Masking cause thats what I love to do

Scary??? 

Get yours: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06XCHPHHZ

#iBeautyLabs #facemask #KoreanFaceMask #followforfollow #likeforlike #neutrogena

As usual another post about another KBeauty fave and thats within the same brand by IBeautyLabs, this time it is the Crystal Mask.

The claims of this mask are the following:

• IMPRESS WITH YOUR RADIANT, GLOWING SKIN: Every woman who respects herself trusts nothing less than highest quality cosmetic products. If you have been looking for the ultimate facial care mask, you have cometo the right place! This crystalcollagen mask is all you need to deeply hydrateand nourish your skin. The thick, steady, easy to use face mask will allow your complexion to absorb collagen and fight aging! If you want to stay young and impress, your quest stops here!
• ERASE BLEMISHES AND LOOK REFRESHED AND REJUVENATED: This facial skin therapy crystalcollagen mask can deeply moisturize your complexion and whiten your skin. What is more, it can help you reduce wrinkles and aging signs, treat acne, erase spots and blemishes, minimize poresand acquire a beautiful face.Are you ready to make some heads turn?
• PROFESSIONAL BEAUTY CARE AT THE COMFORT OF YOUR OWN HOME: This pure collagen skin care facial mask can be used by beauty experts, professionals and women who like to take proper care of themselves. The high quality and the low cost give you the chance to indulge yourself to the professional beauty care at the comfort of your own home, eliminating the need to waste money on beauty salon visits once and for all!

I have used one of the 5 masks so far and I really do enjoy it. I think this mask would be great for those with really dry skin, however I do have combo skin. And the winter weather here in San Diego has changed from warm to windy and cold, so I have noticed my skin is getting chapped. 

Comparing this to the gold mask, I actually prefer this one a bit more. The fit is nicer and sticks better to the skin. 

I am going to share one with my mom who has super dry skin and see what she thinks about it, since she has the ideal skin for it. I can see myself using this maybe once a month, pending on the weather and how my skin is acting. With switching diets recently it is a little hard to try products that are hydrating as I think I need more acne focused products. I will have to try another mask and see how things go. I will keep you posted :)

Give me my Lunch Box

Its been week 3 of going more plant based for my choices of food, in particular the last week I have been weeding out products that have listed, milk, egg or anything else that is dairy related. 

And tonight I am working on meal prepping for the week, mostly cooking my veggies to go along with the other additional things (ie Quinoa) though I did just purchase pasta made from lentils. I am very excited to try that out soon :)

Since I am taking the time to be so healthy, I figure it was also good to use items that are better for me too. Have you read about how made plastic is for you? I do store my food in plastic containers after I have cooked it or any left overs. 

Hence why I recently picked up 3 compartment containers to help with meal prepping, what I like about them is they are microwave safe and glass so I wont have to worry about plastic being cooked onto my food.

Where to purchase the Containers: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B077F279X8

Another extra perk is that it comes with its own utensils, so if for whatever reason I didn't have some. Or I forget to pack something, which more often happens, I don't have to worry about it!

Highly recommend these, and I do need to get some more!

I feel pretty

Being a plus size female can be tough. I am never a big fan of shopping for clothes in stores unless I am completely in the mood for finding something of a particular occasion. Just because most of the time I can't find something that would be really cute in my size or the options for outfits is limited, especially being busty and broad across the back. My mom says I have a line backer back at times (tho it did work out for me when I was playing sports in high school and college).

Hence why at times online shopping is helpful and times not. Hit and Miss just like the stores and at times having to wait til something comes in and you can try it on is killer. But at times very very well worth the wait!

I recently got this Long Sleeved Maxi Dress from Amazon

Where to get the dress: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0751FCPMF

It came in basic options for colors, and I decided on grey since I have lot of black and this is a pretty good color that I can make the focus me more on my accessories or my make up, pending on the event and my mood.

it's stretchy and defintely long enough, I am 5'9 and it comes just to the bottom of my shin which means I could wear cute heels, boots or even slide on shoes and others could seem them. I really enjoy the bell shaped of the sleeves, I think its something a little different.

And the V style criss cross of the cord at the top is a nice additional touch to the dress as well.

This is in the size L, which it fits nice, not too snug nor too big. And if I am cool, as you can see in the pic I had some leggings underneath the dress (better for those events outside and its cool).

Helping the Planet one bag at a time

So California passed the no plastic bag law in 2014 was in effect for a short time frame in in 2015 and then stopped. Was put back on to the 2016 ballot and passed again, and in full effect in 2017.

