Before I started exercising and eating healthy I always had a certain stigma towards that certain lifestyle . Admittedly, I decided to exercise and eat healthy for the reason everyone else first decides to do it: I wanted to look good and get skinnier .

Fast forward 9 months later and I still eat healthily and exercise, but for a completely different set of reasons . If anything, I wish there wasn't a sort of "only jocks exercise" stigma towards having a fit lifestyle, because if I had exercised as much as I do now (which is 15 minutes a day, five days a week . Yes you read that right, fifteen minutes), I know that my quality of life in general would've been much better, and much easier .

Why is exercising and eating healthy food important ? I'll start with the most important one .

You get sick less, and the severity of your sickness isn't as bad .

When Winter used to roll around it was the best of times and the worst of times . I generally enjoy Winter since it's usually sunny, and walking around in the Winter sun at noon lifts my spirits up higher than you could imagine . But what I hated about it ? Sick . Sickness, all the time, every time . I usually woke up with a sore throat and I always got a minor cold that consisted of sniffling and a sore throat, but having a sore throat as a teacher is as good as torture .

Since exercising helps to make your body stronger to a degree, I've noticed that those minor sicknesses I used to have basically been greatly reduced in the current Winter . Last month and this month marks what is known as 'influenza season' in Japan, which can be highly infectious and can easily make you stay at home . Last year around this time I had already gotten sick around twice, and I would come to find myself being sick again in March, as well . However luckily this time around, even with the very little exercise I do nowadays, I haven't gotten a cold or the flu in the midst of Winter . I'm actually pretty surprised because a lot of my students currently have influenza, and there are times where I can hear a voice in the back of my head saying "Here it comes, the part where you become sick since you have to stay in this classroom for 5 hours", but alas, I have yet to become sick during this time of the year . 

I've also noticed that when I do actually get sick (this usually happens because I haven't physically rested my body properly, so not much sleep and then going out two or three days straight), it's not as severe . Before when I got a cold due to fatigue (weird, I know) it usually ensued a terribly sore throat, a man voice, coughing for days, a blocked nose, and at worst an accompanying headache . But recently now that I exercise...well I still have the man voice and blocked nose . But the throat isn't as sore and the coughing isn't as prominent as it used to be . I think the cold still lasts as it usually would, but it not being as severe definitely helped me out . Since I usually get these fatigue colds when I travel, the fact that it doesn't completely make life unbearable while I go out has really benefitted me, especially since I travel quite a lot as well . 

In general, I've found that me getting sick has really minimised from how often I would get sick before, and this has largely improved my quality of life and productivity in general .

You may not necessarily lose all that weight, but it'll still help to get that body you want

I used to exercise three times a week anywhere between 45 minutes to 1 hour and a half . Coupled with an extremely strict diet and of course, I was thinner . Nowadays I exercise four to five times a week for around 15 minutes, but my diet isn't so strict . When I was exercising far more my diet would consist of a rice meal for brunch and a protein shake for dinner . Nowadays it's still a rice meal for brunch and a protein shake for dinner, but more often than not I add a little a bit of snacks here and there; and I often eat some fried food or creamy desserts twice a week . Has my shape gotten back to the way it used to be, before I started exercising though ? No .

And funnily enough, I'm pretty sure I eat more now compared to how much I used to eat before I started exercising .

If you want a better looking body, what part do you want to look better is the question you'd really want to be asking yourself . "I want to have a flatter belly", to "I want an arse like Kim Kardashian"; if you want a certain part of your body to look a certain way, you need to specify that when you look up your exercise routines . 

This is simply because exercising isn't about losing weight but it's also about effectively sculpting your body as well . You don't just lose weight, there are some places of the body that need a bit of a touch up, and some parts not so much so . My tummy is still pretty flat and I've noticed that my overall body is still how it was when I was exercising a lot and dieting a lot; but the only difference nowadays is that I have a bit more chin fat and my tummy is a bit bigger than what it used to be . Regardless, the fat that I've lost in my arms have still continued to stay that way and my legs are still much skinnier than they used to be, because that's how I wanted it to be .

People usually think losing weight is ultimately what will get you that perfect body, but no, it's not . I used to exercise in order to lose weight and I wasn't particularly happy with the results . I then looked more into it and decided to do a variant of a 'bikini body' challenge and that's when I started to see more of the body that I wanted . Where on your body do you want to have less fat ? If you ask yourself that question and exercise based off of those results, I'm sure you'll find the end factor much more rewarding.

It's the best form of energy your body will feel

Now don't get me wrong, I haven't completely converted to the "I don't drink coffee anymore" squad, but as a teacher I have to sit through 5-6 lessons a day . How do students feel when they sit through lessons ? Tired and sometimes bored . The newsflash here is that ultimately teachers are humans too and it also gets pretty dreary for us as well . When I first started teaching I'd sometimes feel really bad for some of my classes since I didn't have a lot of energy to do them; I taught some lessons that were really sub par . There were some classes where I almost fell asleep . If the student felt embarrassed I felt ten times worse . This is actually another main reason why exercising has still been an important part of my daily routine .

Since I've started exercising, the tiredness that kind of always followed me around has really minimised . If anything, I wish the routine I had right now was what I did when I was in university, because I feel as though I would've been an overall better student . Since I've started exercising 9 months ago I can only really count one time where I've been so sleepy I could barely keep my eyes open (which believe me, is a huge improvement to the previous year) . I feel like I have enough energy to keep my students attention much more compared to the previous year as well . 

Outside of the teaching realm, my concentration is much more sustainable and I feel like my brain is able to absorb more, as compared to how I was in university or hell, even high school . This becomes very much apparent to me whenever I study languages, which can be really exhausting for the brain if you simply don't have the brain power for it . I'm currently learning Japanese, Korean and French, as well as doing a Diploma . And truth be told, if I wasn't exercising I don't think I'd have the mental capacity to handle all of that at once .

