This is sort of a different mix, today is beauty blogging with a swirl of what’s personal in it. Many of you know it’s been a rough couple of weeks for me since we got home from hospital with Dad. While I haven’t been able to set my mind on certain things like makeup and cosmetics for anything other than work lately there are still a couple of beauty bits I won’t be without now simply because they’ve just basically been helping me feel better throughout all this. This post has to be one for the books in the sense that at a time when the last thing I wanted to think about was “stuff” this stuff just had to be around because they just worked period. Thankfully now we’ve hired a temporary nurse for Dad so that eases lots of the tension in the daily to-do area. Today, I did want to share about the products that bring me temporal comfort right now and sort of…cushion the scenario if you will. These are simple comforts that function as a sort of outer balm for my inner well-being. That’s what a bit of beauty or wellness loot can sort of help to achieve, right? Especially if they really excellently do what they’re supposed to. So straightaway now, here are my current feel-good picks.
1.) Burt’s Bees Fabulously Fresh Peppermint & Rosemary Body Wash (available at Beauty Bar)
I was having one of those teary-eyed low moments in the shower from stress (we girls get that when things are tough, right, no shame in it at all) and decided to try something different to change it up. I pulled this from my new Burt’s Bees arrivals and brought it with me to my Tita’s house when I slept over and to my surprise when I lathered it up in the shower the minty aromatherapy-ish scent filled the bathroom and GET THIS, GIRLS, I actually SMILED, I kid you not, the freakin’ bath gel made me smile upon catching the first whiff. Then I caught myself and stopped and looked at the bottle for details coz I thought it was like a Twilight Zone moment, you know, being in tears but then suddenly smiling by yourself in the shower LOL. Good job, Burt’s Bees, you can be sure I’m getting the full size of this, I hadn’t had a moment with a bath gel like that ever.
Yesterday’s morning walk…
2.) G Stuff “Touch of Awakening” Eucalyptus Rosemary and Thyme Massage Oil (Php500+ for 250ml)
Next to prayer there’s nothing that relieves anything faster than touch therapy. Seriously speaking, I don’t know how many bottles of this G stuff we’ve already consumed as a family for massages. The smell of Eucalyptus and Rosemary transports you from the bad to the good in just a few minutes. This is hands down (literally) my favorite massage oil because it doesn’t sit on top of the skin and after you actually feel soft instead of greasy! Like you know how sometimes after a massage you want to take a shower because of the oily feeling? It’s the opposite situation with this, I actually have a complete shower and scrub prior to the massage and after the massage I just go over myself with a dry towel and I feel super baby soft and put my clothes back on. One cousin of mine when she was abroad consumed a whole bottle which we gave her like super quick because it kept dry skin away better than any other cream or lotion she had with her. According to her it was working so well that when she ran out she fell into a bad mood lol! She kept asking where we got this. The products of the brand G Stuff are Virgin Coconut Oil based and the brand provides livelihood opportunities for local communities since profits go back to them. The G Stuff boutique we go to is at Rockwell but will try to edit in other locations where you can get them.
Prayers on paper…
3.) HURRAW Earl Grey Lip Balm (Vegan/ Cold pressed)
I’ve mentioned this way too many times, but yes it is a source of comfort to me. HURRAW, my favorite lip balm brand on the planet did the world a good thing when they thought up their Earl Grey Lip Balm. It’s my favorite tea flavor in a vegan cold-pressed oil lip balm, need I ask for more? Emma Thompson as P.L. Travers in Saving Mr. Bank said “Tea is balm for the soul.”
4.) Diptyque’s VIOLETTE (violet floral) scented candle 6oz $60, NYC
This Violette candle was a birthday gift from my cousin in NYC. We were happily exploring along Bleecker Street last April and we walked into Diptyque and as a sweet birthday gesture she told me she’d get this for me when she saw me smelling it. We have Diptyque locally but last I checked Rustan’s doesn’t stock this particular scent which is special. The smell of violets is unique because it’s a sweet floral…so there’s a tartness that isn’t fruity, I know it’s hard to imagine, you can only know what I mean if you smell this candle. To be clear, I haven’t lit this yet, but I will most likely tomorrow evening since the weather has cooled down already. What I have been doing recently is I have been taking it to my nose and sniffing it because it just smells sooo pretty.
5.) Kiehl’s Creamy Eye Treatment Cream (with Avocado)
The normal thing would be to leave your eye cream at home, but as of a few weeks ago this made its home in my handbag for quite awhile, nestled anything but neatly in the side-pocket of my bag along with the ugliness of receipts, earrings, and my Earl Grey Lip Balm. Since the upset of our peaceful routine at home I hadn’t been putting much makeup on with the exception of mascara, brows, and concealer. I’d also been getting dryness around the eye area so seeing this in my hand bag it’s easy to remember to swipe some on my lids and under my eyes before or after I apply my mascara. It hydrates and absorbs quickly and does have that nourishing quality about it since it contains avocado. I needn’t mention to you anymore that this is Lisa Eldridge’s eye cream of choice at the moment, really not the least bit necessary to mention that, right? LOL. What also sold me on this was YouTuber Zoella’s testimonial of what it did for her eyes which were having a massive seasonal allergic reaction and dryness reaction(she said the skin under her eyes cracked) at the same time to something else. She couldn’t put anything else on with the exception of this eye cream by Kiehl’s which made it all better according to her.
“And now, Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in Thee…” Psalm 39:7
We all go through some tough times and while I know for now this is but a season for me and my family it’s always a comfort to know there are simple steps we can take to being better and becoming better in general. I’m also grateful for the people who have sincerely cared about us and helped us whether through prayer or encouraging words. While personally and spiritually tried in these moments I’m deeply joyful, thankful, and excited for what God has in store for the next season in my life. I’m learning how to trust without the need for the “Why”, because that’s what true trust is all about, believing what He says and that He loves and cares for each one of us as we need Him to. The Father really knows what He’s doing all the time, even if we can’t see the sunlight which is actually always, always above and beyond the rain, but it’s never gone, just out of sight sometimes. I take comfort in knowing that His plan for each one of us is custom made and nothing at all is by accident. He will complete His work in us when He chooses to and to see it unfold will break unspeakable joy.