REVIEW: RE:CIPE SPRAY ESSENCE WATER

Re:cipe Spray Essence Water was featured in many previous Memeboxes, but I purchased mine from the Memehsop for USD11 (it is now selling for USD18, but they have sales every now and then). I saw many good reviews on this product, so I decided to give it a try. The Spray Essence Water is enriched with celtic water and whistler glacial mineral water; the main ingredients with nourishing vitamins, amino acids, minerals, and organic acids used to enhance the skin. This essence will hydrate and nourish your skin instantly after application!

How to use:
Shake the bottle so that the essence dissolves into the water. Spray on all over the face after cleansing the skin.

My First Face Mist...
I seldom put on makeup, but I had to put it on as I was going to attend a family friend's wedding that day. On the way there, I realised that my face (especially my nose) looked rather dry and cakey, so after doing a quick research on my phone, I went into a Clarins Shop and bought a face mist (they also gave me a travel-sized one too!), and when I sprayed it onto my face, it instantly fixed the problem! It was a really awesome spray, but when I went to repurchase it a few months later, I realised that they had already discontinued the product! So since then, I have been searching for other face mists that work just as well...

Personal Experience:
I was quite surprised to see a something which resembled oil inside the bottle, of which I think is the essence, and that's why you need to give the bottle a shake before spraying it onto your face. It has a lemon citrus scent which I don't particularly like, and the water particles are not too fine, but the mist is super moisturising! Due to the humid summer we have in Hong Kong, I only use this mist at night, just before I go to bed. We turn on our air-conditioner every night, so my face gets pretty dry at night, but this mist helps to keep my face completely moisturised throughout the entire night! I've also tried using this mist on my body - my skin felt quite dry when I was pregnant, but I didn't have any body lotion then, so I sprayed this mist onto my arms and legs, and they felt completely moisturised too! I've tried other body mists, but none felt so moisturising! I absolutely love this mist, and I purchased three more for backup! I've also heard people use this mist before applying their foundation, and their makeup adheres to their skin better!

I love spray mists as they are so convenient to use, but finding the perfect the spray mist can be quite a problem! I have combination skin with little to no pimples, and my skin can be so dry that it flakes during the winter! I usually use spray mists for a quick fix to my skin, especially on days that I'm feeling a little lazy for all the extra products!

Rating: 9/10
(it is worth 10/10, but I haven't seen them selling anywhere except the Memeshop, so they are pretty hard to get hold of, and Memeshop has jacked up their prices by quite a lot!)


For more information on Memebox, please visit their website:
http://us.memebox.com/user/geniesfavproducts

FOODHAPPY BODYHAPPY2 BOX UNBOXING (with coupon code)

Since being in my month confinement, I've been unable to go out to buy any snacks, and FoodHappy has been the best solution for my snack cravings! 

These are the items I received in my TasteWest Box (I switched three items inside this box). They look delicious! :D

These are the boxes I have ordered in the past:

FoodHappy Box

(personal rating: 7/10)

TasteWest Box

(personal rating: 8/10)

BodyHappy Box

(personal rating: 8/10)

ChocHappy Box

(personal rating: 8/10)

Premier Box

(personal rating: 8/10)

Premier2 Box

(personal rating: 9/10)

TasteWest2 Box 

(personal rating: 8/10)

FoodHappy has a HappyRewards programme where you can earn points to redeem for different things.

You can earn points by:

- Taste Rating: you will receive 1 HappyRewards credit for every item you rate

- When people use your discount code to buy a subscription, you will receive 10 HappyRewards credit

- When people buy 4 or more subscription boxes, you will receive an additional 5 Happy Rewards credit

Redeeming HappyRewards Credit:

Extra FoodHappy Box - 40 credits

Luxury Chocolate Selection - 70 credits

FoodHappy T-shirt - 80 credits

#300 Lane Crawford Voucher - 130 credits

Afternoon Tea for Two at Peninsula - 260 credits

I have finished my subscription with FoodHappy, and I am just using up the "Free FoodHappy Box" coupons that I have earned from redeeming HappyRewards credit.

