all and all

Its been months since I last blogger. This irregular routine would come back soon, I hope.

If things do go smoothly.

It's been a few rocky months. Working at the hotel was difficult.
The beginning was always the honeymoon phase, and then things start to grow ugly.

However, I will not dwell on that, even though it hurt me more than it should.
Do people have to lead such cruel lives?

Things are starting to look bright again. And onward I'll look forward to.

Too cool ? for school !

So I was getting a massage at this massage parlour which freaked me out immensely. I have never been to a proper massage parlour before, only the ones by the roadside in Bangkok. I've heard things like you've got to be naked and the masseuse is gonna see your goods and all that stuff. The descriptions felt more like scenes in a kinky romance story. But enough of that weirdness, so I had the upper body massage and it was the most awkward experience ever. More on that later, because today we'll be talking about this interesting korean brand.

So I came across this quaint little corner shop that sells things that looked like art supplies, but to my surprise they were cosmetic items. Everything looked amazing in that shop and the packaging for each item looked so meticulously crafted. The graphics were really cool and fit into that whole "too cool for school" theme. The shops layout was covered with opened vintage boxes like the ones where salesman in the 90s would carry to your doorstep to introduce to you anew products. They had different collections for different make up items and skin care ranges depending on what you're looking for.

The damage?

 pictures are credited to 

the blogger whose photos came out on google. 

I got this dinoplatz, dear brachiosaurus blotting sheet.

It was the first thing that caught my eye when as I walked into the shop.

This has got to be the most interesting blotting sheet invention thing ever !

I like the box that comes with a mirror and the sheets that adhere to this turquoise sponge.

The packaging looks great, however the sheets aren't as good as the ones from clean and clear. It doesn't absorb much oil and the paper falls off the sponge when it gets too oily. Not sure how I feel about the usage as the refills are slightly more expensive than the clean and clear ones. 

Still, I'm a packaging kind of person and we'll see how this works out in the long run.

So the next item was the most expensive item of the lot.

It's a tinted jelly lip balm in a cat container called Max in Pocket.

Well, we can safely assume the cat's name is Max?

I love how the packaging is cute, but not in a "cute kids" type of look.

The design looks sophisticated and has a fun flair to it.

The colour is kiss kiss and it's a true red tint lip jelly. The balm itself is super sticky, and although it's very moisturizing, I'm often plagued by the fact that I'm left with a sticky finger after application.

There isn't alot of product in the container because it's suppose to be pocket size. 

But for that price, I'm not sure I will repurchase this.

                           

pictures are credited to 

the blogger whose photos came out on google

 The last items is this hand cream range from cats street. 

pictures are credited to 

the blogger whose photos came out on google

I just cannot comprehend how people are so creative. The box itself looks amazing and I can't bear to throw it away. Yes, I am a hoarder and I am unashamed of it. 

I took the time to smell all three hand creams within the range. The sales girl told me the rose scent was the bestseller, but I am not too keen on smelling like a rose. There is a slight chlorophyll smell to this rose scent compared to the annasui cosmetics.

I ended up with the lily smell which just smelled like fresh air and doesn't have an overpowering floral scent. Besides, the packaging for this one is the best too. It's a win win.

So, I'll definitely keep an eye on this brand. The pricing for some of the items ranges from RM40 too RM150, which isn't too bad depending on which item you are getting. I hope to try some of the other cosmetics and skin care items like the egg mask foam in the future. 

Till then !

Cinderelly-cinderelly

I. JUST. CANNOT.

get over how gorgeous the packaging for the new MAC cinderella collection.

Even the box it came in with was beautiful.

Managed to snag a few items from the collection before everything is sold out.

Can we just take a few moments to revel in the simplicity and wonder of the amazing perriwinkle blue packaging with lavender coloured lustre? It is this beautiful powder blue with a purple lustre and the gold just compliments the blue.

I bought the lipstick in "free as a butterfly", the beauty powder in "mystery princess" and the lipglass in "glass slipper". Funny how relevent the names of each makeup is to the traditional princess movie.

As an avid lover of makeup, I hardly step into MAC stores because I just can't find anything that I would wear. I'm very much a neutral kind of girl and MAC is loud and colourful, which just goes opposite of what I want. SO when I heard MAC launched a cinderella collection in collaboration with Disney, (yes they collaborated, not the inspired ones) I had to get myself some of the collection. To my delight, everything from the cinderella collection is neutral shades. I was in heaven.

