Good, now that I have your attention, please continue reading if you're interested in collaborating with me for a Chinese New Years Special!
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Hello lovies!
I'm going to be (hopefully) hosting a collaborative event with 11 different bloggers! The theme will be circled around the concept of Chinese Zodiac animals.
Concept
Each blogger who joins will have an individual animal that they will recreate in ways of nail art, make up, fashion, etc.! All 12 posts will posted on Friday, January 31, the day of Chinese New Year.
Requirements
This even is open to any blogger who is willing to put creativity and effort into their post.
I only ask that you follow me on Bloglovin/GFC and have quality pictures. :'>
Blog posts should include...
(You have the option to do one or more of the following. If there's something else you can think of, feel free to expand beyond this! *^*)
Nail Art - introduction of animal, tutorial, list of products used, links to other's posts
Make Up Look - introduction of animal, tutorial, list of products used, links to other's posts
Fashion - introduction of animal, list of clothes/accessories, links to other's posts
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I will be claiming the rabbit, since I was born in 1999. However, it's not required that you stick to your Zodiac animal! All 11 spots are open to whoever calls it first.
Please email me at gin.chan105@gmail.comor comment below if you're interested in joining me!
"Like, if there was a drought, and people was thirsty, and one man had a large cask of water and gave a sip to none. Then he'd be a killer with no blood on his hands." -Assassin's Creed IV
Hello everyone! Again, my apologies for not posting more frequently.
(sorry for being a lazy butt ahahah-)
So many people are close/already taking finals. I happen to not be, since our finals are after winter break. The reason I haven't been really keeping up with blogging is because of video games- HAHA
If you guys didn't know already, I'm actually a huge gamer. I mostly play story games and mmorpgs, since first person shooters don't interest me and I'm not one for horror (unless it has a good plot). I recently got into Assassin's Creed again. Sadly, I don't have any more consoles, so I settled with watching walkthoughs. I've literally spent probably more than 14 hours watching them now. LOOL
(pls don't hurt me for being so unproductive OTL)
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Anyways! On to today's review!
Since it's almost Christmas, I wanted to do something festive.
Well-
This container is green-
That's a Christmas color-
Yep-
itried
I got this product from a "Buy 1, Get 2 Free" sale from the TheBodyShop quite a long time ago. It came in a tiny bottle for around 9USD.
Claims
Sutible for blemished skin. Lightweight hydration with shine-control for clearer looking skin. Infused with tamanu oil.
"The Body Shop difference: Tea Tree Skin Clearing Lotion will moisturize with a light, mattifying lotion that hydrates skin and controls oil while helping to clear and prevent blemishes.
Community Fair Trade tea tree oil, lemon tea tree, and tamanu oil work together to keep skin clear by helping to prevent blemishes and blackheads, and controlling excess oil. Best for combination or oily skin.
Active Ingredient
Tea Tree Oil - Great for getting rid of pimples! It has disinfecting and soothing properties that won't strip your face of it's natural oils. All natural oils also won't clog pores or cause further damage.
Lemon Tea Tree - Also used for inflammatory acne. It has natural disinfecting properties with the addition of being able to keep excess oils at bay.
Tamanu Oil - Known for it's amazing skin healing properties. It promotes the formation of new tissue, replacing the rough scarred skin caused by acne. It also has disinfecting properties.
Texture
The lotion comes out in gel like formula that's almost slightly watery. Even though it isn't thick and creamy, it holds and won't drip. It's also very spreadable, making a little go a long way. A pea sized amount on my finger tip is usually enough for my whole face. It smooths on very nicely, leaving a soft matte finish.
Smell
It smells extremely medical. At first I hated the smell, always having to hold my breath whenever I applied it. However, as I started using it everyday, I actually started liking it. LOL
Though it smells pungent with herbs, it's also very relaxing; this is probably because of the lemon tea tree oil. For people with sensitive noses, this may not be the best moisturizer for you.
Final Thoughts
Amaaaaazing! I've been looking a while for a lotion with tea tree oil. When I found this, I was super skeptical since it was encased in a tiny bottle that seemed like it would last me a month (at most). However, one I started using it, I noticed such a change in my face. Along with my WonderPore Toner, it balanced the oil levels of my face out perfectly. Though it did cause a bit of a burning feeling the first few times, which apparently went away around a week as read from others. Mine didn't, probably because of my super sensitive skin.