And hey, healthy food doesn't always taste bad . :P

And so there it is ! The real reasons why you should consider having an exercise routine, even if it means 10 minutes for five days a week . I made this article mainly because these were things I really wish I knew when I was a university student . 

Because even if it was 10 minutes, it could've made all the more difference in the energy that I needed in my long days of university and having a part time job . It could've made a difference in how often I'd get sick even though I needed to work . It could've made a difference in how much I was absorbing while I was studying . If I didn't have this stupid "only vein people exercise" mentality when I was a student, life would've been a lot easier .

So take my heed and take my warning, and get rid of the thought that only people who wear yoga pants or take duck selfies exercise . There's more to it that'll be beneficial for you in the long run, believe me .

Signing out,

-THE TEACOAST .

Sweater: yesstyle.com

I've really been into the cardigan that looks like a coat look lately . I wish I could use them more but since I often bike on my way to work, I'd freeze if I do that haha . @_@ Luckily I don't always bike on the way to work though .

If you're wondering why I'm reviewing three products at the same time, it's simply because, well...there's a lot of products to review (*sigh) . But I'm not exactly a fan of always serving up the same thing which is why I don't write reviews every week . Anyway, I actually have a bunch of stuff from the INNISFREE line that I've used in the past couple of months, so it's most certainly about time that I've done a review for these products !

INNISFREE Green Tea Balancing Skin Review & INNISFREE Green Tea Balancing Lotion Review ( x | x )

General Overview

The INNISFREE Green Tea Balancing Skin is 200mL, around $15 USD, and is essentially the toner within this line . So why call it balancing skin instead of toner ? I don't know . Its consistency is semi- transparent, and surprisingly a lot less runnier than a normal toner, which is probably why they decided to not call it that incase people get a little sceptical . It has a scent to it that I find quite pleasant and refreshing . It doesn't smell like green tea, but for some reason it reminds me of some sort of citrus ? I don't think I'll be able to describe it correctly but if there's anything that I know, yes it has a scent, and if I were to describe it as anything I'd say it's refreshing .

The INNISFREE Green Tea Balancing Lotion is 160mL, and is also $15 . The packaging is almost identical to the Green Tea Balancing Skin, apart from the fact that it's a little smaller and the consistency is white instead of semi transparent . As it's a lotion it's not exactly creamy but not completely fluid either . It also has the refreshing scent that the Balancing Skin has .

To me it's interesting to note that the ingredient of Green Tea itself has always been popular for its ability to both moisturise, soothe and fight acne . This line in particular however, really focuses on thoroughly moisturising the skin, and thoroughly moisturising the skin only . I'd also like to note that even though the packaging is pretty travel friendly since it's made of plastic, it can be quite the pain to control the portion that you're going to use . 

Final Thoughts + would I purchase it again ?

If I'm going to be completely honest, I think there's something in the general INNISFREE creams and lotions that probably does not fair well with sensitive skin, because when I used this, it broke me out . I had a similar thing happen with the INNISFREE Orchid Enriched cream, which maintained moisture in my skin when I had dry skin (but didn't completely heal up the dry patches of my skin) . It didn't break me out until I became oily skinned, but even when I had dry skin, it didn't help to completely stop my skin from being dry during the day time as well, does that make sense ?

What I'm trying to get at first and foremost is that the INNISFREE creams won't help to completely eliminate problems, but only help to alleviate them . Second of all, if you have both sensitive skin and oily skin, you might want to be really wary of these products . The thing is I've generally seen a lot of good reviews from oily skinned people about how this product doesn't break them out but also helps to retain moisture for their skin .

But nope . this product breaks me out . This line and the orchid enriched cream broke me out, so I really feel as though there's something in the INNISFREE creams that sensitive skin people need to be cautious about . If you're dry skinned or oily skinned, I think this product is safe to see and try out, but if you have sensitive skin... I think it'd be best for you to try out a sample or a tester first .

But personally for me, I think I'm gonna lay off using the INNISFREE creams from now on .

Can't say I'd say the same thing for the next product though . :)

INNISFREE Jeju Volcanic Pore Clay Mask Review ( x )

General Overview

The Jeju volcanic pore clay mask can be found for approximately $10 USD at 100mL, which I've got to say, is hella cheap . The texture of it is thick and gray, and in order to use this mask you basically need to smear it on your face and then leave it on for 15-30 minutes (I leave it on for 30 minutes) . The general aim of this mask is to clean the pores, help in reducing oil and sebum, and leave your skin with smoother and brighter skin . I've also found that out of many products that I've used, this product has almost no scent . It does have a scent, but that's only if you pay attention to it, but with that being said it's not very intruding .

Surprisingly, this product doesn't explicitly state it, but this mask has AHA in it which means it's got some acne clearing properties within it . The general marketing of this product makes it out to be that it's good for any skin type, but I think it's best suited for acne prone or oily skin . I've actually read a few reviews on this that has said that if you're on the drier side, you won't be a fan of this product . Also, because this product has AHA I really, really stress that you must not use Vitamin C before or after the use of this product . If you do it can actually cause your skin to breakout more .

Final Thoughts + Would I purchase this again ?

I think that for $10, this is an excellent product for the general maintenance of your skin and really keeping sebum control and oil control at bay . However I do not think that this product is a good idea if you want to get rid of really deep and stubborn black heads . Even though it does help to clear out the oil of your skin, there are other products that can do a more thorough product of that if it is more of an issue (I'm looking at you, Glamglow Supermud Clearing Treatment mask) .

