2015 January ★ Favorites

beauty

• Crabtree and Evelyn Autumn Field Ultra Moisturising Hand Therapy (Limited Edition, Discontinued)

A few years ago, I tried Crabtree and Evelyn Hand Therapy for the first time and thought it was nowhere even close to L'occitane's moisturizing level. But recently I detected this hand cream from my mom's purse and noticed the packaging is not what I used to remember. "Maybe they reformulated their concoction as well?" I thought, and went ahead with swatch. Holy moly, it is NICE. The formulation is superb-- it has light-weight texture, blends in easy and fast, and instantly gets absorbed into deeper skin tissue. As a result, my hands are fully softened and moisturized. The scent is perfect balance between citrus and wood as well (I personally prefer the scent of Autumn Fields over Mediterranean Garden). I compared the ingredients lists between this product and other C&E Hand Therapy and I found a significant difference. The first five ingredients in Autumn Fields are: "Water, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Zea Mays (Corn) Starch, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Stearic Acid...", whereas the first five ingredients in Gardener's are: "Water, Glycerin, Isopropyl Myristate, Emulsifying Wax, NE Shea Butter..." which explains my surprise. Overall, This was my go-to hand cream in the month of January. 

• Josie Maran Whipped Argan Oil Body Butter in Vanilla Apricot  

I think I accidentally found the best peach scented body butter. My fellow peach-phile, if you thought that the Body Shop's peach body butter was too artificial, candy-like and did not like it, this is worth checking out. Anyway back to the product description, this is a great body butter. It really has the "whipped consistency," it is not too thick or solid like the Body Shop's. It is easy to work with and leaves my skin feel silky soft and supple, instead of sticky residue or grease. 

• Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse Multi-Usage Dry Oil 

I've been interchanging this body oil with Josie Maran body butter throughout the month of January. Whenever I want something super nourishing and smell expensive, I reach for this sophisticated oil. This is a truly luxurious item because it provides a long lasting moisturization without a hint of greasiness. Unlike other oils, once applied this gives you a healthy glow/ sparkles to your skin. If you are wearing a dress, I'd recommend this oil on you legs, arms, and décolletage for that extra healthy glowing effect.

• Shu Uemura UV Under Base Mousse 

I usually avoid face primers because they generally contain silicone (dimethicone) and clog my pores. This, however, is (I dare say) revolutionary product for oily skin. It does not contain silicone yet perfectly even out skin tone and texture. I have large pores and it diminishes my pores about 70%. Pairing with a medium coverage foundation, I can create a flawless skin look. You might have to use a foundation 1-2 shades darker than your usual one though, because the base itself is quite pigmented and pale.
You literally shake the bottle a couple times and gently squeeze the nozzle, and the product will be dispensed in mousse form. It is kind of fun to work with! The finish is velvety matte, and I noticed decreased frequency in touch-ups though out the day. I actually don't need any, if I'd wear it alone. Better yet, the SPF is great at 35. 

• Le Petit Marseillais Gel Douche Lait 

Love the packaging, rich lather, the soothing hint of soap scent! And it does not dry up my skin. My only complaint is, why can't it be more readily available in the states?! I just don't understand, it's such a popular brand in France!

food

• Braida di Giacomo Bologna Brachetto Wine

My friend shared her dining experience at Jean Georges with me and commented that she loved Braida's Brachetto wine, which is an italian sparkling red dessert wine. I usually don't like drinks with strong alcohol taste, but I barely tasted alcohol with this one (which makes sense with only 5.5% alcohol). I felt that only girls would very much appreciate this wine, but most of my guy friends seemed to really enjoy this wine as well! 

• Palais des Thes Perles de Jasmin Tea

I become a hard-core scrutiniser when it comes to Jasmine green tea. The quality of tea leaves, jasmine aroma, taste... I take all these factors into consideration as I rate a jasmine green tea brand. In college, I loved to have a cup of Grand Jasmine Chung Feng tea in tea bags for the merit of convenience, but once I finished the box I wanted to try the "pearl" Jasmine tea because it is supposedly better quality. As far as aromas go, the Chung Feng tea is the winner. The pearl jasmine has relatively weak, subtle aroma which ruins the whole point of drinking jasmine tea. However, I could tell the quality of tea leaves are slightly better. No bitterness, just soft, smooth and clean taste is left. The brewed tea gives off pure yellowish green color without powder residues at the bottom. Just like Chung Feng, the warmth and the aroma of Perles de Jasmin still provide instant relaxation to me. Due to higher cost, I'm most likely going to stick with Jasmine Chung Feng, but at least I'm glad I don't regret my purchase.  

miscellaneous

• ZAQ Paradise Glass Litemist Aromatherapy Essential Oil Diffuser

I am blessed to have received this thoughtful and generous gift for my birthday this year. Aroma diffuser is something that I have always wanted ever since I got interested in aromatherapy and essential oils. I am absolutely in love with this particular one. It is very beautiful and elegant, the instruction is simple, and it operates quietly for 6 hours until all the water evaporates. On just first day, I noticed a difference in my sleep quality; I had such a restful & sweet sleep, and was able to wake up in a state of clean, refreshed, energetic mood. Not only I'm happy that I received such a special gift that makes my room smell good, but also I'm glad how it helps with my stress, anxiety, and sleep difficulties. The only "con" I can think of is that now I will have to expand my essential oil collections♡  

• GMYLE White Marble Macbook Case 

My first macbook case that I ordered from ebay broke in less than 6 months, so I was on the hunt for a better quality case. GMYLE was the only brand I could find online that manufactures a marble printed laptop case and the reviewers seem to be satisfied with the quality. Ever since I installed it on my laptop, I've received so many compliments from others and I also love how the apple logo slightly sees through when it lights up. It fits much, much better than my first case and if I ever need to, I will definitely repurchase this in the future. 

• Wool Vicuna 

"Organic," "Fair-Trade," "Environment-Friendly" all hold a special place in my heart. Ten Thousand Villages is one of my favorite places to shop because it is a non-profit charitable organization that supports "artisans in the developing countries earn a fair wage, be treated with dignity and respect, and be able to live a life of quality." These hand-sewn vicunas are made with sheep wool and yarn (so soft!!) and made in Peru. Due to the handmade nature of the products, each vicuna is intrinsically unique and holds its own character. I hand-selected these particular two when I paid a visit to the store in Highland Park, NJ, and I am already attached to them. 

Favorite Music of the Month: I'm not in love by Diana Krall 

Favorite Book of the Month: 1Q84 Trilogy by Murakami Haruki