Annie's Way Arbutin + Hyaluronic Acid Brightening Jelly Mask REVIEW

Hello hello! I'm back with a review ;) 

I've recently received this mask in the mail and was jumping for joy (internally); but seriously I've been wanting to try out this mask for a while now, because I saw bubzbeauty using it and raving about it. I don't know why it took me to long to muster up the courage to order this little fella. However, here it is, live, in the flesh, let's do this review!

What it does:

According to the Annie's Way website it claims that... "Hyaluronic Acid Hydrating Mask Hyaluronic Acid is a highly effective hydrating agent that locks in moisture. It tightens and increases skin's elasticity making your skin irresistibly smooth and soft."

How to use it:

First things first, you must cleanse your face, yep that's right, just like any masks you want to wash that face clean. Then, it states that you should apply a toner before applying this mask (but let's be honest, ain't nobody got time for that, so I simply skip this step) and finally, apply the mask with the spatula that is (should be) included when you order this mask. Remember to apply the mask liberally all over your face (0.3 - 0.5 cm is the thickness you're going for here guys) Next, you simply wait for 30 minutes (15 minutes for sensitive skin)

This is what the masks looks like on the skin, so you get a better idea of the texture, it definitely lives up to its' jelly name that for sure! Here, I am trying my best to spread the mask evenly to the recommened thickness. The key thing is to get it to cover your face k? no pressure.

After the 30 minutes is up, you want to go ahead to (gently) scrape the mask off and wipe your face with a tissue to remove the leftover residue and then rinse with water. Continue with your moisturizer and you're done! It is recommended to use this mask twice a week or as needed.

What I think about it:

Let me just say, I absoluteeely loooove this mask! I was seriously skeptical at the beginning, I kept thinking, "what the diddle doo is so special about this mask?! it's just a clear jelly!" but boy, was I wrong as ever! My first impression of this mask is "wow, this feels sooo good on!" It seriously does! Can't afford to go to a spa for a facial? have no fear, this mask will make you feel like you're in a spa (with the help of a dimmed room, essential oils and a comfy place to rest your head on, of course. Hehehe) Now, let's get to the real stuff, the results... after I scraped the mask off and washed my face, I instantly felt like my skin got more plump. After I applied my moisturizer, my face felt soft as a baby's bum and oh so bouncy. My skin also appreared significantly brighter and dare I say lighter? I personally don't want/need a mask that will lighten my skin as I preffer to be more tan but it's honestly no big deal, especially with all the other benefits this mask brings to my skin. Alright, so let's go back to the claim they've stated on their website, shall we? 

"Hyaluronic Acid Hydrating Mask Hyaluronic Acid is a highly effective hydrating agent that locks in moisture. It tightens and increases skin's elasticity making your skin irresistibly smooth and soft."

Locks in moisture: yep.

Tightens: YASS!

Increases skin's elasticity: oh yea.

Irresistibly smooth and soft: YES YES YES! I can't stop touching my cheeks!

What more can I say about this mask other than that I love it, and my brother absolutely enjoys it too! hahaha :p I'm definitely going to purchase a couple more of this mask and a couple more masks from the Annie's Way brand!


I purchased my mask from YesStyle 


Let me know if you're going to try the mask or got any questions!


Ciao,
Sylvia  ♥ 

Stress: The Bad and the Good

One of the most common questions a job interviewer asks is: How do you handle stress? OR How well do you handle stress? OR both. These, by far, are my favourite interview questions because they allow me to be creative with my answers. If you would like to get some tips from my cheat sheet, keep on reading!

 

**Please keep in mind that because we are talking about stress in a professional setting, this post is not to be generalized to accommodate life's daily affairs outside of such setting.

Stress, for me, is divided into two types: the GOOD and the BAD. Let's start with the bad.

The "bad" or "negative" stress is the kind that makes you feel bogged down and frustrated. This type of stress is typically exacerbated by impending deadlines, learning pressures, expectations, etc. I'd suppose this also applies to those who are still in school. You are given so much on your plate, yet so little time to finish everything.

HOWEVER,

It's all about your P E R S P E C T I V E. When we take a more positive approach when addressing stress, believe it or not, we can turn 'bad' stress into the good kind - the kind that provides beneficial advantage for us. Let me elaborate.

The "good" stress keeps us on track and focused on each given task, which results in our successfully meeting (punching) those deadlines effectively, learning new things efficiently, and most possibly even surpassing those massive expectations excellently (provided you don't take more than your allocated portion, of course).

Now, handling stress may not be that big of an issue to some people. Be that as it may, handling stress well may be a little more challenging. The simplest tip I can give you on this is one of my mottos: "Handle stress with grace."

From my ever-so-minuscule work experience, having a calmed mind is the best way to tackle stress. By calming your mind, you will be able to concentrate and have utmost focus when doing each task. When faced with a challenge, don't panic. Simply breathe, focus, and tell yourself you can get through it.

