Life, Work

Old Playground

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3Two Square is an old playground of mine. I worked in one of the 4A’s agencies there before I left permanently to work on my own. Had a meeting in the evening with an old colleague and a future client (Insyallah). Being there brought back memories of working in an agency how fun, tiring, interesting it was. Pitches, Pressos and many many late nights and working weekends.

I for one don’t regret my advertising days because it has taught me many valuable skills and lesson.

The meeting was brief but good. We got what we needed and decided to hangout since I’ve not spoken to my ex-colleague for a while now. It started off with weight as we are both under-weight and how impossible it is to gain. Then we went on to talk about mental health.

A topic so taboo among many, particularly the Malays. Anxiety, depression, suicidal and bi-polar. If you have it, it means you don’t pray to God enough. That is the stigma they have.

Different people have different mental state. Their mental health differs from others too. What triggers it, what helps reduce it and many other things. It was really comforting to be able to share and discuss what we are going through. It was definitely a discussion where I took mental notes on how to care and be more attentive to people who suffer from anxiety.

Just so you know, I don’t have anxiety. But there was a point of time in 2016, where I was constantly nervous, uneasy, my heartbeat was so fast and my chest was tight. Pressure machine could not detect my pulse. This was a time where I was so badly cheated by an asshole of an ex. I was put on Xanax to calm me down. But this was also when I sought peace in Allah. This was when I started to get close to Him. I pray more. I was consistent with my prayers. I did a lot of sunat prayers. In many ways, I am grateful I faced this ordeal as I grew spiritually and have a stronger love for Islam.

I suffer from depression. I do know I had this issue but I did know that it was serious till I actually sought help. At one point in my life where I felt scared, I was accused of many false things and such. I could not get out of bed. I could not even face the world. I was scared, I was scared to leave my safe place and I was so alone. I stayed in bed and slept for hours.

It was he who force it down on me to visit a shrink after an incident I faced. He was worried as he isn’t around and the time difference between us. I’m forever grateful that he was so persistent on me visiting his shrink.

Mental health is a serious issue. It is not something we go on all fours and pray to have it. Be gentle on others, you just don’t know what they are going through. Always be open to hear them out.

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Beauty, Work

Economical Beauty

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My first taste of entrepreneurship was in 2008. That was when I got back from Brisbane. It started off as a side income to pay for my car. I sold clothes online or better known as a blogshop.

It was new to us in KL. Initially, I started sourcing locally, the choice was rather limited. You had to have the eye for what’s going to be in fashion and also not sell the exact thing your competitors did. Though it might seem like a small hobby to some. I actually registered my blogshop and even had a legit company account. My earnings were really steady and clothes sold out super fast.

My dad noticed how well it did and invested in it. Off I went to Guangzhou to shop! Oh, boy, did I shop! I even quit my day job as I was so stressed and suffered acute gastric too.

However, I did go back to a 9-5 again while maintaining my blogshop. I then co-founded another business that was also online based that eventually turned into a fulltime gruelling offline job.

2011 was when I ditched the corporate life for good. A thing about being an entrepreneur that I must be honest with you is the pay. You will definitely take a pay cut when you start. Some months you’d get paid late. Some months you’d get paid less. Some months there won’t even be enough to pay yourself. Eventually, it will get better, but there will be some dry spells depending on the nature of your business.

Due to my financial standing as an entrepreneur, I decided to save where I could. The first thing that I cut off from my day to day spending was coffee. Coffee is a mad love of mine. Nowadays, it is a self-reward when I nailed a brief or score a new client. Some rare occasions it would be a pick me up on my shittier creative rut days.

The second thing that went down the drain was my blow-outs. The third was the facials. I now do home facials which can be an absolutely relaxing thing. But I’m guilty of slapping a mask own while working.

The fourth is my makeup products. Nope, I didn’t ditch makeup. I got real with it. What do I mean by that? Read on.

Bobbi Brown was the first brand that I emersed myself into. My mother brought me to the counter in Jusco which was located at One Utama. I was in such awe. I had never seen so many shades of brown/nude. It was an endless train of colours. They had lipsticks, eyeshadows, blushers and so much more! It was magical. For years I swore by them for my foundation, concealer, powder, eyebrow pencil, eyeliner and lipstick. My favourite look to achieve with Bobbi Brown would have to be the smokey eyes with nude lips.

In 2014, I discovered Rimmel London during my travels. It became my daily go to. I wore this on my day to day adventures and stuck to Bobbi Brown for special occasions. I wasn’t adventurous with makeup you see. Not only that, I had sensitive skin. So I was rather afraid of unwanted breakouts.

Despite that, I was a lil more adventurous with my lipstick. I mixed drugstore buys with high-end ones.

2018, is the year I finally opened up myself to local products. Local Malaysian products. #supportlocal!

I now use Lurelle Beauty foundation in Natural for my regular days. Especially if I’m in a rush. It is lightweight yet gives a medium coverage. No need to conceal my tired eyes! Just two pumps and I’m golden! Here’s a picture of me as proof.

I had minimal makeup on. Just foundation, eyebrow pencil, a lil blusher and a dash of lipmatte. The lipmatte is from MaryR BeautyWhat I love about Lurelle’s foundation is it’s water-based and wudhu friendly. Perfect for me who wants to pray when I’m out and about. It is also SPF35! Yup 35 ladies. Great for our scorching hot weather!

Another new found love is MaryR’s lipmattes. They come in six colours.

  1. Lily
  2. Dahlia
  3. Sakura
  4. Hydrangea
  5. Carnation
  6. Azalea

They contain Argan oil. Making it particularly great to moist the skin. I just hate chapped lips when I’m wearing lipstick. I’m currently in UK and it’s cold and dry. So this is my go to! My favourites would be Sakura and Carnation. I even took it on my recent trip to Krakow. It definitely helps add colour to my face in the negative cold weather.