Since I have an issue with some deep black heads, and coping with the hell that is the humidity of the Japanese summer, I may look at something else in order to fix those problems . However I like using this product and I know that I'll keep using this product until I finish it up . If I didn't have other pore clay masks that I wanted to try out , chances are I'd most probably buy this again . Before using this mask twice a week I'd have serious problems trying to control breakouts and trying to keep my skin smooth, so if anything, I'm nothing but fond of this product .

The cheap and 'all-natural' INNISFREE is...

I used to favour this brand a lot since it boasts of using natural ingredients, though I do believe that it uses natural ingredients, there must be something else that they use for my skin to be breaking out to their creams, which is a bit of a shame . 

However when they make a good cheap product, they make it well . Honestly the quality of the products they make for the price they sell it at is pretty impressive, such as the Jeju Volcanic Pore Clay Mask . If you're looking for general maintenance products and products that won't exactly 'wow' you, it's good to give the INNISFREE brand a try .

Do you have any favourite INNISFREE products ? I'd love to know~

Signing out,

-THE TEACOAST .

While I was in Japan I was absolutely devastated to hear that one of my favourite Masterchef contestants opened his own restaurant in Sydney . Don't get me wrong, eating in Japan is always fantastic, but WHAT DO YOU MEAN MY FAVOURITE MASTERCHEF PERSON OPENED HIS OWN RESTAURANT AND I'M NOT THERE TO EAT IT ?!

And here is my account of the wild (not really, but yeah kinda) duck chase it was to get to this restaurant and of course, what it serves . If you want to see the Aussie foodie culture first hand, I definitely recommend you check out this restaurant !

I took this picture solely because Reynold is in it LOL .

Reynold is one of the contestants from Masterchef Australia, who was well liked for being a dessert maker and making some really innovative dessert pieces . To be honest, whenever I watched Masterchef I always had a weakness for the guys who made dessert . Always . It's terrible haha . Reynold in particular was popular for his absolute killer aesthetic when producing desserts, as well as making the most delicious desserts ever .

So when I finally went to back to Sydney my brother made it one of the top priorities for me to visit his restaurant, when we went and visited though it was closed (and my brother looked so upset that I felt more bad for him than I did for me) . Second time round though, me and my friend visited the place on a whim, and to our luck not only was it open, but the man himself was there as well (in which I felt more sorry for my brother, who didn't see Reynold when he ate at Koi) .

Extreme fangirling then ensued, as me and my friend nearly lost our minds at screaming internally as we literally sat in front of him and the restaurant . If Reynold saw us staring at him we're terribly sorry, but the odds were so against us that it was such a magical moment LOL .

In order to sit in and dine during dinner time, a reservation is necessary . Though it says you can dine downstairs, in reality the place is really small, and you can only really order the desserts or get a drink . If you reserve, it seems you get a set menu for your course .

The menu you can choose from consists of some of his legendary desserts that he featured during Masterchef . One of them is Moss (it's in the mason jar in the picture), which literally looks like a little vegetation patch in a mason jar, but is completely edible and delicious . The elements that look like dew, shrubbery and rock ? All edible . When I saw it in real life for the first time I was absolutely stoked because I was like "I can't believe this is actually real ." The wonderfully surreal dessert has a overriding matcha flavour, one of the best flavours to taste in the realm of sweets . Anything matcha flavoured is usually never sweet but never quite bland either .

The dessert bar also features gorgeous little cakes to try as well, which each have a sleek design almost akin to a pretty gem stone . Within the picture is a chocolate flavoured, and calmansi with coconut flavoured cake . The best things about these desserts is that they have a layer of textures and they never taste too sweet, a factor that tends to really make a lot of dessert flavours suffer in Sydney .

 The KOI Dessert bar really gives both an oriental and earthy vibe, and it does kind of feel like you're in the world of a pond filled with Koi fish . There's something about the moss dessert or the marble-like cakes that feel that way, along with the black interior filled lusciously with flowers and plants . I think going to this restaurant is a little peak of what Australian culture is, which I think is pretty nice considering that I honestly feel as though Australia has somewhat very little of it . If you want to check it out here's the website .

Again, if Reynold ever sees this post, I really hope I didn't freak you out with all the staring lol . :(



Signing out,


-THE TEACOAST .

Sweater: yesstyle.com

We all know how online shopping can always result to buying something that's a lot shorter than we'd hoped for . Because of this I've really been eyeing mens sweatshirts lately, heh . 

(plus don't they just look so big and cozy ?)

Maybe because it's the post-season of gift giving, but I found there were a lot of products this month that I really enjoyed ! Honestly far more products than I anticipated . Because of this, I actually had a really difficult time picking which ones I absolutely enjoyed using, so the products I mention in this post is really the gold standard ! haha . Anyway let's get down to it, shall we ?

KEANA NADESHIKO Rice Mask (x)

I bought this late last December, so when I was making my December favourites I was still deciding whether I really liked this product or not . Figured I did when I decided to buy it again lol . At around 550 yen (approximately $5 USD) at the local Japanese drugstore, you get 10 masks . The product markets itself as a pore tightening mask but because it is made out of rice extract, so not only will it tighten the pores but it will also help in healing acne scars and brightening your complexion .

This product markets itself as a product to tighten pores, but I find it much more helpful in the whitening and brightening department . Plus the liquid of it is almost the same sort of texture as water, so the essence doesn't feel heavy on the skin but rather light and easily . If you can't tell yet, for its value and what it does, I absolutely enjoy using this product .

