VACATION

I recently had a wonderful beach vacay in Bali and you can check out my holiday pictures on my Instagram! Bali is truly a paradise for the most luxurious resorts and services at relatively affordable prices compared to the other islands. The resort I stayed at was Ritz Carlton in Nusa Dua (south of Bali with 45 minutes drive to the central). It has cabanas by the pool (number 1 criteria for me!), a large kids club with kids pool and slides, and a private beach where you can have a camel ride! I also spotted a few Korean superstars holidaying there! I won’t go into the details of the resort as this post is mainly for sharing my Calvin Klein one piece swimwear (bought here with worldwide shipping) that I got a lot of messages on Instagram for. Overall I really enjoyed my stay there and I would highly recommend it to everyone especially if you have children and you are after a more secluded location.

I became super-conscious with my body after I had kids which meant one-piece swimwear over bikinis at any time. Just like a LBD, a black one-piece has always my weakness. It’s simple yet so chic. For this holiday, I added this piece by Calvin Klein. It has the perfect flattering cut with a scoop neck, and a small logo on the bottom of the piece, and a logo elastic strap at the back that is very Calvin-Klein with a sporty vibe.

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Ending the post with 2 of my favorite pictures from the holiday.

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I Found the Perfect Kaftan

August 22, 2016

August and September are popular vacation months. If you are planning a relaxing holiday where you will spend most of the day around the water, then the most important clothing item to have is a nice piece of Kaftan/Coverup. I was on the hunt for the most perfect Kaftan for a long time, so glad I found one by Melissa Odabash before my trip to Phuket which happens to be my favorite beachwear brand. It ticked all the boxes as it had to be white, flowy, delicate but not too frilly and girly; mid length, and not too sheer so I can wear it inside the resort as well. As usual, the quality of Melissa Odabash is superior as the fabric feels so soft and airy, and the embroidered flowers with the tassel fringe makes it look expensive in real life with a touch of boho vibe.

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Sunglasses (pic1) Karen Walker / Sunglasses (pic3) Ray-Ban / Necklace Cartier / Shoes Prada (similar here)

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I had a wonderful vacation at Phuket for 10 days which I am currently organizing some pictures to post soon. It never feels long enough but that’s what makes our vacations so special in our lives (well unless you are a celeb or a global jet setter blogger!) As for me, I am happy with our holidays every 6 months, and I thoroughly enjoy the entire planning process including what to pack! This post is for sharing the skincare products that I brought with me on holiday. Since the destination is a hot tropical island, I brought lots of lightweight hydrating and brightening serums/lotions, and because I love taking pictures I like to have products that keep my face looking firm and lifted so more photogenic… Last but not least, lots and lots of sunscreens are a must.

My favorite beach bag is bought here

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CLEANSERS

Using the Bioderma Micelle Water (travel size) for makeup removal. I love the Ren Rosa Centifolia Cleansing Gel so much so I bought a full size of this. It’s a rose-infused gentle gel cleanser with a fresh rose smell that feels extremely soothing and refreshing which makes it a perfect morning cleanser. It doesn’t strip any moisture off, and keeps the skin supple and fresh. Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant is one of  my HG cleansers for night time use, so I have to bring a travel size along with me. It’s a cleanser and an exfoliator in one that purifies the skin and deep cleans the pores without feeling harsh and drying on the skin. The Clinique Clarifying Lotion 1 is a refreshing toner for sweeping away any dead skin cells, and completely removes last traces of dirt and oil collected in your pores. In such a hot weathered place, I prefer to use multiple cleansing products just to keep my skin very clear and clog free.

SERUMS and MOISTURIZERS

I prep my skin with the Sulwhasoo First Care Activating Serum – it’s a highly potent treatment lotion that immediately hydrates the skin and boost the benefits of other skincare products, (detailed review here). Followed by the luxurious Chantecaille Bio Lifting Serum (reviewed here). It’s hydrating, soothing, anti-aging and provides a lifting effect to the face. During the day, I also apply the Tracie Martyn Face Resculpting Cream which is their signature product from the line. This is the travel friendly size which was made exclusive for Net-A-Porter. It can be used on the face as well as on the body for an immediate sculpting and firming effect. I have quite mixed feelings about it, as it works much better on the body than on the face for me. If you are after a face firming lotion for less than $100, nothing beats the famous Clarins Shaping Facial Lifting Total V Contouring Serum.

MASKS

I have dozens of paper masks with me (a mix of high and low end) on holiday, as the plan is to use at least one per day. As ironic as it sounds for spending most of the day at the beach and the pool during vacay, I don’t want to be tanned because my skin is prone to pigmentation! So every 2 nights I use the Sulwhasoo Snowise Ex Brightening Mask (reviewed here), It’s the best brightening mask I’ve ever used, as it definitely prevents my face from being tanned under long time sun exposure, and it helps to brighten up by one to one and a half shades after long term use. For hydrating and instant radiance boost, I like to use the SK II Facial Treatment Mask. A budget friendly brand is the Korean SNP Masks. I have used lots of theirs animal masks and liked them all. My favorite has to be the rabbit – it’s a multi purpose product that serves as a brightening beauty mask as well as keeping my 3 year old entertained by having a rabbit-faced mommy!

SUN PROTECTION

Using the french drugstore brand LA ROCHE-POSAY as they are rated very highly in a Japanese beauty magazine. Overall they are pretty good. The UVIDEA XL Melt In Cream SPF50 PA++++ is for the face that has a milky lotion texture and is non-greasy and feels light weight on the skin without feeling like having sunscreen on. The Anthelios XL Ultra Light Fluid SPF50 (best seller) is for the face and the body. It is slightly richer, so I use it on my body as well as for my son as the formula is made for sensitive skin and feels light on the skin so it doesn’t clog the pores and leave a white film on the skin.

BABY

Highly recommend the LA ROCHE-POSAY Baume B5 Soothing Repairing Balm for babies/toddlers. It helps to heal sensitive skin, rashes and insect bites.

 

 

 

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