DISPOSABLES

Fun fact: A disposable carries 27 stills. Yet, here's 8.

Much love,

C

SOME JAMMING TUNES #1

Here's a quick post while I lie in bed with my post-vacation blues and a killer throat that feels like, it quite possibly, might be the end of me. I used to be an avid Spotify gurl, but my recent shift in music has allowed me to explore other platforms: so bear with me, I'm new to this whole Soundcloud thing. Anyways, thought I would just share some of the new loves that has been playing looped and looped through my earphones every chance it gets, and maybe, inspire some of you to get on the Soundcloud bandwagon as well, it being exam season and all. Oh, and I decided that this might be a regular thing - me sharing my music with y'all - so lemme know if you like where this is heading!

Kick those finals hard,

C

CARISSA DISPLAYS: THE CURRENT SKINCARE SAVIORS

Hey lovers,

I know this space has been neglected. But before I begin to go on that repetitive, tirely apology thing - Let's just skip it all together. (I am sorry, though)

With my final semester approaching its end in a couple of weeks, that can only mean one thing: work. And as the wise Britney Spears once said, [I] gotta work bitch. Unfortunately, this increasing number of work and thus resulting stress is not doing my skin any favors, but quite drastically the opposite. Meaning that the big guns I keep in my top cabinet shelf which are mentally labeled 'use for skin emergencies only' had to be pulled, and boy, have I pulled them. I thought I might as well share some with you while most of us are in exam season anyways and don't have much time to extensively google "how to get rid of pimples fast."

I hope me popping some suggestions in your head will later delay (or better, cancel) your popping of the angry pimps' on your face. 

Here's the shortlist:

(from left to right) Leaders Insolution Vita Bright Skin Renewal Mask, Mario Badescu Seaweed Night Cream, Tea Tree Oil, Origins Clear Improvements Active Charcoal Mask, Aesop Resurrection Hand Balm, Balm Kitchen Green Tea Kissable Lip Balm, Frank Original.

So by the time my skin is starting to show its first signs of anger, I'd like to already have started with a clay mask to reaaaally pull all that dirt out. I actually own quite a number of those kaolin masks, but many of them either end up being too harsh, or not harsh enough. The Origins one is really perfect for me, though. If you've never really used a clay mask before, expect to see a lot of whiteheads or large pimples the very next day. Don't be alarmed, that's a good sign. It means that it has successfully pulled all that goo out of your pores and your pimples are now ready to be popped (or you can just wait 1-2 days and then say sayonara forever). Since it's those wash-off types of mask, I like to clean it off with the Frank Body Scrub with like a 3:1 ratio of water. It's pretty rough on the skin, but it does wonders. If your face is really sensitive, I suggestive to lay this one off a bit and instead invest in it to use on your body. It is, obviously, a body scrub anyhoo. I'm sure you've seen the posts about this scrub all over Instagram, and I swear, it deserves the hype. It actually really exfoliates without irritating my skin or leaving any scabs on my legs/body, and I don't know how to explain it, but it leaves some sort of oil - not a film - but a moisturized sensation (it's probably the coconut oil in the mix). I love to use this on my legs before I shave, or just if I feel my legs are getting a bit too dry for my liking. (Check the reviews on their secondary IG account as well, there are people claiming it cured their acne/eczema and stuff! I don't necessarily know if it has cured me, but it has gotten rid of a lot of my acne scars and dead skin so, thumbs up for me!) Since the clay can sometimes be too drying (and I like to leave it on even longer than I'm supposed to), I counter that with this Leaders Insolution Sheet Mask. I don't usually use the Vita Bright type - I don't really have any specific preference really - but I just use any kind of sheet mask that has moisturizing properties in it and does not contain large amounts of citric acid. See, not that picky. After I remove the mask and really let it soak into my skin for maybe around half an hour, I apply my Mario Badescu Night Cream that is just soooo moisturizing. It's not oily at all, but it has such a creamy, thick consistency. It's just those types of moisturizers that you really know is hydrating your skin but not breaking you out at the same time. Does that make sense????? Anyways, all I know is that if I use it at night, I always end up waking up with a glow. Before my skin absorbs the cream, I quickly dab on my trusty Tea Tree Oil on those really pesky, so-big-I-cry kind of pimps' and it always does the trick. There was a time when I used to apply that like a madman, and my face would always just end up being more red, irritated, and dry than before. I have learnt from my mistakes though, and now I'm a freaking ninja when applying this. I could probably teach a class. Remember: the oil is incredibly strong, so use on the large or whitehead-revealing pesks first. Handle cautiously, and you got yourself the best darn weapon there is. I swear, pimples be disappearing overnight with this baby. When all is done and prepped, I finish off with a lip balm. Not just a regular lip balm, but something so oily and nourishing I wouldn't dare wear it out. I'm currently in love with Balm Kitchen's Green Tea Lip Balm. Not only is it so moisturizing I can still feel slight traces of it in the morning, but it actually tastes and smells like exactly like green tea. And not the artificial sugary kind, the real deal matcha stuff. It is divine. I have like three other lip balms from their brand too, but none is as moisturizing as the green tea one (which is okay, because I wouldn't want them to be anyways - too heavy for afternoon usage). All their ingredients are natural and vegan too, so I love that. That is pretty much it for face stuff and my own d-i-y pampering + skin detox routine. The steps aren't that intricate, but it does the job, and I bet you'll be feeling a whole lot better after it (and so will your skin).