Finally, it's time for revealing the discount coupon...

Use this coupon to get HK$10 off Three FoodHappy Boxes ($30 off in total): MZ3QB

For more information about FoodHappy, please visit their website:

http://www.foodhappy.com

Thank you for reading, and have a nice day!!!

FOODHAPPY TASTEWEST2 BOX UNBOXING (with coupon code)

I just realised that I forgot to do an unboxing post of the FoodHappy TasteWest Box that I had received last week! I changed the settings to have my boxes delivered fortnightly, so I forgot that I was going to receive a box last week, so I didn't get to change the items inside. It felt like quite an empty box, but I was pretty happy about most the items inside!

Personal Rating: 8/10

The boxes I've tried so far:

FoodHappy Box

(personal rating: 7/10)

TasteWest Box

(personal rating: 8/10)

BodyHappy Box

(personal rating: 8/10)

ChocHappy Box
(personal rating: 8/10)

Premier Box
(personal rating: 8/10)

Premier2 Box

(personal rating: 9/10)

Every time I try a new item in the box, I am able to rate them, so it helps them decide what to send me next in my future boxes!!

I have finished my subscription with FoodHappy, and I am just using up the "Free FoodHappy Box" coupons that I have earned from redeeming HappyRewards credit.

Finally, it's time for revealing the discount coupon...

Use this coupon to get HK$10 off Three FoodHappy Boxes ($30 off in total): MZ3QB

For more information about FoodHappy, please visit their website:

http://www.foodhappy.com

Thank you for reading, and have a nice day!!!

REVIEW: EVAS VITAMIN SUN CREAM SPF38 PA++

Evas Vitamin Sun Cream SPF38 PA++ was featured in Memebox Special #12 Vitamin Care. This is a smart vitamin-rich sun cream which guarantees UV protection, wrinkle care and skin brightening effects all in one! This gentle sun care product spreads smoothly onto the skin and absorbs quickly without being sticky at all.

Personal Experience:

I never used to use a sunscreen until I realised that I had slight hyperpigmentation on my cheekbones, and since then, I've always used a sunscreen! I'm quite picky about my sunscreens, because one thing that puts me off using them, is the sticky feeling that they usually leave! I also dislike thick textured sunscreens, as well as ones that take forever to absorb into the skin! I have mentioned in one of my previous posts that I'm using a milky-watery sunscreen (most Japanese sunscreens are like this too) that I quite like, but it's quite hard to buy, and I refuse to buy anything made in Japan nowadays!

I never buy sunscreens in the form of creams anymore, as I dislike how they take forever to absorb, and they normally leave a sticky feeling on my skin. This Vitamin Sun Cream, however, does not have this kind of problem!

There is a slight (nice) scent to the Sun Cream, but it's not overwhelming. The texture is quite thick, but it's very easy to blend, and it absorbs really quickly! It doesn't leave any sticky feeling on my face afterwards, in fact, it leaves my face feeling silky soft! It's also very moisturising, and my face does not feel oily at the end of the day. I have also realised that my face looks brighter, but I have not noticed it to help with wrinkles (I think that's because I don't have any lines except for the fine lines under my eyes, but I try not to apply this around my eyes). I forgot to mention that you don't need to use a lot each time too! This has been a perfect addition to my skincare routine for the past month as I have been indoors for my month confinement, but it probably won't be enough protection for when I'm going out!

Rating: 9/10

Genie's Beauty Tip:

You still need to wear a SPF product when you're indoors, but a SPF38 product will do (you can save the SPF50 products for when you're outdoors) - unless you close all your curtains at home, the UV rays can still go into your house, and just because it's winter, it doesn't mean the UV rays aren't as strong! Don't forget to apply sunscreen to your neck too - your neck needs just as much care as your face!!!