The packaging was beautiful and the subtle nude pinks and glitters were just right in every product. I was there less than a week after the collection launched and already most of the products were sold out. I was anxious to get the blush which I heard was very pretty and the "happily ever after" lipglass. Unfortunately, they were already sold out. I am obsessed with the "happily ever after" lipglass because it has blue shimmers in the pink gloss, and it looks so pretty on the skin. Will probably try another outlet and see if I can get my hands on it.

Anyway, the pictures just doesn't do the product any justice.

I wonder if anyone was as crazy about the collection as me?

By the way, the movie was amazing too. It's a simple fairy tale retold, and it made me feel like  little girl all over again. I am a real Disney fanatic and eventhough I'm much more of a realist in person, I secretly harbour feelings for my childhood dreams. 

I love her glass slippers, and my obsession with butterflies needs to be controlled.
Seeing her dress and her shoes just sends me off into a frenzy.

I hope you guys enjoyed the movie as much as I did.
And no snarky comments because it's a freaking children's story. No need for technicalities.

Till then !

A new start

     

Happy New Year peeps !

It's officially the the 7th day or chinese new year.
Took a trip back to Penang with half the family (dad had to take care of the house) on the first day till the third.

Pretty much spent the entire three days eating and gambling and eating and eating and eating and eating and eating....
Well yeah, you get the drift.

Barely posted any ootds because the weather was unbearably hot and I just couldn't be bothered to pose and take pictures in the heat. Back at my grandma's place, everyone was fighting to be within the stand fan's "peripheral view".

                    

Me and my sister and the cousins.

Steamboat !

A very awkward wefie accompanied with a short video or all the *older* people singing and the rest of us either staring blankly at the camera or attempting to grab food whilst everyone is busy.

The only one who seems to be truly celebrating Chinese New Year traditions.

                           My ahyee, who seems to be making a lot of people getting broke.  

                  

          

                                   What would chinese new year be without  proper lou sang.

Have yet to update on my fully healed eye.

It's still swollen but I can't stand wearing glasses anymore.

Till then !

friday's the day

Tomorrow is Valentine's day guys !

Whilst you young couples go around being lovey-dovey, I'm more focused on the task at hand. Which is getting the house chores done by Chinese New Year.

There is still so much uncertainty for me that this holiday is the only thing I'm looking forward to. And also am looking forward to see Dr. Alice on Monday to remove the stitch on my eye.

It is still swollen as ever, and it looks like I've been somebody's punching bag with the bruises and all. But my dad could only reassure me that it will heal in time.

I'm still very much under post-traumatic stress and the ghost of the pain still haunts me in my mind. I keep thinking that the pain would find its way back to me again. But I have every faith in my doctor and she has reassured me that everything will be fine now.

So here is a post glutton face at TGIF on a Friday night. Apart from my healing eye, I have lost some weight when I was in pain. Although that is the only right thing that ever came out from all of this, I am happily eating now and can only say that I am gaining back all my lost weight. 

Till then peeps !

an end

Finally went to see Dr Alice today at Mid Valley for my stitch up. Am so glad to almost finally closing a chapter of this horror story. When my eye completely heals can I then, put this all behind me and look better into the future.

But first things first, I want to advise you young people, yes I said advise (I am getting old) on thinking carefully when going for aesthetic surgery. It may not be surgical, but just because a knife isn't involve doesn't mean the dangers aren't there.

I urge everyone to please do lots of research into the clinic and the profile of the doctor that is performing the procedure on you.

Is he/she well experienced?
Have they faced any complications before?
If so, how was it then resolved?
How is the procedure conducted?
How long will it last?
The type of thread used?
The sewing method employed by the doctor?

Have them thoroughly explain the procedure to you and don't just think that he/she is a doctor and have done this many times over means you can fully trust the doctor. You must understand, your body is of your own. Your final outlook and your pain will be fully your own and not the doctor's.

I am not trying to bad mouth the doctor who did my eyelid. I understand that she does not mean to cause any harm onto me. But in my opinion, the way she handled the complication was not very professional at all. Three weeks of intense burning pain, lack of sleep and deteriorating self-esteem can be very unpleasant.

With this very painful experience, I could only recommend a trusted doctor who has completely saved my life and restored my sight, and most importantly, stopped the pain. Though not many people know, ISEC (international specialist eye centre) in Mid Valley is not a clinic that only specializes in eyes but also aesthetic surgery. Your eyes are more sensitive compared to any other part of your body. One small mistake would lead to vision lost forever, and nothing can change that.

Your eyelid is close to your eyes and having a proper oculopastic surgeon is the best way possible. Dr Alice fully understood the situation as she is also an opthalmologist that practices oculoplasty. If there were any complications at all as no one is perfect, she would be able to help. Dr Alice was fully committed to helping me with my situation until I felt safe and confident again.