MIZON Great Pure Cleansing Balm (x)

Great name for a great product, haha . Basically a dupe of the Banila co. Clean It Zero balm cleanser, it's an oil cleanser with a 'balm' like texture . I've actually come to like this product more than the Clean It Zero due to the fact that it's softer, and this makes it more easier to extract the product when cleansing your face . I also feel as though it takes off more makeup than the Clean It Zero, and it 0% stings the eyes when you use it . 

Because I like this product so much I'm actually thinking of getting MIZON's lip and eye makeup remover as well . MIZON's products aren't always perfect, but they're always effective, which makes them a brand I always look out for .

MAYBELINE Fit Me Foundation Matte + Poreless (x)

It was almost like fate that I was going to buy this product and enjoy it, especially since I was first introduced to it by reading an article about the best drugstore foundations, followed by the recommendations of my mates . I'll be honest and say that it oxidises fairly easily and the coverage won't last long by itself, but that is easily manageable with a decent primer . It's also a major pain to take it out from it's glass packaging . Apart from that, the finish is so natural that you won't even need a brush or sponge to apply it . In addition, you can use it as a spot concealer very easily and it won't look cakey at all . I even use it as a concealer when I use my BB Cushion and it blends in very well with it and doesn't look like a different product from the BB Cushion . Honestly speaking, the pros of it much outweigh its cons (plus on ebay you can get it for $10) . This product is absolutely magical and is my current go to for foundations in my videos well !

RITUALS The Ritual of Light line (Limited Edition)

I got this as a gift from my friend and received The Ritual of Light candle, Private Collection incense, body wash, and tea . I love these products soooo much because first off, they look absolutely gorgeous, from the packaging right down to the products itself . On the individual products, the candle and body wash essentially smell the same; luxurious but soft . It's something I feel as though the Egyptian Goddesses' or Cleopatra would smell of . The body wash is an excellent exfoliant that also has something within it to moisturise your skin at the same time . The tea of this is also a relaxing, pleasant blend . I can tell it's high quality tea by the fact that the tea bag never overpowers the drink, and it can be used more than once over and still taste the way it did before. 

The RITUALS brand in general combines luxury with natural ingredients, and really serves to make the best products . If I lived in Europe it would probably be a really bad combination since this brand would probably buy me out dry LOL . OTL

LANCÔME Virtuôse Doll Eyes Gris Rivoli 06 (x)

Something that I had gotten from my recent Cosme haul, it's kind of funny that the things that I'm about to mention are also things I've gotten because they're known as the holy grails of the cosme rankings (they literally are so good they get separate recognition) . So when I was absolutely blown away from this product, I essentially felt like 

It's a fantastic product for the 'your eyelashes but ten times better' look . I love this product and I'll grieve the day I run out of it ...until I buy another one which would be straight after it runs out, of course .

SK-II Facial Treatment Essence (x)

Another product, another cosme holy grail haha . Not only is this much loved by the Japanese, it's also very adored by the beauty world as well . After using this product though I can definitely see why . Among the many benefits it gives such as making your skin smoother, helping to clean the skin after cleanse, and preventing breakouts and acne, there was one thing that made me realise why it's so expensive but loved . This essence in particular does a ridiculously excellent job in general maintenance and really speeding up the rejuvenation process of your skin . Things like dry patches and acne marks fade much faster, I really do feel as though it keeps the balance of the skin at it's most optimal form .

What's your favourite post gift-giving season product ?

That's it for me, for the surprisingly eventful January in terms of receiving products and enjoying them haha . To be honest I could go on and on about each product, but that would probably turn this post more into a review (and that's what different review posts are for !)

Are there any of these products you'd like to see a separate review of ? Let me know your thoughts .

Opening this felt like opening a treasure box, it really did .

Signing out,

-THE TEACOAST .

Recently I got a chance to collaborate with COSME.de, which to me was fantastic news since to me COSME rankings are love (and life) . Honestly the COSME rankings are essentially the most trusted rankings for any and every Japanese cosmetic lover, so when I was given the chance to work with them I was absolutely thrilled to bits . Also in general, the COSME rankings don't always just pertain to only Japanese products, so if you want some really great products, I recommend you check out those rankings too . The holy grail status items will change your life by the way, just saying .

This online store only sells from quality brands, from known brands like GUCCI to the lesser known LAGONA . Whichever brand, I'm glad to see that the products sold on the site will definitely not let you down in terms of actual quality . Though I stated this before, I really want to reiterate the pleasant surprise I felt when I found out that the eyeshadow palette I received from LAGONA was exactly the sort of colours and pigmentation that I wanted . I feel as though they really work hard to sell only the best products, which makes this site one of my most trustworthy stores to buy from .

Not only that but the site also allows free shipping regardless of how much you spend in your order . I find this lovely . Plus regarding the fact that I honestly barely know any site that has a similar kind of system to this . Finally, a site that lets me buy a $20 item and not makes me feel guilty for it haha . 

If you guys want to check out the site before this review starts, you can get your order with a 15% discount when you use the code 'TEA15' . It's the two greatest things rolled into one, discounts and free shipping ! Haha .

Anyways let's get down to the products that I got and my quick first impressions of them !

Lagona Eyshadow Trio 03 (x)

Since it's Winter here I really wanted to have a burgundy eyeshadow palette to experiment with, and surprisingly enough that palette didn't seem to be to popular in Japanese shops . Though I've never heard of this brand before, I fell in love with the middle colour as soon as I first saw it . Thankfully enough, after using it I wasn't disappointed with the results either ! The light pink and burgundy shades are matte, while the brown has a slight shimmer in it . I love the fact that Lagona really ships itself as a natural brand, and the not too strong, not too light colours of this eyeshadow palette complements that concept very well .