For more information on Memebox, please visit their website:

http://us.memebox.com/user/geniesfavproducts

MEMEBOX SUPERBOX #35 FERMENTED COSMETICS 2 UNBOXING

Since using the IOPE Bio Essence Intensive Conditioning and the products from Whamisa, I've fallen in love with using fermented products!! I'm allergic to Penicillin, so I was a bit skeptical at first about using fermented products, but I guess my allergy is not really that severe, so I didn't have any problems using them. I did realise my skin to be brighter after prolonged use of the "IOPE Miracle Water", so when Memebox came out with this box, I purchased it instantly...

Memebox Superbox #35 Fermented Cosmetics 2

I just tried on the Face Sheet Mask - it smells quite nice, has a lot of essence, adheres onto my face very well, shape is okay (the nose has a slit in the middle which is weird, and it doesn't cover the sides of my nose), and it has a cooling effect! After 20 minutes, my face felt very soft and smooth!

All I can say about this box is that it's a great box, and I'm glad I bought it! Memebox needs to have more boxes as good as this!!! If they come out with a Fermented Cosmetics 3, I'd buy it too!!!

PROMO CODES FOR AUGUST:

• 3MZU - $5 discount on any purchase, but can only be used once. Valid until the end of August.
• MEMEBUNDLE3 - get $5 off on orders when you buy 3 or more Memeboxes
• MEMEBUNDLE4 - get $8 off on orders when you buy 4 or more Memeboxes
• FREESHIPPING - get free shipping on purchases over $70 at the Memeshop
• VQ9L - August VIP 10% off on Orders Above $100
• W1H2 - August VIP 15% off on Orders Above $150
• GVBV - August VIP $7 Shipping Charge Waive (only applicable when you purchase separate boxes)
• Use my links, and get additional discounts (they are automatic and can be used in conjunction with the aforementioned codes): $5 discount on orders above $100 and $10 discount on orders above $100

For more information on Memebox, please visit their site:

http://us.memebox.com/user/geniesfavproducts

MEMEBOX SPECIAL #27 DIET BOX UNBOXING

I know exercise is the only and effective way to lose weight, but since I asked for a "Post-Pregnancy Box", I think this box was the closest to what I had requested Memebox to make...

Memebox Special #27 Diet Box

Sorry, I had a sudden mind blank after reading the description for one of the products inside the box, and I didn't know what to say afterwards, hence the lack of words!

I'm quite pleased with this box actually, because I didn't really expect much from it anyway! I'm happy that I bought it, and I'm excited to try the products out!

PROMO CODES FOR AUGUST:

• 3MZU - $5 discount on any purchase, but can only be used once. Valid until the end of August.
• MEMEBUNDLE3 - get $5 off on orders when you buy 3 or more Memeboxes
• MEMEBUNDLE4 - get $8 off on orders when you buy 4 or more Memeboxes
• FREESHIPPING - get free shipping on purchases over $70 at the Memeshop
• Use my links and get additional discounts (they are automatic and can be used in conjunction with the aforementioned codes): $5 discount on orders above $100 and $10 discount on orders above $100

For more information on Memebox, please visit their website:

http://us.memebox.com/user/geniesfavproducts

REVIEW: WISH BOX (NO. 20) MASK BOX 2

Many people have complimented me for having (almost) flawless skin, but all I can say, is that you can't be lazy if you want beautiful skin! I absolutely love masks, especially face sheet masks, and I can use them every night (no kidding)! I've purchased so many face sheet masks before, and I've also bought the Memebox Mask Editions 3, 4, & 5, so as soon as I saw that Wishtrend was also selling a Masks Box, I just had to buy it too!!!

Wish Box (No. 20) Mask Box 2

This Wishbox retails for USD27.76, but it's on sale, so I paid USD18.99 for it. There were 10 masks inside, and I knew what I was getting beforehand, so it wasn't a surprise or anything.

