Favorite Purchase: Clarisonic Skin Cleansing System

Last Christmas, my in-laws gave us a set of Sonicare electric toothbrushes. They work FAR better than traditional manual toothbrushes. My teeth feel as if I had gone to the dentist afterwards. I was so impressed that it convinced me to purchase the highly rated Clarisonic Mia.

If you follow any beauty blogs, I'm sure you've already heard about this brush. You should feel a difference from the very first use, eliminate any need for toner after washing your face, allows more effective absorption of all your skincare products, create a glowing effect, and the list goes on and on. In other words, get ready to have the best skin you've ever had since your toddler years! I even read from one woman that she loves her Clarisonic brush more than her dishwasher!

The first time you use it, you will realize that you have never truly washed your face... UNTIL NOW. The brush will be a light BROWN. eewww...
Just use this with your regular face wash and results should be apparent after just a few uses!

There are several different models. Mia, Classic, Pro, and Plus. Mia is a single speed. Classic is two speed but most owners only use one speed (the same speed offered on the Mia). Pro and Plus can not only be used on the face but also the body. But considering how lazy I am (probably will not have the time to use it on my body), I chose the Mia! Also, if you purchase a pink brush, a portion of your proceeds benefits breast cancer research. This is the one I picked because of this reason, and I'm hoping that the pink will deter my husband from ever trying my face brush. Get your own!!!

In the past, I've purchased the Pretika SonicDermabrasion. This brush feels very different than the Clarisonic Mia, and somehow my skin does not feel as clean using this. But, it is a cheap alternative and does do a good job exfoliating the face. The brush is quite a bit harder/rougher than the Clarisonic and the movement is more "bumpy", if that makes sense.



If you can lay down the dough ($135 and upwards), I'd highly recommend getting the Clarisonic brush over any other electric face brush. I've realized over time that some things really are worth their HIGH prices. I'm very frugal with my money, and I don't buy things without heavy research. I even research my $5 lipstick purchases! I figure things take up room and cost money; better to buy things carefully!

I bought mine from Dermstore as it was the best price. They will give you an automatic 10% off for setting an account with them and adding the item you want into your favorites before you purchase! Shipping is free and no tax on the Clarisonic facial brushes from Dermstore. OH! And, for a limited time, you get a free one year subscription to Vogue with any order.



My Favorites – save 10% every time you shop from you’re My Favorites list on DermStore.com

Rating for Clarisonic Mia Facial Brush:

Small Buy of the Week: Cost $1.79

I got this item on Ebay for a grand total of $1.79. That's including shipping mind you. It was a buy it now for a set of two tea steepers!

Many asians, including me, drink loose tea. This cancels the need for special cups and prevents tea leaves getting into your mouth.

Asian Novelty Beauty Items

If you are familiar with Asian "gimmick" or "novelty" items, you will recognize the items below.

You can see these on Ebay and on the streets of Asia.

First off, we have the face molders. These are ridiculous.

For some reason, they use Caucasian references, like putting French on the packaging to convince Asians that these are quality products. In reality, these products are not sold in the Western world.

Ok, so Asians are obsessed with small faces for women. It is a very important aspect of being considered attractive. The above item supposedly slims down the face by massage. Ok, in my opinion, this is ridiculously useless... However, accupuncture and accupressure have been proven to be effective! Either way, don't waste your money on it!

This tool improves the profile of a person's face by creating a more desirable angle of the nose. Meanwhile it squeezes the nose into a narrower shape. Again, I do not think this would work. I'd imagine you'd just end up with a very red nose after using it for a while.
Again, this is to make the face smaller. You are supposed to wear it while you sleep. This thing just looks hilarious. I don't know how anyone would manage to sleep with that on. And, once again 0 science behind why it would work.

So far all of the products that we've talked about don't work. But the below do!! Check these out:
First we have sponge ball curlers. They come in packs of 6. If you've got thick hair, you will need 12. But, the great thing about these are they are SOFT, so you can sleep on them. When your hair is 90% dry, put your hair in these and sleep on it. It's that easy!
Razor comb- cut angles and layers into your hair with these easily!
This pic shows the sponge ball curlers and a bang styler at the bottom.
Last but not least, the zit/blackhead remover. Poke the unsightly bump with the pointy end and squeeze out the zit with the other.

You know, when you pop a zit with your fingers, a lot of the times, it makes the zit worse OR creates more zits around the original zit. This thing prevents it and makes the whole process PAINLESS. Even my husband likes this one.

Best thing is, you can buy these items each for just a couple of bucks on Ebay. Shipping takes a while because of the cheap cost, but the prices are unmatched!

Amazing Butterfly Dress

I recently read in a fairy tale about a princess who was given a dress made of butterfly wings... and I thought.. "eww... that would be gross."

But take a look at this dress designed by Luly Yang. Breathtaking...

More Wedding Pics

China Trip

I've become an OLD married woman

Gone and got hitched! Only got a sample of the professional pictures... can't wait for the rest!