LANCÔME Virtuôse Doll Eyes Gris Rivoli 06 (x)

Remember how I said at the beginning at the post that I pick a lot of my products based on the COSME rankings ? Yeah, this product is a prime example of that LOL . Never hearing this product before seeing it as a COSME holy grail, I was delighted to find that their official site sold it . Popular for giving a natural lengthening and volumizing look for the eyelashes, this has instantly become one of my favourite products and honestly makes me want to wear mascara everyday .

SHISEIDO Benifiance WrinkleResist24 Day Cream (x)

After poking around the COSME shops best picks, I came across this item and decided to buy it since I've never heard of a day cream that was wrinkle resistant . I currently have quite the case of smile lines and eye lines so I decided that it would be a good idea to try this out . Even though it says that it's targeted for dry skinned people, I'm delighted to see that it hasn't broken me out (but then again, I use very, VERY little of it), and not only that but it makes my face feel SOOO SOFT . And I mean, there are a lot of products where I think 'wow this product makes my skin feel so soft' but this product is like, next level baby butt skin smooth . 

GLAMGLOW Supermud Clearing Treatment (x)

After hearing it's an excellent mask for clearing up the pores, I wanted to try it out and see how it goes . It gave me a trail of surprises since it smells like liquorice, you have to apply a really very thin layer on your face, and on initial application it stings like a mother *insert curse word here* . Actually when I first put it on it stung so much I panicked a little because I thought it was having an adverse effect on my face . Turns out that's not the case, and it's actually quite excellent at really clearing out the excess oil in your face ! In fact what I really like about this product is that you can really see the oil it takes from your skin, as you can see the little holes peak through as the mask dries . I really like this product, but I want to save it for the Summer season which is when humidity takes its toil on my skin and makes me super oily . I feel as though I'm ready for any breakout with this product though !

SK-II Facial Treatment Essence (x)

Not only is this a COSME holy grail, but it is also a much loved product around the beauty community, so I decided it was about time for me to try it and see how it goes . I use this as a toner, and honestly, ever since I started using it I haven't seen an ounce of whitehead or pimple on my face ever since . I actually find it kind of difficult to believe that a product can start having such an effect so quickly, but it's easy to see why there is so much hype around this product . Another thing that caught my eye when using this product was the fact that I can tell it speeds up the skins turnover cycle very quickly . Scarring seems to heal far more quicker, and I have a feeling that it really boosts the effect of products that you're using .

Bottom line, I'm totally satisfied with all of these products

One of my pet peeves is when I buy a product, but I find that I'm not going to use or end up finishing it . So I was really pleased with the results of all the products I got in this haul . I still feel as though I need to find out the full potential of the SK-II, SHISEIDO and LANCÔME product (since I recently cut my eyelashes so I want to wait until my eyelashes grow out to see how the mascara really works), but regardless what I do know is that I'll end up finishing these products eventually . COSME.de also delivered these items in almost a blink of an eye, which was fantastic because I really couldn't wait for these products to come through ! haha .

Like I said before I got a chance to collaborate with COSME.de so look out on their Youtube channel for some of my videos coming up soon . Also, because of this wonderful collab I was able to snag you guys a 15% discount by using the coupon code 'TEA15' when you shop on the site .

What are some products you want to buy on their website and why ? I'd love to know !

Signing out,

-THE TEACOAST .

Recently I came across this wonderful article by reviews.com about the best acne treatments . I really recommend you check out this article because I do quite agree with the end result (you can find the link of it here) . Anyways, while looking at the article it gave a really informative table on diagnosing your acne . Because of this I wanted to make a thorough post about what causes acne- whilst making it as not throw-up worthy as possible haha . This post will cover what kinds of acne there are, and the severity levels of acne . This way, you can understand treating different kinds of pimples, and whether it really is best to consult a professional about it or not .

So first, here is a handy infographic on what certain types of acne and/or pimples there are .

I'd like to add though that I have had one or two cystic acne spots and I've treated it without consulting anything professionally . However, the scarring of it does last quite a long time, and so does the bump of it as well .

Next up is the diagnosis of the amount of acne you have . I think this table is especially important for figuring out when it's best to start seeking professional help for your acne . It might make you feel better or open your eyes . But either way, I found it highly informative . This table was taken from this article which talks of the best products to use for mild to moderate acne .

Subclinical acne	- A small number of blackheads and whiteheads that are barely visible - The first signs of a blemish
Comedonal acne	- Blackheads and whiteheads that might be a little red - Visible blemishes
Mild acne	- Several inflamed (read: red) pimples - Less than 20 whiteheads or blackheads - Less than 15 inflamed pimples - Less than 30 pimples that aren’t all inflamed
Moderate acne	- Many inflamed pimples and pustules - 20-100 whiteheads or blackheads - 15-50 inflamed pimples - 20-125 pimples that aren’t all inflamed
Severe nodular acne	- Inflamed pimples and pustules plus a few deep nodules (those solid suckers you can feel under your skin) - More than 5 cysts (hard knots of skin) - More than 100 whiteheads or blackheads - More than 50 inflamed pimples - More than 125 pimples that aren’t all inflamed
Severe cystic acne	- Many nodular cystic pimples with signs of scarring

It's been observed that even from moderate acne, some over the counter treatment won't be able to solve it, and it may be best to see a specialist about your acne if normal treatment isn't working for you .

For me I've found that I've often suffered acne breakouts due to product reactions (like don't ever mix AHA products with Vitamin C products, ever), or using the wrong products for oily skin . It's also pretty interesting to note that as someone with sensitive skin, I would get dry patches as product reactions when I had dry skin but now that my skin is what I can call 'normal', I get breakouts when my skin is having a reaction to a product .

End conclusion is, having sensitive, normal or oily skin is a breeding ground for acne breakouts and problems . However learning about what kind of acne you may have will definitely help you in finding good products and reviews to treat it, so I hope this has helped you in your struggle for better skin care .