So it is normal not to either be willing to pay anywhere from 5 cents to 20 cents for a bag, paper or plastic or to carry in purchases plastic or cloth bags when shopping. I have a small collection of various materials, sizes from all different places.

My boyfriend is currently traveling for work, so pretty much everywhere he has stopped and found a bag, he buys it for me. I dont know if he thinks I am a bag lady!

But this law forces people to have to be more mindful of the trash they are putting out into the environment, which is why I started to look for alternatives to other ways of helping the planet. I do use alot of plastic/tupper wear at home for left overs and carrying items verses to go boxes. I try to only use regular plates, tho on the rare occasion I will use a paper plate.

I have even gone as far as getting reusable ziplock style bags in order to carry smaller things (when a baggie takes up less space).

example of this is the picture below:

EZ Seal Resuable Bag: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B078NXVJ7M

I am a hiker, I am currently part taking in the 5 peak challenge here in San Diego as a personal goal. I ideally like to finish them all up before Spring, I wont doubt I will do them all again with the boyfriend when he is home. But for now it's just me and my dog, occasionally a friend and their pup or child will join us. But it is definitely a great feeling to be out on the trails.

Hence it's important to take supplies, water, ear buds for music if you are alone and snacks for the peak when you take a moment to catch your breath, drink water. I carry a small back pack, so I like to try to conserve space as well as be easy on my shoulders. 

This is why I really have been enjoying using the EZ Seal reusable bags. I carry my dried fruit and nuts in it when hiking, I carry carrots for my hummus at work. And I use them about anytime I need a ziplock. They are easy to clean, warm water and soap. I have a pack of 6 and have had them for 2 weeks already. I dont see any need to purchase sandwich size or snack size ziplocks because they work better.

Every little step of making less trash, is one step to having a better life for the future of our planet.

Coffee Coffee Coffee...of the week

If you talk to any of my family and friends and you asked them does Lorena like coffee? They would give you a crazy look and say, well DUH!

I remember one of my old best friends back when I was off at college (we were kinda dating) called me a Caffeine Fiend. For Valentine's Day he sent me a card with some money in it and he said, try not to spend it all on coffee you fiend! To this day, I still think about that and cant help but laugh a little.

before I started on a more plant based diet, my favorite drink was a small or tall or short, double shot mocha (pending on where I was at it was either regular or white chocolate) with whip cream. Sometimes I would change up and have non fat milk, more often I would have low fat milk.

Now my drinks are super expensive in the most basic form, because almond milk, soy milk or coconut milk is almost a buck more as a substitute.

However there is always something that across the board at any coffee shop or persons home is coffee, I am lucky if they have a fancy milk (that i can use as a creamer) but I have gotten use to having coffee with some sugar or honey. I haven't fully gotten use to black coffee yet, but the goal is one day soon.

#colorfulcoffee

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01E6388X2

Currently I am loving on Zancona Roast Cafe, a mild medium bodied blend that is super smooth and super mellow. I love medium roasts more for the caffeine intake. but this one has a really nice flavor, most of the time if you are looking for flavor you have to go dark roast.

I got the version in whole bean and grind it myself, so that the grounds have a more fresh flavor and I dont have to worry too much about getting grounds from the bag all over the counter.

Overall very happy with this coffee

Rules for Party Planning for a Bachelorette

You can invite other people besides the bridesmaids
Obviously all the bridesmaids are going to be on the guest list, but there are probably other people in the bride’s life that she’ll want to include. Whether it be family members or other close friends, be sure to ask the bride if she has anyone outside the bridal party she wants on the guest list. There’s no limit on how many people can celebrate the bride, the more the merrier!

Everyone’s budget is going to be different
Once you’ve finalized the group, it’s good to get an idea of everyone’s budget. Those who have a further distance to travel may not have as much to spend on the actual event, while those who are closer to the destination will likely have a bigger budget. Create a Facebook group or email thread with all the attendees and try to get a read on what everyone is comfortable with spending before deciding on what you’ll be doing.

You’ll be covering some of the bride’s expenses
Since the bride is the guest of honor, you’ll likely be responsible for some of her costs. It’s totally up to the group as to what those things are. Will you treat her to a nice hotel room or will you be taking care of the bill at the restaurant? Again, get a read on what everyone is comfortable with before the celebration so people aren’t blindsided when they have to pay more. The bride will definitely appreciate your contribution, no matter what it is!