Oh, and also, I like to slab on the Aesop Resurrection Hand Balm all over my knees/elbows/hands before I go to bed. It makes them feel like a baby's butt the next morning, and who doesn't want that?

Good to be back,

C

IT NEVER STOPS

Hey darling,

I mentioned a while ago on my Instagram that I've been struggling with some online shopping woes. Since my wallet has been the one that's taking a beating these past couple months, I thought I would make myself feel better by extending the appreciation to some of my favorite new found loves a lil' bit farther than just hanging them on my rack - but by forcing you guys to appreciate them too.

I hope you like it (and don't get a headache - it really never stops).

(If you're on slow internet: wait a couple seconds until it reaches an acceptable rate of speed, it needs to load first hehehe)

Have a lovely week ahead babe.

C

TOO MANY LINES

What a beautiful beginning to the week. 

With an attempt to start my semester on a good note, I headed out after the last bell for some wholehearted time with the ones I love (and missed) most. Just a simple dinner and catch-up, nothing fancy. However, I did manage to successfully take an adequate number of acceptable #ootd's, which obviously meant a blog post just had to be done. For some odd reason, I find myself extremely satisfied with these pictures. Whether it's the actual picture itself that I'm loving, or if it's just the background tripping everything up - I'm still not sure. 

Being too lazy to haul heavy pieces of clothing in my backpack all day through school, I styled my outfit to be easy, and more importantly, light. I'm wearing a striped, high neck dress from Forever 21, and a navy coat (to cover the terrible insecurities of arms) by YHF. For shoes, I'm sporting my Roshe Runs - which I wore for both aesthetics, and convenience (I had P.E. that day as well so it was superb not having to schlep around any extra shoes!). Despite it not being really visible in this shot, I'm using my new Kanken 13" Laptop Bag Pack (which I admit I initially assumed to just be all hype and no show, it actually considerably impressed me - so much so that I just had to buy it).

 

For the details, I'm using a T-rex (Poor little dino couldn't be captured well because of my iPhone quality, sigh) choker/necklace from The Black Acc. The T-rex charm actually came on a choker-length band, but I figured I would get a lil' bit crafty (If you count simply unhooking the charm and rehooking it onto a longer band, then I'm basically a DIY queen). I actually really liked that I did that - meaning I can use one charm for an unlimited amount of options (and they're already super affordable already!), how much better could it get! My bracelet is Juicy Couture (a fabulous gift by a fabulous friend), and the pouch was just a little knick-knack I grabbed while queuing for the cashier at H&M. You know those small items they always place along the cashier line so people will just have to look at it while waiting to pay? Damn, they really work.

I hope your week started as well as mine.

C

HEY, STILL HERE

Hey guys. I know it's only been a couple weeks since my last entry -- and a whole year since a proper one in that matter, but I just wanted to let you guys know that I'm still around (and wanting to blog).

Though this isn't the longest I've gone without updating any of you (flashbacks to when I kept switching domains, sigh), it feels like much much longer than a couple weeks. I know I've been sort of M.I.A. lately -- or more of missing in my thoughts, actually -- but I guess I've just been rather distant with you guys. Thank you to all those who took the time to email me and ask me how I've been doing (and the emails regarding my store update - I hear you!), and to those who continue to check up/support me through all the comments or messages. Although I haven't truly been there, either on my Instagram, or Carded Out, all of you have really overwhelmed me with your love, and care. It really means the world.

Long intro aside, I recently came to an introspective conclusion that the reason I have not really been feeling it for any of my prior commitments, was just that I had been putting too much pressure on everything. I have so many expectations for myself -- not just to continuously produce wonderful square-shaped photos for you guys, but also making sure my blog (and store) is at the greatest potential it could possibly be. I hate to disappoint myself, nevertheless, you, and so I believe you could say I've been feeling rather flustered, and discouraged/unmotivated. I'm aware that there are a bunch of you angels out there who wish to never make me feel burdened, or unhappy, but I suppose it is just my own fear in disappointing you guys. Both losing, and gaining support makes me anxious; I'm worried I won't meet your expectations, and I fear I've lost the standard. It's honestly nerve wracking.

However, it is 2015. And with the new year, comes this whole New Year New Me bullshit that I dare say we all, in some way or another, try to abide to (at least for a little while). I am still working on that Bali Photo Diary I promised, and it's close to being done (trying to gather all the photos + organizing them chronologically is actually such a pain), but I'm genuinely excited for y'all to see that one soon. Got lot's to look forward to (more fashion posts, I swear! + a little bit of adventuring for both our souls).

Anyways, just to check in a lil' bit with you guys here. More to come in the new year I hope. More to come in the new year, I'm sure of it.

May 2015 be filled with motivation, passion, and a whole lot of beautiful photos.

See you soon babe.

C