If you have any questions on acne or pimples I'd love to hear from you, or even your general experience from acne breakouts . Because at the end of the day, I think we all have very different experiences when it comes to acne and why or when it happens .

(also a special thanks to reviews.com for their highly informative and useful article :D)



Signing out,


-THE TEACOAST .

Living in Japan had somewhat sparked something in me to try more Japanese products . I would mainly use Korean products before, but seeing the Korean beauty shows I realised that they actually like using Japanese products from time to time as well . Not only that but the cosme rankings of Japanese cosmetics has actually made it fairly easy to pick and choose what cleansers to get . So in my initial time of choosing Japanese products, these were the first cleansers that I bought .

General Overview

SHU UEMURA Skin Purifier Ultim8 Sublime Cleansing Oil

I bought this product as it was in one of COSME's ranked no. 1 category for a bit last year . This was also the first time I had stumbled on COSME rankings and was curious to try and see how these number one products were . 

This products selling point is the fact that it uses 8 'botanical' oils sought out from Chinese medicine and beauty oil . This sounds all nice and lovely but with that being said for a bottle of 150 mL it's around $30 USD, which is a lot more than its other cleansing counterparts . The good thing about Shu Uemura though is because it is quite an international brand it is pretty easy to acquire from online stores such as eBay and amazon .

As slick as the packaging is, I think it breaks way too easily . When I first took it out of the package and dropped it...it broke . And of course you might be thinking "well then don't drop your products", but I'm not a perfect human, yknow ? I mean if I had the choice of whether to drop a product or not I'd definitely choose not to drop it, but dropping a product isn't a choice haha . This isn't the first cosmetic product I've dropped, but is the first that's broken after I've dropped it, and I think that says a lot about a product worth $30 . Dropping it doesn't make it unusable, luckily; however it does make it particularly leaky . It would be difficult to move this product without getting it on your hands .

SHISEIDO Perfect Water

After seeing the good reputation that Perfect Whip had in the Korean beauty world (and after using Perfect Whip and not being particularly disappointed by it), I decided to get something else that was part of the Shiseido Perfect line, which was why I decided to get this cleanser .

This product doesn't actually feel like an oil but it's not as free running as water either, which makes it a pretty interesting product to use as a cleanser . The unfortunate thing about this product is the fact that it's not easily accessible outside of Japan, but if you do get a chance to visit Japan it is really cheap to get, and is around $10 USD for 230mL ! It comes in an open and close bottle cap and the shape of the product makes it very easy to use and get the product without wasting it . It'd be quite easy to travel with this product, actually .

Application & Results

SHU UEMURA Skin Purifier Ultim8 Sublime Cleansing Oil

The thing that a lot of cleansing oils suffer from is the fact that it kind of leaves this heavy feeling and film on the skin right ? The great thing about this product is that it does not do that, but at the same time it doesn't leave the skin feeling tight nor dry . In order to use this product effectively though you'll need to make sure to cleanse with warm water . Just remember that just like oil on your dishes, warm water should be used with oil in order to effectively cleanse it off . With this product I've found that washing with both the oil and some water at the same time takes the makeup off much, much faster !

In terms of your usual, normal everyday makeup, it takes it off quite quickly and effectively . But unfortunately if you put a lot of makeup on (for example more than one layer of eyeliner), this product will not be able to effectively wash it off . I do think it'll wash it off more than the SHISEIDO perfect water though .

SHISEIDO Perfect Water

When using this cleanser, you don't actually see any cleansing foam or bubbles so admittedly, it's kind of hard to see if the product is even on your face or not . BUT it does cleanse, and similarly to the Ultim8 cleansing oil, it doesn't give you the feeling that there is leftover film once you've cleansed your face nor give the feeling that it's dried out your skin . The thing about this product though is that it stings quite a bit if you get it in your eyes . The Ultim8 cleansing oil on the other hand has next to no stinging but makes the eyesight quite blurry for a bit .

In terms of normal everyday makeup, this product can also clean it off well and easily . I've also noticed that even though it doesn't cleanse off as much as the Ultime8 cleansing oil, it does cleanse off makeup faster . But yes, in terms of cleansing power, it isn't as strong as the SHU UEMURA oil (which is unfortunate because it's ten times easier to actually use) .

Final Thoughts + Would I repurchase it again ?

Not the worst of products but not exactly the greatest either . I think if you chased up your cleansing routine with a foam cleanser after, or if you do the two step cleansing routine, then overall the makeup would be completely cleansed away if you were to use these products . But these products by itself will not be able to completely clean off makeup, if that's what you were looking for . It's also pretty interesting to note that even though the Shu Uemura cleanser was ranked number 1 in terms of cleansing oils last year, it's no longer ranked number 1 this year .

I wouldn't repurchase either of these products again and I think as of recently I've become more fond of using oil balms to effectively take off makeup . 

So what do you use to effectively cleanse your skin and take off your makeup ? I'd love to know~

Signing out,

-THE TEACOAST .

I know this isn't a blog where I usually talk about these things (if not at all), but I just thought it'd be a nice addition for me personally to remember the stuff that I've...'consumed' (for lack of a better word) and actually really enjoyed . Plus I felt as though I saw a lot of really amazing anime, manga, music and books this year as well so I wanted to give them the recognition that they deserve, y'know ? So first, I'll start off with...