The bride has a say in the activities 
Remember to consult her and see what kind of soirée she wants! She might want something more low-key than a weekend-long rage fest. Don’t hit the ground running with any ideas until you get a sense of what she wants. When you begin the planning process, be sure to check in with her occasionally to make sure she approves of what you’ve got planned. 

You can still have fun without partying hard 
If the bride isn’t a fan of late nights in crowded bars, she can still have a memorable bachelorette party! Plan a relaxing trip to a nearby vineyard followed by dinner at her favorite restaurant. Want something even more low-key? Head to a spa for a weekend of pampering. If she does want to leave town, Nashville and Vegas are popular choices, but there are plenty of other cities that you can enjoy. Check out our list of top bachelorette party destinations

It doesn’t have to be a weekend-long celebration 
If it’s too hard to gather the all the girls for a full weekend, a night out can be just as fun! You can plan a handful of local activities in one evening if people can’t get away for multiple days. Between drinks, dinner, and dancing, there are plenty of opportunities to have a blast for just one night. You can rent a limo or party bus to take you around, or you can rent out a space just for your group if you don’t want to deal with crowds. The options are endless for a one-night celebration.

It’s not about you 
Remember, the bachelorette party is all about the bride. If there are certain activities on the agenda you’re not crazy about, try to make the most of it. The bride wanted you by her side on the big day for a reason and you should be fully supportive of however she wants to spend her bachelorette party. If you’re not the biggest fan of another bridesmaid, try to keep it to yourself. Drama will only create stress for the bride, so try to keep an open mind.

Something fun to add to the mix when greeting guests for the party, let them pick a flash tattoo to wear :)

Flash tattoos: https://www.amazon.com/58-Bachelorette-Party-Flash-Tattoos/dp/B0748MGZ28?ie=UTF8&keywords=bachelorette%20tattoos&m=

Phone Cases are good for you

Glitter Phone Case: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0749G32TC

Only crazy people don’t put cases on smartphones. For example, people who participate in extreme phone pinching (a real thing we did not make up), or people who take death-defying (and occasionally death-inducing) extreme selfies, or people with Kardashian levels of money.

The rest of us risk-averse poor people know that a new case costs $35, while a new smartphone costs $650, not to mention the opportunity and mental health cost of being without a smartphone for an entire day or two! Putting a case on your smartphone just makes sense. Here’s why you should completely ignore my advice from last week and carry your phone around in a drop-, dust-, water-, theft-, and stupidity-proof vault.

It’s TOO thin and TOO light

Phones these days are so thin and so light that they’re not very durable. Certainly nothing like the indestructible Nokia 3310, anyway. A case adds much-needed extra bulk so your phone doesn’t break or bend.

You didn’t buy phone insurance

An extra $10/month, plus a $50 deductible, for peace of mind in case you drop or lose your phone? You’re no sucker! Instead of buying phone insurance, you prefer to take care of your belongings. Well, part of “taking care of your belongings” includes putting a case on your phone. The case is your phone insurance.

Scratches suck

Phones aren’t ultra-fragile pieces of glass—most of them are made out of tough-ish metal or plastic, and the glass they do use is special ultra-tough Gorilla Glass and the like. But even if you never drop your phone or step on it, it probably spends a lot of time in your pocket or purse where it’s gonna get scratched to hell, unless you have a case on it.

Cases protect all of your phone

Cases aren’t great at protecting the biggest, most fragile part of your phone: The screen. Drop your cased phone and the screen could still be in trouble. But cases do protect the rest of your phone, like the delicate electronic parts inside. Your phone is a piece of technology, after all.

It’s expensive

Sure, high-quality cases can be pretty expensive. But $50 is a lot less than $650, which is the cost of a new phone.

You need the friction

The problem with sleek, sexy smartphones? They’re super slippery! A grippy, rubberized case could mean the difference between you holding onto or dropping your precious device.

It’s an older model

You might think it makes no sense to put a protective case on your older phone, since it’s not like you really care if it breaks. But a case does more than just protect: It hides the fact that you’re still rocking the original Nexus One.

You take your phone everywhere

Literally everywhere. Even places you probably shouldn’t, like the bathroom or on a date. Even if you’re not a naturally clumsy person, it’s highly unlikely that a gadget that spends 24 hours a day with you is never going to be accidentally knocked off a table.

Some cases are more than just protective covers

Cases do more than just protect! There are plenty of multifunctional cases out there that act as wallets, battery packs, bottle openers, and tasers. Yes, tasers.

A case makes your phone unique

Got the latest it phone? Guess what. So does everyone else. Putting a case on your phone won’t just show off your personality, it’ll also help you identify your device.