I was slightly disappointed to see no "box" that held my masks together (I was expecting something pretty like a Memebox box), but instead, my masks were placed inside a cheaply packaged bubble wrap with the words Wishbox printed on it!

Anyhow, here's what I think of the masks inside...

1) Brilliant Lip Care 2 Step (Gel Patch)

The recommended time for leaving this mask on was 15 minutes. The lip gel patch comes in a plastic container with two plastic pieces on both sides of the patch. When I removed the plastic pieces, I was able to smell a sweet berry scent from the patch. The patch was quite big in size, so it fit onto my lips quite well, and it didn't come off even when I was walking around! After I removed the mask, there was still some essence left on my lips, and my lips felt very soft, but slightly dry!

Rating: 8/10

2) Brilliant Sparkling Powder A & B

This is actually a cleansing water, where CO2 bubbles are created when you blend the sparkling powders with water, and the bubbles will penetrate deep into your skin to remove all pore-clogging junk and blackheads. There is no scent in both the powders. The instructions say to dip your face in and out of the water continuously for 3-5 minutes; however, I found it too difficult, troublesome, and tiring to hold my breath and dip my face into the water continuously for so long; I dipped my head into the water a few times before I gave up doing so. When I dried my face, I realised my face was quite dry and it felt quite tight. I did not find it to remove any blackheads on my nose at all.

Rating: 1/10

3) ElishaCoy Aloe & Lavender Mask

The recommended time for leaving this mask on was 10-15 minutes, which is slightly shorter than most other masks. It wasn't dripping with essence, but it had enough to last me 20 minutes. It has a faint scent, but it wasn't overwhelming. It didn't have many slits, so it didn't cover my face too well, and like many other masks, it couldn't cover the sides of my nose - the really bad thing about this mask was that it couldn't cover the sides of my nose AT ALL!! There was no essence left after I removed the mask, and my face felt slightly sticky afterwards.

Rating: 6/10

4) ElishaCoy Natural Pearl Mask

The recommended time for leaving this mask on was 10-15 minutes. It wasn't soaked wet in essence, but it had enough to last me 20 minutes, before it started drying up. It has a faint sweet scent, but it wasn't overwhelming. It didn't have many slits, so it didn't cover my face too well, leaving a few air bubbles in the mask, and no matter how hard I tried, it just wouldn't stick to the space between my eyebrows. Like many other masks, it couldn't fit the sides of my nose either. After I removed the mask, I massaged in the remaining essence (only a bit left) on my face, and my face felt soft and silky - it didn't leave a sticky feeling, so that was pretty good.

Rating: 7/10

5) ENCA Acne Control Mask

The recommended time for leaving this mask on was 15-20 minutes. This is a 2-piece mask, where one piece would cover the top half of the face, and the other piece would cover the bottom half of the face. The mask was not soaked wet in essence, but it covered the face very well, and it even covered the sides of my nose! It doesn't have much of a scent, so it's great for sensitive skin too! After I removed the mask, I massaged the remaining essence into my skin (there wasn't a lot left anyway), and I realised that the pimple (that I had squeezed just before putting the mask on) was less red and had gone down a bit. An hour later,  my face felt kind of powdery, and it was not too dry.

Rating: 9/10

6) Klairs Rich Moist Soothing Mask

The mask was soaked completely in essence when I took it out of the packet. It has a faint scent which was acceptable. As I was using an eye mask underneath, I cut out the bits for the eyes, and placed them on the sides of my nose instead! The only thing I would complain about is the part for the nose - it wasn't even enough to cover the tip of my nose properly! After I removed the mask, there was still a lot of essence left on my face, but after massaging in the essence, my face felt very moisturised, and my face wasn't sticky at all!