Today even, she was able to stitch my eye whilst trying to adapt to the shape of my other eye that was stitched by another doctor. Every doctor's stitching method is different and it can be very difficult to achieve the similar look as the other eye.




I didn't really want to expose myself to public on my eyelid surgery, but I felt others should know what are the complications that can happen if the procedure was not done properly.

 On the right as a picture of my swollen eye during the first week the pain started. Part of my face was swollen because of the persistent pain that was haunting me.

This picture on the right is where I was entering my third week of pain. The swelling was so bad from the inside my lash line was not downwards as it should be. This was the most I could open my eyes during that time.

I had to bandage my eye for 5 days and went to and fro from the doctor's clinic for 8 days in a row so the doctor could fully monitor the healing of the cornea abrasion and to ensure that there is not infection that could lead to complications.

Had to constantly drip several different eye drops and different eye ointment every hour at one point to prevent infection. Painkillers during that time was my best friend. But even the strongest of painkillers weren't enough to subdue the pain and had to resort to anesthetic eye drops to ease the pain.

 Pictures of the Dr Alice's waiting area. 

   

Waiting patiently for Dr. Alice to stitch back my swollen eye.

I could tell that the clinic was strict in maintaining cleanliness as I had to wear these medical robes and hairnet just to undergo a small surgery. 

This experience was completely different from the other doctor's place that I went to.

Dr Alice do provide other aesthetic services if interested.
She can be contacted through making an appointment at ISEC +603 2284 8989
The clinic is located at Level 7, Centrepoint South, The Boulevard, Mid Valley City.
She has an instagram (@dralicegoh) account on other patients that have undergone her BB eye treatment and other customised surgery.

I was not in any way requested to promote Dr Alice. I just felt this is the least I could do for her as she has helped me immensely when going through the whole situation. She sacrificed time on both her off days just to see me and to monitor my progress and I am very grateful to her.

On a side note, for almost the same amount of money charged for an eyelid suture procedure, wouldn't it have been better to have an oculaplastic surgeon do it for you?
Think twice because the amount of money spent on this surgery is still not worth your pain. Do your research !

I will then update when my eyes are fully healed.
Till then, take care !

the windows of my soul

I have always struggled with being the typical single eyelid asian my entire life. Of course as a child, it did not matter to me single or double, or whether I have a prominent nose on my face, or whether my chin was small enough to fit the norms of beauty. 

Beauty, such a complex word. 

Though simple, its meaning expands throughout different timelines of perceptions and surreal standards of how society has deemed on what shape a woman should look. 

Not only are we then, challenged by how we should style our hair, or the clothes we wear, or the jewellery we don on ourselves; but that challenge is now pushed to the edge towards changing how we naturally look. 

         

Of course, it was never a crime to push our limits of changing ourselves. It was a way of expression, of what story we would like to tell everyone else. To look beautiful was to lift our confidence, was a way to allow us to feel like we are able to take on the world. And to love varying different facets ourselves even more than we could. 

As a pursuer of beauty myself, I too am caught up in the whirlwind of aesthetics. The magic of being able to further enhance our beauty will always baffle me as the lengths people go through to research and discover more ways to look beautiful. 

I do not fully advocate going for aesthetics but I do not disapprove either. Sometimes, for some of us, it was like another road being paved for us to walk, to stand out after drowning under the endless images of pretty girls. 

After much contemplation, and what felt like a lifetime of waiting, I had my first non-surgical aesthetic done and it became a nightmare from then on.

As mentioned in my previous post which was definitely word heavy, I have decided to further summarise my point here. The pictures above shows what I've looked like recently before having my double eyelid done.

I know many family and friends would say in a typical chinese fashion: "there is nothing wrong with your eyes what. natural beauty is best". But they know themselves how much better we look after having aesthetics done. Like having your eyes buried under heavy eyelids for so long finally come out looking brighter and high-spirited.


Make-up then allowed me to create an eyelid crease but not without tons and tons of mascara and eyeliners. Sometimes, I would resort to wearing false lashes which in my opinion, further damages our already sad and sparse eyelashes.

I remember going through tubes of mascara just to get that pretty subtle double eyelid crease. How much of a difference it makes to my face. I was so glad for that short two weeks when my eyes would finally reflect my personality.
Big and Bright. 


My worst nightmare came true, and I felt like every "I told you so" came to life and crowding me in my pain. It was not a experience I would even wish upon my worst enemy.

                     

I became from this to this.

It was heartbreaking. And the pain was incredible.

I did not know a person could take on so much pain.

More on my next posts. I'll show some bad pictures of when my eyes were terribly swollen.