An Almond Abroad Advice

Dear Almondieu,

Do you travel a lot? Tbh, I don’t. I’m very much a homebody who prefers sleeping in her own bed than being abroad. But more than just the inconvenience of being in a different environment, I also have a strong dislike towards the process of getting to that new environment, whether it be by car, train, or plane (but mostly plane.)

My most recent trip was to the Philippines, which is 20+ hours away by plane. There are many things I am grateful for and many things I wish I knew earlier before leaving the comfort of my own house that I wanted to share with you (lest I forget it next time, lol).

In this letter, I wanted to compile lesser known travel advice rather than more obvious ones like using travel-sized skincare bottles, arriving early to the airport, and not wearing metal to the airport in anticipation of the metal detectors.

Ready, set, go!

For Today and Tomorrow Beauty Routine

Dear Almondieu,

How often do you wear makeup? How often do you take care of your skin? Wouldn’t it be wonderful if you could do both at the same time?

Recently, I’ve been having fun looking into products with both long-term skincare ingredients and short-term makeup benefits.

I don’t like to wear much in the morning, especially with a long day ahead of me. Especially for daily use, I try to use products that are good for my skin rather than ones that clog pores.

Today, I am introducing my morning beauty routine for a fresh and clean look that can help improve your appearance both for today and tomorrow.

TONEfitSUN Cushion Review

Hi Almondieu,

I’m having my first exam at medical school this week. Usually I save reviews for Saturday and try to write about things closer to my heart for our weekly letters, but please excuse it this time.

Today I am reviewing an interesting sun protection product, the TONE Fit SUN Cushion.

Dermatology Advice Diary

Dear Almondieu,

It’s my last week at work and I have the day off today, lol. The weather is nice so I’d like to sit outside, but I’m worried about the air quality these days. Right now, it’s to the point that it looks hazy despite the sun shining.

Despite being in a dermatology office for a short time, there’s a lot of things I learned that I hope to remember for my own use. I thought I’d compile them before I forget. The advice I collected ranges from body care for sensitive skin, lower limb care, sun protection, and recommended products/ingredients.

Ponytail Tying Tips

Dear Almondieu,

If you have hair that reaches at least your shoulders, it is important you know how to tie it properly, whether it be for when you are cleaning, working, or getting into other unspecified mischief.

Funnily enough, I used to avoid tying my hair whenever possible. For whatever reason, I couldn’t tie it comfortably and neatly enough. Lucky for me, I now have a job that more or less requires tying long hair as a safety precaution, so I have been able to practice quite a bit.

Here are my super quick ponytail tying tips!

V&A Antioxidant Ampoule and Cream Review

Hello Almondieu,

Today I am reviewing the Antioxidant Radiance Ampoule and Antioxidant Hydration Cream from V&A.

I originally became interested in these products because of my favorite beauty youtuber, Mincarong. I love her immersive makeup looks (for lack of a better term), in which she imagines a personality and creates a look based off of it.

The video that prompted me to look into these V&A products was her “sober first love” look. As a hopeless romantic, it immediately captured my heart.

There was a promotion on Olive Young that sealed the deal on convincing me to make the purchase. The ampoule came in a buy-one-get-one free set, while the cream came with a slightly smaller tube version and a mini ampoule.

Let’s do some V&A Q&A?

Cell Fusion C Laser Sunscreen 100 Review

Dear Almondieu,

I am here with another product review. This time I am reviewing the Laser Sunscreen 100 from Cell Fusion C.

Good Morning Diet Routine

Dear Almondieu,

As you may know, one of my hobbies is collecting small physical activities I can incorporate into my daily routine. This is especially true when it comes to morning routines.

I have a long commute to work and as a result don’t have much time in the mornings. Sleep is also necessary for staying healthy, so I try to make my morning routine as efficient as possible.

As it is the start of the day, I think it is helpful to put your body in a state that is energized. I have a relatively sensitive digestive system, so I try to promote metabolism as soon as I wake up. This can be helpful with energy expenditure throughout the day and therefore weight loss, too.

So in this letter, I am sharing an efficient morning routine that doesn’t take up much time but helps kickstart your metabolism to start your day! Are you ready to have a happy and healthy good morning?

Doe-Eyed Makeup

Deer Almondieu,

I am back again with another letter on focal-point makeup techniques. This time, I feel that the focal points embody the phrase “doe-eyed” when combined together.

In my mind, the phrase “doe-eyed” refers to twinkly eyes that are clear and bright. The antithesis would be dark, smoky eyes. (I think there’s been a trend going around comparing “doe eyes” to “siren eyes” lately.) Therefore, the overall image in my mind is makeup that looks clean and focuses more on highlighting than on dark shadows.

Physical Activities to Sneak into Your Daily Routine

Hey Almondieu,

Did you know there’s a difference between physical activity and exercise? The former is less strenuous and describes any body movement, from jittery legs to taking a walk.

I’m always an advocate for making small habits rather than big, drastic changes. I admit that I don’t get a lot of exercise, and I don’t particularly seek it out for fun. But when I go for long periods of time without any physical activity, I end up feeling more tired. That’s why I’m always looking for little physical activities I can get in while going about my daily routine.

Today, I wanted to share some itty bitty physical activities that you can sneak in while doing the things you already do.