It's all about the Face

Joyal Beauty in my collection

If you have been reading my blog for a bit, you have noticed a huge shift in posts for beauty products in particular a huge focus on skincare. I have the lovely age 35, so anything that I can do to keep my skin looking clear, clean and fresh I am totally all for. Considering I have a younger man in my life (5 years junior to myself) I try to make sure that I won't make the age difference too noticeable. 

As an earlier post before, I mentioned I have been using Joyal Beauty in my skin care routine since 2017, and there are several products that I have liked so much. I get another one for my mom, best friend or even for the man. As you can see from the picture above, this is my current items in my collection. The newest being the eye cream and the second being the item pictured below.

#HyaluronicAcid

https://www.amazon.com/Joyal-Beauty-Hyaluronic-Hydrating-Chemicals/dp/B00L0088YE/ref=sr_1_35_s_it?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1513307478&sr=1-35&keywords=hyaluronic+acid+serum

With my journey for health, both what I put into my body as well as what I put on it, I have really enjoyed products that are cruelty free as well as natural.

The Hyaluronic Acid Hydrating Serum claims the following:

• Highest quality. Ranked number 1 hyaluronic acid serum by Health Product Report. Recommended by dermatologists. Can be used with or without microneedling devices at home or clinics.
• Highest pure hyaluronic acid concentration on the market. Highest 4% sodium hyaluronate solution. Other brands are only 0.5% or 1% solution. Thicker but non-greasy, smoother and more effective.
• Best skin absorption. Research shows the ideal low molecular weight HA of 50 kDa is the best to the skin. Size does matter. No chemical thickeners. pH is 4.5-5.5, exactly the same as healthy normal skin's pH. Gentle enough for sensitive skin or delicate eyes area. Can penetrate deeper into the skin without inflammation.
• Boost hydration of the deeper layer of skin when applied to damp skin. Help reduce the appearance of fine lines and dry wrinkles. Can be combined with our vitamin c serum, retinol serum, royal jelly serum, and glycolic acid age defy serum.
• All Natural Pure HA Serum Made in USA by FDA and USDA Organic Certified Lab. No Chemicals. No alcohol. Hyaluronic acid is derived from healthy veggies in USA. Even preservative is derived from organic radish.

I have only used this product a few times, mostly when I feel like my skin is a little drier than usual. If I have taken a hot yoga class recently, or I have been traveling, as my skin always goes dry (before it goes back to more oily).

It is also important to know that when you have oily skin, you do need to add more moisture back into it. So I use this serum about once a week in my evening time skincare routine.

I think with my on and off usage, I haven't  seen huge changes but definite small improvements the AM after using it before bed.

Eyes are the windows to the Soul

#EyeCream 

https://www.amazon.com/Cream-Circles-Under-Puffy-Wrinkles/dp/B0131T8LIE/ref=sr_1_1?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1439428577&sr=1-1&keywords=eye+cream%2CB0131T8LIE

Now being over the age of 30, I truly realize how important skin care routine is. And being active Youtuber, in particular within the Project Pan Community (which focuses on using up products from ones collection), I have slowly begun to get rid of those skincare products that don't work the best for me. And either use up or when its appropriate, bring in new products that focus more on my skincare needs. I didn't think eye creams were important, but in the last 2 years, using them on a regular basis, both morning and night. I have seen some drastic change in the appearance of my dark circles and puffiness of the skin under the eyes. And I firmly believe its from my eye creams, a well balanced diet (which is pretty new for me) and sleep. Though sometimes life gets in the way and the 7 to 8 hr s of sleep that helps banish the eye circles doesn't always happen.

Joyal Beauty has been a beauty line that I found last year and I have used several products from the line, mostly serums and moisturizers. However this most recent order I made was for their Vitamin C eye cream. And so far I have been really enjoying the results.

According to their website this items claims the following:

• REVOLUTIONARY PREMIUM FORMULA FOR TOTAL PERFECTION: Best Organic Eye Cream for Dark Circles Under Eyes,Puffy eyes,Wrinkles and Fine Lines Under Eyes. * Bioactive Vitamin C. *Avocado- Rich in Vitamins K,C,B,E,A. *Hyaluronic Acid *Caffeine. *Peptides
• THE ONLY EYE CREAM WITH SQUALANE, NIACINAMIDE AND HYALURONIC ACID. Good for both dry skin and oily skin. I
• THE ONLY EYE CREAM WITH AVOCADO,PLANT STEM CELLS, AND PEPTIDES TOGETHER.