It was a really small wedding with just close friends and family.

Business Trip to Portugal

Went to Portugal in February for a business trip:

We went wine tasting, toured the countryside, some towns and castles.

It was wonderful. Had the best port in my entire life. In fact, I didn't care for red wine or port until this trip!

Didn't want to include any pictures of my co-workers here...

My fav. statue that I saw

I found out that the egg custard dim sums are actually from Portugal! The Portuguese brought them over when they were trading way back when. These were so yummy!

Buy This Now!

This is how I know our society is completely down the crapper. This piggy bank is sold on a website targeted for young girls. They also sell a ridiculous amount of pink stuff and young teenager magazines such as Seventeen... All women of my generation or younger know that only less than 16 year olds read this... 

But, you should buy IT, because it's 10% off! It would be silly to say no to a discount! 

Btw, Yes, I'm cynical.  You don't need to tell me. 

Absolutely Shameful: Wal-mart worker trampled to death

So... last Friday, around 8:30 AM, I went and participated in Black Friday. There were tons of people running around, and everyone had large bags stuffed with "stuff." 

I stepped out with socks for $1.05, including tax. Big spender, right? Well, I'm a frugal Chinese and damn proud of it. 

Frankly, even though I participated in the frenzy, slowly meandering (and probably pissing the hell out of everyone walking behind me) through the aisles... I really didn't understand why everyone was so happy to say goodbye to their money. 

By the time I left the mall, the cash register lines stretched out across the store! It didn't strike me as odd or appalling until now. Now, that I've heard about the Wal-Mart death. Customers pushed down a Wal-Mart employee. The employee was trampled by hundreds of crazed customers for "several minutes" as other employees tried to reach him. When customers were told that they needed to leave the store because someone died, they refused and kept shopping. 

INSANITY! And so revolting... Are people really that gross??? 

Doll Masterpieces

Never thought I'd ever be crazy about dolls... but I finally am when I'm no longer considered a child anymore... 

It all began with Noel Cruz. His dolls are created by rubbing off the original paint on a doll and repainting by hand. Cruz prefers to copy celebrities. But, what makes his work unique is his amazing ability to make the dolls spitting images of the celebrity. He sells his creations on ebay. Currently, he is auctioning Orlando Bloom and Madonna as in Dick Tracy.

Cruz painting the Mary Poppins doll.

Cruz's Nascar Doll

However, though, I was extremely impressed... I didn't give the dolls a second thought... that is until I bumped into Marina Bychkova's work... 

The only reason why I didn't care for Cruz's work is that I'm not too fascinated by celebrities... However, I LOVE LOVE the ethereal fantasy dolls. Bychkova's dolls are so fairy tale like (I've always been obsessed with fairy tales, and their beauty far exceeds real human beauty... It's like a freakish exagerrated beauty... And, each one is COMPLETELY handmade. 

Plus, she makes quite a few Asian dolls, which I love! 

Not sure why this doll has male bits... Is it supposed to be one of the Asian boy girl beauties??

Here are my three favorites below:

I just love the range of movement these dolls have... You can put them in such elegant poses!

I'm sure these dolls cost more than just a pretty penny and prices are not displayed on her site. 

Anyway, I think it's great to see dolls as artwork that can be considered as masterpieces! 

Let's Talk about Race

Race has always been very vague. There are clear differences between Northern Europeans and Southern Europeans, Northern Asians and Southern Asians, Northern Africans and Southern Africans, etc, yet, most everybody describes everyone through a few basic colors. I always note South Asian vs North Asian... but that's just because I'm Asian.

It's interesting that Europeans have told me before that they find it surprising that Americans don't believe Hispanic people are white!

Anyway, the thing that got me thinking about all of this are these very funny pictures from Playmobil. Please don't take offense to me... Take it to the toy company, if you must.

Hispanic

White Family

Black Family.... Notice that the father's collar is popped.

Lol... Asian man with a camera...

They obviously forgot some races such as Native American, Middle Eastern...

Engagement!

Travis is my fiance!
On September 29th, Travis proposed to me! We were in Le Jardin Exotique on the side of a mountain overlooking Monaco. We had a trip in France and also spent half a day in Monaco.  

The funny thing about all of this is that I knew about the engagement, way beforehand. Travis is really bad at keeping secrets like these. I knew that he was going to be doing it sometime during our trip abroad and was so afraid that I was going to be somewhat emotionless during the proposal as I've known about the plan for so long. I spent so many car rides to home or the office tearing up just thinking about the moment to be... 

Since the surprise was gone and I was expecting it, I thought it wouldn't be as touching. But, wow, when he got down on his knee, I couldn't even stay standing up.  I just started bawling... like not one tear or two.. but tons... In fact, I heard his voice but couldn't recall anything that he was saying. 

According to Travis, I didn't even say yes... I swear that I said, "of course." But, he claims all I did was say, "mm-hmm."