Rating: 8/10

7) ONL Saladit Avocado Juice Mask

The mask was soaked in essence when I took it out of its packet, and there was a faint scent to it. It fit on my face very well, and it was even able to cover my jaw bones, as well as under my chin! But like most other face masks, it didn't cover my nose entirely! After I removed the mask, I massaged the remaining essence (there was quite a bit) into my face, and my face felt very refreshed afterwards - it didn't leave a sticky feeling, so that's a bonus!

Rating: 8/10

8) ONL Saladit Pumpkin Juice Mask

The mask was soaked in essence when I took it out of its packet, and there was a sweet scent to it. It fit on my face very well, and it was even able to cover my jaw bones, as well as under my chin! But like most other face masks, it didn't cover my nose entirely! After I removed the mask, I massaged the remaining essence (there was quite a bit) into my face, and my face felt very refreshed afterwards - it didn't leave a sticky feeling, so that's a bonus!

Rating: 8/10

9) Skin Factory Collagen Ampoule Mask

The recommended time for leaving this mask on was 30 minutes, and the packaging actually has English instructions on it - it tells you to cut along the first dotted line to access the essence, in which you apply to your face, and if there's extra, you can apply it to your neck, arms, legs, etc, and believe me, there is really enough essence to apply onto your whole body! The mask is slightly fragranced, but it's not too overwhelming. The mask fits on my face very well, and it covered most of my nose too, though I still cut out the parts for eyes (because I was also using an eye mask) and placed them on the sides of my nose. After I removed the mask, I massaged the remaining essence into my face (there was a lot of essence), and my face felt very moisturised and pores appeared to be slightly minimised afterwards; however, it did leave quite a sticky feeling on my face (and body), which didn't seem to go go away until 1 and a half hours later!!

Rating: 8/10

10) Wish Formula Panda Eye Mask

The recommended time for leaving this eye mask on was 20-30 minutes. When I opened up the packaging, it had an overwhelming smell of coffee beans! The mask was soaked completely in essence, and the patches looked quite big in size too! The shape of the patches fit perfectly underneath my eyes, and it stuck to my face very well! After removing the mask, I realised that the fine lines under my eyes suddenly appeared to look much fainter, and that my eyes looked less swollen!!

Rating: 10/10

I was pretty pleased about some of the masks inside this "box", and I will even consider purchasing some of them separately! I'm not sure if the masks were really worth the price I paid, but I'm really happy to have bought them, as I love trying out new things!


For more information on Wishtrend, please visit their website:
http://www.wishtrend.com/?a_aid=geniesfavproducts

Thank you for reading, and have a nice day!


This post contains affiliate links.

MEMEBOX MINIBOX #3 UNBOXING

Seeing all the great reviews on this box, I just had to get it when it was restocked...

Memebox MiniBox #3

This is the first ever MiniBox that I purchased, and I'm glad they put in deluxe samples and not just foil packets! I hope the products will be as good as others say they are!!

For more information on Memebox, please visit their website:

http://us.memebox.com/user/geniesfavproducts

MEMEBOX SPECIAL #24 BRIGHTENING SKINCARE UNBOXING

Who doesn't want brightened and whiter skin? That's one of the reasons why I bought another Memebox...

Memebox Special #24 Brightening Skincare

I was actually quite pleased with this box as it contains full-sized products, and the products are useful to use! I'm most interested about the CLEOSIS All In One Water Shining Finisher!!


For more information on Memebox, please check out their website:
http://us.memebox.com/user/geniesfavproducts 

REVIEW: ELIZAVECCA MILKY PIGGY CARBONATED BUBBLE CLAY MASK

Elizavecca Milky Piggy Carbonated Bubble Clay Mask was featured in Memebox Special #16 OMG Box. This is the ultimate one-step facial mask with both pore care and cleansing functions. Not only is it packed with green tea extracts, pomegranate extracts, and charcoal extracts, this Clay Mask contains carbonated water which starts to bubble up the very moment it's applied on your face and deeply penetrates into your pores for getting all the gunk out without having to harden up like average clay masks.