Writing things down in an agenda is also a good way to manage stress. Not only does this method keep you neat and organized, it also helps you in keeping track of your assignments, should there be more things added to your existing list. When your work is organized, your work ethic becomes organized in turn, and so does your mind! An organized mind means, at least to me, less stress!!

 

In my [humble] opinion, scatter and stress do NOT go together. No matter how exceptional your memory capacity, when there is a myriad of things thrown in your way simultaneously, the last thing you want to do is scouring through that part of your brain figuring out what to do next. With that said, you would want to make use of a work aid - such as an agenda/planner/organizer; or a 'gadget', if you are tech savvy.

How do you turn Stressed into Desserts? I guarantee you, if you perform your best and regard stress with a positive attitude, you will achieve the best results. When you have performed and achieved your best, you will then have justification for rewarding yourself with some goodies (read: desserts).

There's my take on how to manage stress. If you have any thoughts, questions, or concerns you'd like to share, or if you would like to add to these tips, feel free to voice your words in the comment box below this post.

Remember, handle stress with grace.

Hazel xox

Mac Pro Longwear Concealer

Hey loves! If you are looking for a concealer that will not crease, will last all day long, and sweat proof / water proof, this is the one! I have tried many concealers but it was hard to find the one that will not crease and will last long, until one day I went to Mac and they recommended this concealer. It is the Mac Pro Longwear Concealer!


The worker applied the product on my face and I looked in the mirror and thought ...OMG this is amazing! It blends with my skin like magic, it is lightweight, and it does not make your face look caked. I can say this concealer is water proof because of my experience. One hot sunny day I went to the water park and got a bit messy, so I thought my face make up is probably smudge everywhere but I checked and my concealer is still in place and I was shocked! So that is a plus! The price is $23.00 which is affordable considering the concealer works amazing. So, if you guys are looking for a concealer that will last long, non-creasing, and sweat proof / water proof, I recommend you guys this concealer! Xo

Nutella & Peanut Butter Dip

Hey guys!

Today I'm gonna be sharing an easy after school snack recipe. Yep, you guessed it, everyone's favourite, nutella. *cue heavenly music* Now this is my take on the whole fruit dip situation, it's so easy and simple, I don't know why you wouldn't try it. Let's get this started!

You first need Nutella, obviously..

All Natural Peanut Butter

I chose all natural peanut butter simply because it doesn't contain any additional sugar
(compared to processed peanut butter)  and it helps cut the sweetness from the nutella.

A fruit of your choice! 

I chose Green Apple because of its natural tartness,
I think it cuts the sweetness of the nutella perfectly.

Next, you want to take a 1:1 ratio of the Nutella and the PB.

Here, I did a teaspoon of each.



Mix it all up, cut up your fruit and serve it on a plate!

You should have this creamy goodness as a result! ;)

This recipe was inspired by my love of candy apples, I just absolutely love apples covered in caramel and chocolate.. #yass. To simply put it, the mixture of the nutella and peanut butter pefectly resembles those caramel candy apples they sell at the carnivals. The creamy consistency of the dip just makes it absolutely irrestitable for fruits to get dipped in. Try out this easy snack and let me know how you like love it! Ciao!

Sylvia ♥ 

Nail Tale

I have found my holy grail of nails (or should I say grailS). As I play both guitar and piano, I make a slight effort to keep my nails looking presentable to the public eye - I mean, most of the time they're just short and boring, even when they are freshly painted. To me short nails exhibit a more demure, innocent look compared to long, luscious nails which scream "SEXY!" I'm all for either one but unfortunately in my case, the latter is far too impractical for me to rock since I don't have the personality. But I digress.

Behold my NAIL TALE...

Ace of the Base

 

 Jin Soon Power Coat

I bought this base coat on a whim at Sephora. I didn't know what else to get - I hadn't tried their X-Formula polish and didn't want to take any chances, so I decided to go with this one. And then I FELL IN LOVE.. This is the best base coat I've tried so far. It does a great job at preventing/delaying chips and it makes your polish stay longer on your nails!

The Queen of Hearts

Nails Inc. NailKale Illuminator in 'Bright Street'

I may have an issue with buying things on a whim, but at least I end up falling in love with them. My heart was stolen for the second time under the influence of such whim. What ON EARTH is an Illuminator??! The first thing that caught my attention was the sturdy packaging. It's heavy and doesn't feel plastic-y. I thought that was enough to earn my trust from the get-go. Moreover, the iridescent glow reminds me of healthy skin's luminous finish, but on nails. When I swatched the sample at Sephora, I'm pretty sure I went to nail heaven and never came back down. So I bought it.