If you are in the mood for some self-reward, try these brands for a change! I’m indeed more open to local brands. They are reasonable and good! If you know of any other makeup brands that I ought to try, do drop a comment. Would love to hear about it!

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Beauty

Stressed Skin Solution

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A few weeks ago after my Bangkok trip, my skin decided to be a rebel. It was suddenly so oily and it made me extra tan too! I even had unwanted pimples on my lower left cheek.

I was a contributor to it too as I did not properly pack my foam cleanser, so it leaked out. So my solution to a facial wash was the free hotel soap bar. That’s like beauty suicide to most of you. I’m still learning and I guess I took my skin for granted as it had improved tremendously while I was in UK.

So how did I sort my skin out once again? I cut back on my skincare routine. I went back to basics. All I did was cleanse and tone. Yup, I skipped the moisturizing part too. I scrubbed once a week. Did sheet mask twice a week. I went out without foundation unless truly required. Even if I did put on some foundation, I washed it thoroughly the moment I got home.

Go easy on your skin, it’d be golden in good time.

On another note, you can try sheet mask daily for a week. You’d be impressed at how great your skin will turn out.

Get them at Watsons, they are reasonable and good!

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Life, Work

Reading is Magic

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Reading is all sorts of wonderful. It helps you escape. You gain more knowledge. It distresses you and so much more.

There are many types of books that you can read, it truly depends on individuals. I for one love reading chic-lits to unwind at the end of the day. I’ve been a fan of self-help book since I was 12 after my dad who is an avid reader introduced me to it. I also enjoy literature books.

A few months ago, I was not my best self. I was so stressed out by disrespectful and bad paymasters. Days felt so slow, I was so demotivated. I was also trying hard to keep an agency abreast but my efforts were not matched. I finally called it quits.

It was the perfect timing when he gave me this ever famous book called “The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari”. I actually already purchased the book when he recommended a few books to read. I had been so busy that I did not read it.

Because it was his own book from his own personal collection, I decided to read it. Once I started reading it, I could not put it down. I was so drawn to it. I could relate to it so badly. I was excited to read it but I was saddened by it too. I did not realize how badly I had neglected my own wellbeing. I was so burnt out.

I was lucky enough that I was leaving for the UK a few weeks after I got his book. I brought it along with me and finished reading it in Bratislava. I even snuggled in bed alone just to read it. That I was so engrossed in it that he thought I was asleep. Some days, I completely ignored him just to read.

If you are on the verge of a burnout or you feel like you are stuck in a rut. Be it if you are a business owner or an employee, grab this book. It is worth every penny.

Here I am, months later. I value myself, my work and those I love more. I truly understand the fact that it all begins with me. I matter.

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Beauty

All About The Hair

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I have always had long, thick and healthy black hair. It can be unruly at times, but the messiness of my hair is what makes me, me. My hair carries its layers like a champ. The flow and the natural wave to my hair makes it perfect, well that’s how I like it anyway.

Taking care of my hair is a whole other story. I for one have never coloured my hair. The most I have done was I got it straightened a few times when I was much younger. For now, I try to keep my hair as natural as possible.

PRE-WASH

I would leave a homemade coconut oil in my hair overnight. This would be done before my hair is due for a wash. Why do I do this? To ensure minimal grey/white hair. Shiny jet black hair. It also maintains moisture and the softness to my hair.

SHAMPOO & CONDITIONER

I try to avoid products that have a lot of chemicals. I usually use something that is Paraben free. I enjoy exploring coconut-based products. My current favourite would be by Hask.

MASK

Once in a while, I will put on a leave-in-mask by Eclipse. I first tested it when I was in Indonesia. Don’t get me started on how awesome the hair mask in Indonesia is! Ah-mazingggg.

STYLING

Here is the fun yet most tedious part of my hair routine. Before I style my hair, I would usually put a hair serum that is also a heat protector. I would try my very best to at least dry my roots with a hairdryer. I do this to avoid getting a headache or a migraine in my case. I never sleep with wet hair too.

I have a lot of hair styling tools and that’s what I want to share with you today. I have more than one hairdryer. One for travel, one for daily. I have naturally straight/wavy hair that I love. Some days I would iron it out to get super sleek hair or when I want it to look longer. I got myself a few flat irons from MagicBoo. However, I intend to get myself a new one from BabyLiss once I am in Europe. Why? Because it is much better. I have fallen in love with my bestie Baby’s fantastic GHD. I can’t afford a GHD but I’ve always loved BabyLiss. So that’d do!

My usual go to would be my BabyLiss Big Hair dryer. It has this huge rotating brush. It is LOVE! It is really great for my thick hair! It creates loose curls that really does compliment my haircut.

Some days, when I feel a little extra and girlish. I’d curl my hair with my BabyLiss thong. By now, you can tell that I am a big fan of BabyLiss. So I try to get a new hair tool whenever I go to Europe. A bad addiction I tell you.

For days where I need a lil tighter, sexier curls. I’d use my faithful BabyLiss Heated Rollers. They come in three (3) different sizes. The downside to my thong and rollers is that I can’t use it when I cut my hair short.

Which brings me to this, perhaps I ought to get myself a BabyLiss Wave Wand. See, I told you it is addictive.

If you want to see more of my hair journey, check out my Instagram. It has been short and long. Some days straight, some days crazy wavy, some days nicely defined. Some days I tie it up and some lazy days, I do a top knot.

Do share your hair tips and favourite styling tips with me! More than eager to pick up new tricks!

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