And here's the video if you don't feel like reading . ;)

Favourite Books

Magician, by Raymond E. Feist

Now this book took me I think, one or two years to finish ? That's because I only really read when I'm travelling, but that's probably like 4 travel trips worth of trying to finish this book (that's 7 plane rides guys, seven 8-hours or so plane rides) . To be honest it doesn't take me such a long time to finish a book and I usually finish them within the first 6 months of picking it up, but for some reason I really enjoyed reading this book regardless of how long I've put it down for (I tend to drop a book if it takes me a long time to read it) . Maybe how big it was put me off because I normally don't enjoy epic fantasy novels, but this was definitely well worth the read .

This book is similar to Lord of The Rings but without the Old English (because let's be honest, that stuff is incredibly difficult to understand) . Also because it has a very similar vibe to LOTR, there are some parts of the story that feel pretty familiar and not surprising . Still, the fact that the author keeps descriptions concise whilst packing the story full of action, makes it a fantastic read from start to finish . 

The Little Prince, by Antoine De Saint-Exupéry

It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the human eye .

Though this has been around for many years now, I stumbled upon this book in quite a funny way . At first I actually bought the Weekly diary of this since I thought the design was lovely . Then on the way back to Japan at the start of the year, I saw the movie on the plane and decided to watch it . Again, I absolutely loved the way the movie looked but was quite taken in by the story, and that's how I ended up reading the book . To be honest it almost feels like fate reading the book because it instantly became one of my favourite novels of all time . 

Though it's supposedly a children's novel, I love how it touches on the typical adult personalities and the nature of travelling, it's no wonder why it's popular in Japan . This book also struck a chord with me and it actually made me cry (the only other books I remember crying to was The Hunger Games and The Life of Pi) . It's a little and simple book, but its description of love and the human heart is something that I'll forever remember .

The image that first peaked my interest in The Little Prince (it's also the part where I cried in the book !)

Favourite Anime & Manga

Tokyo Ghoul: RE

In actuality, I've been following the Tokyo Ghoul series for quite a while, but I'm mentioning it now because in 2016 it reached its 5th year in publication which is why I wanted to give it a little shout out once again . The story lulls hear and there, but this year was definitely jam packed for the manga, especially since one of my absolutely favourite manga characters died . (*ugly wailing in the distance)

Even though it's technically categorised as a 'horror', the art is one of the most gorgeous things I've ever laid my eyes upon . Seriously . The way Ishida Sui-sensei draws is absolutely beyond me and if his art was a guy I would be absolutely in love with him . Art aside, I also like the story for the fact that everyone isn't 100% good or isn't 100% bad, and ultimately whichever side you choose isn't based on whether its because they're the good guy or the bad guy, but rather your opinion and what you'd stand for or against . 

Natsume Yuujinchou Go (Season 5 of Natsume Yuujinchou)

I actually didn't watch any of the previous seasons, but it's still pretty to easy to understand this season regardless . I decided to chuck this one in since I am a real big sucker for any anime that has a fantasy, and almost Studio Ghibli-like, element to it . The story is the pretty typical boy can see youkai (Japanese mythical ghosts and creatures) plot, but since these kinds of stories are far and few, I enjoy it a lot . The best way I can describe it is that it's a very calm but fantastical sort of story and anime .

I think this picture describes Natsume Yuujinchou pretty well lol.

Fukigen na Mononokean

Another boy meets youkai style plot line that's also very fantastical, but not so calm . I find the visuals really stunning despite the fact that I feel as though the anime production didn't strive to make this anime stand out from the other shows that were airing in its season which was a bit of a shame . I still really admire the fact that I thoroughly enjoyed watching this show and the overall story plot though . It's a very beautiful anime to watch, and I definitely recommend it for the Spirited Away fans out there .

Mob Psycho 100

From the author of One Punch Man, it's fascinating how a completely different story plot can be served in the same manner, if that makes sense . Mob Psycho also follows a comedy vein but goes into a much more complex story plot of camaraderie, emotions and the human nature of rivalry . If you're not into the deep dark story plots though you can just see this story as a comedy jam packed with action haha . 

Either way I think this is what makes this anime so great, because it can serve a wide variety of audiences (props to the author) . I actually like this anime much more that One Punch Man, but that's because I'm a very character relationships-driven story plot person . 

Boku Dake Ga Inai Machi (The town without me/ERASED)

"This anime is great but I feel like I need a soul cleansing every time I finish watching an episode, you get what I'm saying ?" -my brother .

Aired until the beginning of this year, I felt as though this anime produced waves in the anime world, and will probably be remembered alongside anime seasons like Cowboy Bebop and Full Metal Alchemist Brotherhood, y'know what I'm saying ? The story plot is just so good and to make it even better, you can just tell that the animation production really worked hard in doing the manga justice . The animation is almost cinematic in the way that it looks and the story plot is kind of like an anime thriller . 

Yes, the story plot can be a bit heavy for the heart at times, but I think that's why I like it so much - because it makes me feel so many things rather than expecting something to happen . I've watched and seen a lot of anime's in my time, so not much really surprises me these days and a lot of the time it feels kind of like a rinse and repeat . But Boku Dake Ga Inai Machi has a plot where you know what's going to happen but you don't know how it'll happen . Yes, this anime is not going to give you a good time, but if you're bored of the same old rinse and repeat, I definitely recommend this series to you . 

I saved the best for last haha .

Favourite Music

24K Magic, Bruno Mars

Throw some perm on your attitude, girl you gotta relax !

What really impressed me about this album was the fact that each song in this album is actually dedicated to one decade of R&B . I love that ! Like the fact that a music artist decided to put some good thought into the theming of their album is really cool, because it shows the thought that a music artist puts into their work (contrary to what many of us might think) . I love the fact that I catch myself bopping my head to the super catchy razzle dazzle songs, and find my inner heart belting it out to some other songs within the album . It reminds me of the times I loved listening to the likes of Mariah Carey and Michael Jackson, and I miss those fun-filled catchy beats . My favourite songs from this album has got to be 24K Magic and Perm .