Welcome to the Club

Dior Gel Coat

... the Housewives' club, where everyone has had their nails perfectly manicured! This gel top coat gives you just that. If you are obsessed with the gel look, but unwilling to spend (waste) your $$$ on below-average, low-satisfaction manicures, then this is the perfect item for you to invest in! You can modify your own manicure/pedicure according to your liking. Personally for me, it isn't the best top coat per se, but it does what it claims to do. It gives you that amazing thick, cushiony gel finish you've always longed for. BUT, give it about 2-3 days for the gel to start "shrinking" and cracking all over your nail. It's your call!

Shine Bright like a Diamond

 

Chanel Laque Brilliance Extreme

What in the world did those experts put in the formula??? THIS, my friends, is the real deal. Its high-gloss finish is brilliant, but also understated at the same time, and spells S-o-p-h-i-s-t-i-c-a-t-i-o-n. It does not provide the same gel-like surface as the Dior top coat, but the shine effect lasts 2-3 days more than that of Dior. I personally prefer this over the Dior top coat just because the finish looks so much simpler in my opinion. Do I think it's worth the $30? Heck yes. Do I recommend it? Certainly. Your life will never be the same.

Last but not least....

The Magic Trick

Sally Hansen Dry & Go Drops

Don't let the silly packaging fool you because this may be the smartest thing man ever invented for our nails. I remember my first time using this and being utterly and pathetically impressed at how convenient this little guy is! For those of you who don't know, this crazy miracle dries fresh manicures in only 60 seconds. I usually put 3 drops, depending on which nail I'm applying it on. Life is so much easier with its handy presence. The ingenuity is strong in this one.

That concludes my nail tale hail. Made up your mind yet? Let us know in the comments if you have any input and/or recommendations!

From our Punnyland,

Hazel xox

Competence is the Best Revenge

 Let me start off this blog by sharing a bit of my personal story. The other day at work I was met with a challenge I never encountered before. Feeling undeniably uncharted within the situation, I was slightly disheartened at my shortcomings. I kept blaming myself for not being able to "get it right". Consequently, this dismissive notion I had started to plant in my own head would grow to produce adverse ramifications on my thoughts and mind as a whole. I began to doubt my own abilities and whether I was truly capable. I had even let myself think that the people I'm working with would look down on me in more demeaning ways than one. Well, let me tell you, no one else can justify your own abilities, except yourself.

These past few months, I have learned that when you are introduced to a new work environment and you feel yourself unable to keep up with the pace, it's not because you are incapable -- you are simply unfamiliar with the new scene. Coming from a history and literature background, I had no prior knowledge whatsoever of the investment industry. Everything was brand new to me -- the concept, the system, the people. However, I try to not let my inexperience compromise my capacity to learn new things efficiently. Yes, multiple times I have wished for people to look past my noob-ish ways and to take my education background into consideration, but I figured I can only hope. One conditional advice with which I keep reminding myself: "Don't pity yourself".
The following are a few pointers I've compiled on how to move forward positively and prove those people wrong.

WHAT TO DO:
 Keep learning. Chances are, all of this is new to you because you had never done it before. Get yourself familiarized to the new system and the way it works. If there is more than one individual you are directly working with, familiarize yourself with the way each team or individual works. Everyday is a lesson.

Work hard. Work longer hours than required. Go the extra distance and take the extra mile when given an assignment. Show your boss or whoever else it is you report to that you can contribute more than what they ask for. You don't have to be married to your job, but for young people, one of the best ways you can show your dedication is how far you would be willing to stay overtime after the day is done to either work on next day's tasks or learn new things.

Be confident. Do not hesitate, especially in communication because it only makes you look nervous and unsure of what you are doing. Speak slowly, clearly, eloquently, and utilize as many of the keywords in the industry, as possible. Believe in your heart that you are competent. Most of the time, I find that our lack of confidence stems from the self-induced disbelief in our own abilities. You have to give yourself more credit than what you think you deserve. In other words, "You can do it!"

Don't give up. When things don't go your way, or if you keep making mistakes, don't give up and keep trying your best. Trust me, you can definitely believe me on this. At my workplace, I have made small mistakes, big mistakes, 'stupid' mistakes no one else in their right mind would ever make. But seriously, plainly and honestly, that is how you learn. Yes, you were not fortunate enough to have learned from somebody else's mistakes, but at least you had the experience. Count every mishap as a constructive obstacle and blessing in disguise. Don't let anything hinder you from moving forward towards your hard-earned development, personally and professionally.

Competence is the best revenge you can take on those who doubt you and your abilities. It's always a satisfying feeling when your actions finally say, "Look at me I can do this!"


Stay inspired,
Hazel xox

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The main pursuit of this blog is to serve as a platform of inspiration to anyone and everyone, especially girls and young women who are passionate about beauty. We believe that everybody is beautiful in their own way. The absence of beauty is simply a lack of observation. Beauty is modesty. Beauty is simplicity. Beauty is humility. On this note, the Editor team at Philovesochic would like to welcome ALL of you to the blog. We hope that you enjoy your stay.

Love big and stay chic.


xox,
Philovesochic girls