I also noticed my scars fading exceedingly, turning them into small red/brown dots on my face. Most of my small forehead acne have disappeared, with the exception of the few big one. It's perfect for daily use and leaves a very nice matte finish with great blemish combat.
Pros
Moisturizing
Fades scars
Relatively inexpensive
Minimal product usage
Leaves a matte finish
Tones oil levels
Combats blemishes
Cons
Burning sensation
Pungent smell
Might be too intense for sensitive skin
Would I repurchase?
Probably not, just because of the burning feeling. I might get just a bottle of tea tree oil to fight those pimples, but I'd like to stick to something that won't burn my face as much.
Final Score: 8.5/10
Thank you so much for reading! I'll be leaving for New York soon, very excited to see my boyfriend after a half a year. ///A/// <3 Any suggestions on where to go? I'll be around the Time Square area.
Have a happy holidays! <3 Don't forget to eat lots!
☆ gin ★
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If you happen to follow me or like my posts, comment below and link your blog! I'll be sure to check it out. ★
Today I'll be talking about a very different matter compared to my usually posts of reviews and beauty. If you guys like clicking and happened to read my "about" page, you'll know that I'm an active cosplayer in addition to just loving make up.
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What is cosplay?
cos·play ˈkäzˌplā/
noun
1. the practice of dressing up as a character from a movie, book, or video game, esp. one from the Japanese genres of manga and anime.
Cosplay has always been a trifling matter between people who love it and people who hate it. Though it isn't really a big deal, many people have the sterotype that cosplayers are noisy, weeaboos, and just in general, annoying. Many have also countered the fact of showing excessive skin as nudity and sexualizing them selves for attention (mainly directed towards women).
However, it's something I've been doing ever since I was 10. Even though it isn't largely considered, cosplay IS a form of art! At lot goes into making costumes (and even saving up to buy! There's nothing wrong with buying a cosplay that's too hard for you), doing make up, and even just having the bravery to wear something so extremely out of the ordinary. More effort is put into photography and editing so our cosplays our captured perfectly.
And the people! The people you meet when cosplaying and going to cons are always amazing. I've met so many great friends that have stuck with me through thick and thin from these events, usually sharing my same interests and even introducing me to many more. *A*
If anyone who reads my blog and happeneds to dislike this activity. I do respect your opinions and I am quite alright with criticism. I have met many cosplayers in the past who have been very stuck up and mean. However, just like every other "group", there are the good majority and the not so much.
OK WELL THAT WAS SLIGHTLY DEPRESSING.
Onward to pictures galore (which will be in chronological order).
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Character: Medusa
Series: Soul Eater
Oh god.
Ok, this one's slightly embarrassing. LOL
I did this cosplay almost 3 years ago and I had make it by hand. 8D No sewing machine. Everything with scissors, needles, and string. God it took forever. @A@
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Character: Ciel
Series: Black Butler
I actually wore this with a friend (who isn't pictured in this) who cosplayed another character from the same series. I did buy this one online, but tailored it to fit my own accord. The waist area and shoulders were a bit loose. OTL
This was from around 2 years ago. 8D
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Character: Kuroko
Series: Kuroko no Basket
Annnnd here's something from last year! I had to buy this too, since it was a sports uniform. I never got a proper chance to do a photoshoot for this, but didn't look half bad for my first genuine crossgender cosplay. Hopefully I have the chance to wear this somewhere this year!
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Character: Ahri
Series: League of Legends (game)
Alrighty! Finally something I'm proud of! I debuted this cosplay at Katsucon 2013, which was this year. My friend actually was making the cosplay for herself, which did not fit her because she accidentally used my measurements. She ended up giving it to me because she was really struggling to fit into it. So, to match it, I decided I would quickly make a set of tails that would go with it. I might be remaking them soon though, as they're not exactly fluffy. ;D
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Character: Luka (girl) and Mysterious Ex (guy)
Series: Just Be Friends (song)
And my most recent photoshoot, dating back to this summer. 8D My boyfriend had came to visit, and we decided we would do a couple cosplay. Instead of an actual series, we based it off a song.