Starboy, The Weeknd

Switch up my cup, I kill off any pain .

Another album that reminds of a melody I once used to love is The Weeknd's Starboy . Undoubtedly I've always liked a song of his here and there, but I found myself really digging the whole album this time . His (again, for lack of a better description) dope beats mixed with this 80's vibe here and there has got me really loving the album . Again, I hear influences of Michael Jackson at times, but there are other parts of the album that reminds me of 80's music that I really can't pin-point from where . Either way, the overall album is something I find myself listening to often . I really like Party Monster, Sidewalks, A Lonely Night, Secrets, and of course, Starboy .

(Young Forever) The Most Beautiful Moment In Life, BTS (방탄소년단)

Lonely lonely lonely whale, 이렇게 혼자 노래불러 .

This album holds a special place in my heart, since it was what dropped me back into the hell that is being part of a Korean idol fandom . Jokes aside though, I found it at a time in my life full of freedom, realisations and sacrifices . I travelled to songs such as Butterfly and Converse High, worked my butt off to songs like Dope, Fire and Bapsae, and eased my nerves to songs like Save Me and Whalien 52 . I stood to what must of been one of the most beautiful scenes I've ever laid my eyes upon, and shouted out the resolutions in my head listening to Young Forever . 

There were just so many songs in this album that sort of accompanied me in this wild ride that was 2016 and felt sort of like my companion or the title to parts of my life in 2016 . In an objective point of view this album provided a multitude of different songs to enjoy whether you like K-Pop or not, because of the diversity of genres it covers, though it's more on the pop and hip-hop side . But for me personally, this album holds a great part in my heart as a travel companion and an observer of life .

I Like It When You Sleep For You Are So Beautiful Yet So Unaware Of It (ILIWYSFYASBYSUOI), The 1975

Well your face has got a hold on me, but your brain is proper weird . Aren't you feeling the same ? You just keep nodding at me looking vacant .

You must be thinking, how could the previous album be topped by another one after what you said about it haha . Well first off this album actually came out on my birthday, and I've got to say it is one of the best birthday presents that I've ever received . :P Second of all, I really like the album progression of this and I think the progression of the album itself tells a story that is also familiar to me as well . To me BTS' album was a companion, whereas this album feels like my actual personal thoughts and experiences .

Originally I liked the first album because I felt like I could relate to it, and again I felt it with this album too . However this time around I like this album because it feels like they talk about past experiences in their current state of mind, in a different sort of light . Personally for me looking back on past experiences I also have a similar sort of testament . Songs like Love Me, Somebody Else, Loving Someone, She's American, Nana, Ugh!, The Sound, A Change Of Heart...yes, as weird as it sounds, a lot of the album struck a chord of my thoughts in recollection . Overall, one of the things that I liked the most about The 1975 was the fact that their songs are very personal (as in, it's a clear commentary on what happened and they really don't filter their thoughts), and that they also sing about family as well (I really like Nana) . I think family is an important part of someone's life and pop culture should also address it as well . Call me old fashioned but family should not be forgotten (in all the faults, failure, and immense love that encompasses the definition of family) .

At an objective standpoint though, the progression of the album almost feels as though each song is linked to the next one . There's also a great variety in this album as well, from the relaxingly spacious Please Be Naked to the 80's loving Somebody Else and Love Me .

Pick your poison lol .

And With That, I wish you all good tidings .

This year has been really great in pop culture (especially in music, like wowowee !), and it was pretty difficult to keep the list small in terms of anime and music . Even with the books haha . 0_0 But if anything I'm glad that it's been a good year for books, anime and music !

Anyways, I hope you've all had an absolutely awesome Christmas and I also hope your New Years was a blast as well ! Anything you agree or even disagree on in this post ? What are your favourite books, anime and music ? Let me know . :D

Signing out,

-THE TEACOAST .

My brother tends to show me pictures of places he eats at if the food looks absolutely scrumptious . Lots of the time (and when I mean lots of the time, I mean all of the time) it makes me incredulously jealous of the finely decadent food available to him, but then I remembered him showing me a picture of this place and I thought: No questions asked, I must go here when I get my ass back in Sydney .

And so I did, and it was *awesome* .

Loaded Fries

Milky Lane (Bondi)

When I saw the food and looked at the menu, the laid-back quirkiness of the area made me feel like it embodied the very definition of Australian cuisine . In all honesty I don't really think that 'traditional' Australian food exists, but if it did, I think it would be in the form of the food served here . I was actually pretty surprised when I found out that the franchise originated from San Francisco haha .

The menu is a fair mix of decadently messy burgers, fries and thick shakes . Though I say messy, don't let that word fool you . It makes the meals look voluminous and utterly irresistible .

Wouldn't you agree ?

 The food joint is a fascinating mix of many things, from the open beach-like interior, to the disco music playing, to the rap god menu names for the food (I ordered a 'Tu Pork Shakur') . Overall it's an interesting experience from your average restaurant, and if we hadn't planned on eating at a dessert place afterwards I definitely would've wanted to try their dessert .

Oh but a word for the wise, if you want your salted caramel thick shake to be an actual salted caramel taste, mix it around a bit before you actually drink it . You can thank me later .

The place is now open 7 days a week (whereas it used to be 3), but is only open past 11am . That's alright though since from Bondi Junction Station you'd need to catch a bus to Bondi Beach in order to reach the restaurant . It also leaves plenty of time to stroll through the sunny, mellow atmosphere that is the Beach front of Sydney .

What's your preference ? A Limp Brisket or a Snicki Minaj ?

Signing Out,

-THE TEACOAST .