Currently coveting: Summer Edition

Currently coveting: Summer Edition by curlsandmindy 

With a formula that claims to be flake-free as well as infused with a growth serum, Eyeko's Brow Gel is something I need to get my hands on. The gel has a slight brown tint, which couldn't hurt, and the wand is super cute relatively smaller, which I'm assuming will help with precision.

Lush's 'Grass' shower gel intrigues me mainly because when I came back home from a year abroad in Japan, the smell of freshly cut grass set off my senses. For me, nothing says 'summer' than the smell of freshly cut grass and razor burn.  

I love creamy pinks and purple nails for summer, and Jin Soon's nail polish in 'French Lilac' looks oh-so-lovely. I've never heard of this brand until very recently, but I would love to give it a go. The packaging is right up my alley, as well.

I've been meaning to try Shiseido's Ultimate Sun Protection + Broad Spectrum SPF 50+ For Face/Body forever. Even Miranda Kerr uses it (as posted on her Instagram)! They claim the formula is non-greasy, perspiration-proof AND sand-proof...wait, is that a thing?

I don't have toner in my skin routine because in all honesty I don't feel that they are very necessary, but I wouldn't mind being proven wrong by Kiehl's Cucumber Herbal Alcohol-Free Toner. It looks and sounds super refreshing so I wouldn't mind adding this extra step to my skincare routine.

What products are you coveting this summer??




xxmindy

Recent Happenings Vol. 2

I've been fairly Instagram-happy recently. Miraculously, I've managed to abstain from taking too many selfies and have been focusing on uploads brimming with qualitative content #getreal. Walk with me:

Fuchiko (ふちこ) is a cute Japanese office lady who likes to hang out along the rims and edges of numerous objects (she especially likes dangling off drinking glasses). The name 'Fuchiko' is a compund: 'fuchi' meaning edge, rim, and 'ko' meaning child, which is a popular suffix in female Japanese names. She's also infamous for her oh-so-innocently exposed underwear.

There is this killer Mediterranean restaurant at my University and I go there more often than I should. Above is the vegetarian platter complete with hummus, tabouleh salad, falafel, spanakopita, tzaziki, roasted eggplant, baked potato, dolma and brown rice-- I CAN'T!

Being a Japanese Language and Culture major, I love me some good ol' classical Japanese literature. This is an insert from Sei Shonagon's 'The Pillow Book.' It is her own personal diary that she wrote while serving at the imperial court around 1000 AD. Apart from being hilarious, she is also famous for are her lists. Above is one of my favourite excerpts. 

My boyfriend and I went to Cirque du Soleil's Totem and it was life changing. My adrenaline was racing the whole show because I was afraid I was going to witness someones grotesque and tragic death. Thankfully, there were no fatalities! I confess that this isn't the original picture that I posted on Instagram, but this family was so cute I couldn't help it! #actuallythisisjustcreepy

This was in the washroom in one of the buildings on my campus. I still don't know how I feel about this.

Face/Off: A classic. Stumbled upon this beauty at my local thrift store. My most vivid memory of this movie was the surgery when they swapped faces and John Travolta being super pervy. Nicolas Cage's performance in this movie almost rivals National Treasure--almost. 

Feel free to follow me on Instagram: curlsandmindy

xxmindy

Growing Out Curly Hair: My Tips

I've been growing out my hair since I gave it an above-the-shoulder chop it a little over 4 years ago. Long story short I regretted it-- big time. After straightening my hair for about a year after cutting it, I decided that I wanted to wear it curly as my ends were starting to look pretty tragic to the point where my hair wasn't straightening properly anymore. SO I decided to ditch my flatiron and go au naturale. Cue super unflattering afro; my signature look for my freshman year of university. Fantastic.

Distraught, I went to my nearest hair salon for advice. The stylist was very honest with me, and concluded that my hair was going through its "ugly stage." Reality hit me hard, but I was determined to overcome this gloomy interval of low self-esteem subpar hair. Fast-forward 4 years later, and I managed to achieve an agreeable length.  Through my 4 years of trials and tribulations I feel that it's safe for me to say that I learned a lot, so I thought that I would share some suggestions as to what worked for me and my hair (which is type 3A/3B). Hopefully they can help you, too!

1. Don't cut your hair (#sorryimnotsorry) 

There, I said it. And you know what? It worked for me don't hate! specifically because my hair grows at a very slow rate. If I felt like I needed to get rid of damaged ends, I would give myself a trim (worked out to about every 6 months).

2. Don't comb/brush your hair, especially when it is wet. 

I do not own a hair brush or comb. The last time I combed my hair (apart from when I straighten it) was 2 years ago. I have never experienced any problems worth noting. If you cannot resist the urge, make sure your hair is well conditioned.

3. Refrain from applying heat (obvi).

Heat = damage, especially at the ends of your hair, which results in trims, which results in a slower progress, ya dig?

4. Use a very moisturising conditioner/hair mask.

The more conditioned your hair is the easier it is to finger comb it in the shower, which results in less hair loss. Also, if your curly hair is a bit on the dryer side more moisture will result in more manageable hair when it is dry. The Macadamia Deep Repair Masque is very conditioning. 

5. Leave-in-creams, serums and oils are your BFFL (best friend for life). SRSLY.

Moisture 4 life! I recommend it's a 10 anything! They're miracle leave in product and miracle hair mask have been life altering. 

6. Treat your hair to a DIY hair mask.

My go-to hair mask is as follows: 2tbs of all-natural almond oil, for nutrients and moisture, and 5-10 drops of organic peppermint oil to stimulate dem hair follicles. Massage in scalp and focus on the ends. Leave it it anywhere from 4-24 hours. Wash out thoroughly with hot water and shampoo, focusing strictly on the scalp. I try to do this bi-weekly. Coconut oil works great, as well.

"Ayyyyy--"

Unfortunately for us curly girls, growing out our hair isn't easy. But! it is definitely possible with a little TLC and a whole lotta of patience. I hope some of you find these tips helpful and good luck fighting the good fight!!

What are some of your tips and tricks for growing out your hair?

xx mindy

Summer Essentials: Keihl's Ultra Facial Moisturizer SPF 30 & Midnight Recovery Eye

Keihl's has become my definite go-to brand in terms of skin care. The straightforwardness and simplicity of its products and the abundance of free samples just appeals to me. To avoid turning into a lobster this summer, I picked up the Ultra Facial Moisturizer SPF 30 (125 ml, $45CDN). The formula is lightweight, very moisturizing, and doesn't leave a greasy residue. I'm digging it.

The Midnight Recovery Eye (15ml, $40 CDN) is actually a repurchase and probably one of the most effective products I have ever used. Since I have relatively deep set eyes, I didn't think there would be anything on the market that would be effective in reducing them. How wrong I was. Pardon my french but this sh*t cray. I literally did a double take in the mirror after not using it for a couple months. It is so effective--especially if you manage to get enough shut-eye. If you suffer from dark under eye circles I cannot recommend this product enough.


Hope it's sunny wherever you are!!




xxmindy