(I cut his hair because he asked me to but omFG I DID SUCH A BAD JOB-)
LOOK, THE CHAIR CHANNEL.
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Well, that's all for today! I'll probably have to be going back to school tomorrow after two nice days of being snowed in. ;v;
I don't want school- ;;;;;;
Alrighty, bye lovelies! <3 Have a great day!
(I really hope none of you judge me for this- ahahah)
☆ gin ★
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If you happen to follow me or like my posts, comment below and link your blog! I'll be sure to check it out. ★
So I've gained a ton of followers since my Black Friday haul post. I'd just like to say, thank you to everyone for all the kindness! ;v; I'd never expect myself to hit 40 follows so soon! *A* I hope you all continue to stick with me as I journey through the world of beauty. <3
Anyways, today we'll be reviewing an amazing find I stumbled upon at Costco!
This enormous bottle of 12 oz. was being sold at a price of $24! Don't get me wrong, I'm quite the cheapster when it comes to buying items. Super hesitant, since I wasn't even sure if it would work, I tossed this in my shopping cart.
Once I got home, I immediately googled the price. When I saw that it was a whooping $60 in salon, my heart skipped a beat at what an amazing deal I got!
Now, was it worth it?
Let's get on with this review!
Claims/Instructions
"Silk Therapy is the original weightless, leave-in silk replenishing and reconstructing treatment to repair, smooth and protect all hair types.
Direction: Shake well before use. Place a small amount of Silk Therapy in the palms and apply from the scalp to the ends. May be used on wet or dry hair or skin. Use as often as necessary. Not tested on animals."
The sericin binds with the keratin already in our hair, creating almost a layer of protection against moisture loss. The proteins also penetrate the hair to strengthen damaged areas.
Texture
Gah, I'd like to apologize for lighting on this picture. The product is extremely clear and I just could not get a good angle on it. ;A;
It feels kinda sticky, but not the type that makes you want to wash it off. Sort of like oil, but less dense!
When being poured from the bottle, it runs rather quickly. The first time I used it, I ended up having wayyyyyy too much.
Smell
This is actually a really hard smell to define into words! I've been sniffing it for the past minute and still at a stump-
It smells slightly...medical almost? Like some sort of herb, but mixed with generic salon shampoo.
Now that I'm analyzing it more, it even has a slight scent of alcohol and mint!
Sniffing this can't be good for me-
It doesn't smell bad, but it's very fragrant. It's one of those hit or miss scents. 8D Some people will love it, and some will absolutely hate it. I love this kind of scent because it's so fresh and different!
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Before:
My hair is actually already relatively healthy! I currently have no split end and it's usually never frizzy. However, it is very corse and doesn't get soft easily. :'<
After:
Oh.
My.
God.
I seriously couldn't stop touching it! It was literally soft like silk and flowed gracefully down my back. A little amount of this will go a long way. If too much is applied, it does become heavy and oily. I found myself touching my hair over and over again, even after a few days from applying it. My hairstaches never felt so glamorous- LOOL
Final Thoughts
I think the serum did actually heal my hair! I've been using it for about the week, applying every other day after shampooing and conditioning my hair. When I sleep, my hair almost never itches my neck anymore. It's really soft and fluffy, even against sensitive areas like my cheeks. I feel like it had also given my hair a healthy shine; one that wasn't oily, but with volume. The matte, brown color my hair usually is seems to be slowly being replaced with a rich, redish dark chocolate color. This product worked wonderfully on my hair type. <3
Pros
Weightless
Not oily or heavy
Repairing properties
Leaves my hair super soft
Color treating
Beautiful shine and volume
Minimized product usage/will last for a long time
Cons
Expensive (no longer at Costco. :'<)
Distinctive smell (Again, hit or miss)
Would I repurchase?
If it was on sale again, yes! I feel like this 12 oz. bottle will be lasting me for at at least 6 months though!
Final Score: 9/10
Thank you for reading! <3 I hope you all have a great day and found this helpful!
☆ gin ★
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If you happen to follow me or like my posts, comment below and link your blog! I'll be sure to check it out. ★
