'll break in better.

But I am so in love with the shape. The low profile toe and the tight waist is beautiful.

...

This is the 3/10 of my ten wardrobe addition this year.
The previous two are a leopard print scarf from Taobao, and a chalk pinstripe color way of the Wilfred Jallad pants (bought on Aritzia's winter sale)

morph

Some comforting soup is needed after reading Evicted:

Caldo verde via Series Eats

This soup is up there with the cabbage & farro soup for creating so much flavour from such humble ingredients. To emphasize my point, I like it made even with super-processed sausage. In fact, the bouncy texture of the super-processed sausage is a fantastic contrast to the soft potato. I also simplified the potatoes to just one type, but chopping it in varying sizes so some chunks disintegrate while some chunks remain whole.