Overall, I have noticed in the few weeks that I have been using it the difference in the darkness under my eyes has ligthened. I have combo more towards oily skin (tho I use to be combo more to dry before) and this DOES NOT effect any oil production under my eyes. Nor does it effect the way make up applies either under the eyes.

I am throughly enjoying this product, and I would highly recommend it to friends and family.

Help the Lashes Grow a bit more?

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B077YLD9K2

XXL Eyelash Serum for longer, thicker, darker and fuller eyelashes/eyebrows after 6-16 weeks. 

The XXL Lashes serum gets to the root of the problem. The unique combination of active ingredients ensure formation of hair roots and hair and thereby stronger and faster eyelash growth.

Thin and short eyelash hair gain length, volume and strength. Light hair in fact turn darker. XXL Lashes serum is a restorative treatment and with daily application helps you get long eyelashes naturally and a flutter like never before. 

Application is to be done as follows:

The XXL Lashes serum is to be thinly applied with a fine eyelash brush on the eyelashes with a fine brush like an eyeliner, such that it reaches the roots of the eyelashes. Only when the serum reaches the hair follicle is the cell growth activated. Once the serum is absorbed, eye makeup can be applied as usual.

It can also be used with eyelash extensions and in fact it increases the strength and capacity of natural eyelashes to bear the weight of extensions.

After 4 weeks of daily use itself there is a visible increase in the length of the natural eyelashes. It needs 8-12 weeks of application for ideal results and a distinct increase in the length of eyelashes

Natural eyelashes have a life cycle of 3 months after which they fall off. Thus for all round long eyelashes, we recommend that you use the XXL Lashes serum regularly to maintain that look.

In the beginning, a daily application in the evening is recommended after removing your makeup. You can taper off the application to once every 2 days later. 3 ml of serum lasts for 4-5 months owing to its thick consistency and sparing application.

Sheet Masks..of Course

Gold Collagen Sheet Masks: https://www.amazon.com/Collagen-Tightening-Face-Mask-iBeautyLabs/dp/B01A87R0C0/ref=sr_1_12_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1515799317&sr=8-12&keywords=gold+collagen+face+mask+skin+care

I’m going to admit something that may be a bit of shock to those that love Korean/Asian beauty.

I used to not be a fan of sheet masks. Like, I’d use them sometimes but never really got into them the way some people did. I just didn’t get it. I’d buy them, and then never really use them. When I left Korea, I gave most of my sheet masks away. I didn’t see the need to bring them to Vietnam because I really just never used them. I KNOW, I KNOW, I CAN HEAR YOUR GASPS FROM HERE. Don’t hate me, for now I am a new woman. A woman who is utterly obsessed with sheet masks.

The shift was caused last year when I did a  30 day sheet mask challenge on IG. Rules were simple: use a sheet mask for 7 consecutive days and see the results. Well, I only participated one day on Instagram (because I have yet to master the art of looking cute in a sheet mask), but I quietly kept up with the challenge. It was then that I realized I’d been wrong all this time about sheet masks. They aren’t just an effective way of scaring your loved ones and animals, they actually DO work. And they especially work well if you use them consistently. MAJOR KEY.

The key is consistency. That’s the major mistake I was making with sheet masks. I’d use one every so often, and not really see results, so I wouldn’t really put forth the effort in using them. I’ve noticed that since I’ve started incorporating sheet masks into my nightly routine, my skin is more hydrated, more dewy. It’s the real glow up! Plus I’ve realized that sheet masks are hella fun. I enjoy choosing which one I’m going to use for the night. I love experimenting with different types – coconut gel, regular hydrogel, cotton, silk, etc. Putting on my sheet mask has quickly become the thing I look forward to at night.

But not only have I seen a physical change, I feel like I’ve changed a bit mentally. Using a sheet mask allows me the time to sit still and focus on myself for 20 to 30 minutes. I normally use this time to catch up on a book, or to journal, or to reflect on my day. It’s my meditation period, if you will. After working all day, and battling HCMC traffic to get home, it’s the perfect time for me to center myself. So, I can now say with pride that I totally get the hype about sheet masks, and I’m a true sheet mask lover.

So let me tell you all about the masks that I’m in love with. Like with life, some sheets are shitty, and some are amazing. I usually gravitate towards hydrogels because I like the way they fit, but I use all types!

However this Gold Collagen Masks from IBeautyLabs rock my socks! I like them so much I got two boxes when I ordered them, and just finished my last one from my first box. meaning this box is next to be used it!

#iBeautyLabs #facemask #KoreanFaceMask #followforfollow #likeforlike #neutrogena