How to use:

Spread the Bubble Clay Mask over un-cleansed, un-wet face. Let it be for about 5 minutes until it starts to create bubbles, then massage onto your face with wet hands for deep cleansing effects. Rinse off with warm water.

Personal Experience:

Normally clay masks don't come with a spatula, so at first I was wondering why they had included one, but when I started using it, I realised that the spatula was really useful! The texture of the clay mask is really thick and gooey, but when I applied the mask onto my face, it was really easy to spread. I applied this onto a dry and unwashed face. I didn't know how to much to apply, so when I wanted to apply more to the edges of my lips, I was too late, as the mask had already started creating bubbles on my face (it bubbles really quickly after application)! The bubbly feeling on my face was pretty cool! By a few minutes, my face was covered in a thick layer of bubbles/foam, and my nose was completely covered, so I had to blow through my nostrils to clear some of the foam! After 5 minutes, I wet my hands and started massaging my face - the foam fell off, and it was like massaging a normal clay mask again. It was quite easy to wash off with water too, and after washing it off, I saw that my face was softer, and my pores were cleaner! Things did get a little messy with the increasing bubbles, but it was overall a good mask, and it didn't dry my face either!

Rating: 8/10

For more information on Memebox, please visit their website:

http://us.memebox.com/user/geniesfavproducts

Genie's One Month Confinement

"ONE MONTH CONFINEMENT"

This term has come up quite a few times in my recent videos, and seeing many people seem to be quite interested in the idea, I've decided to do a post about it...

The Chinese believe that after a woman gives birth, she loses a lot of "energy" inside her body, therefore she needs to use one month (the old tradition is actually 40 days) to recover.

Does this sound weird to you? Because that's just the beginning...

The Chinese also believe in something known as "wind" (風), and that during the month following childbirth, her body is the weakest and is most vulnerable to future ailments after childbirth - when she gives birth, her pores and joints "open up", and attracts "wind". Therefore, during that month, she must not shower or wash her hair, as it is said that the contact of cold water will cause the penetration of "wind" into the body, and will lead to severe body aches and future ailment. This concept of "wind" also extends to not leaving the house, no air-conditioning, no fan, no sleeveless tops, etc, but the main idea is that she should not expose her body to any "wind".

During the confinement, the mother will have to follow and endure a series of taboos, traditional rituals, and consume a strict confinement cuisine, which includes a lot of ginger to get rid of the "wind" inside her body.

So, for the past two weeks of my confinement...

Ever since giving birth, I'm not allowed to drink any tap water or any water except for the (hot/warm) rice water drink, as water is said to cause water retention.

The way to make this drink is to pour a lot of (washed but uncooked) rice into a wok, turn on the stove, stir and cook. Place the cooked rice into a big jar for later use. Everyday, take some of that rice, add water, and put on the boil. For the first few days, just the rice water will suffice, but after a few days, you can start adding some dried mandarine peel or some red dates & dried longans into the drink (red dates are used in many Chinese dishes to help replenish the blood).

Ever since giving birth, I'm not allowed to touch any tap water or any water except for (hot) ginger water.

The traditional way to make ginger water is to put a lot of ginger peel (the actual ginger is used to make one of the confinement foods) into a pot, and boil. Nowadays, ginger is not as expensive as the olden days, so we use the actual ginger, as it has a stronger flavour. I use this water to bathe too, but I have only one bucket (apparently it takes 4 pots of water to make 1 bucket) to wait for it to cool down every night before I can pour it over my body! It's really annoying, because when the ginger water gets into my eyes, gosh it really stings!!!

The tradition says that I must not wash my hair in the whole month, but it's quite hard because of how hot and humid it is in Hong Kong. I wash my hair once a week (or as long as I can take it), but I will use ginger water, and I also use a ginger shampoo, and I make sure that my hair is completely dry afterwards.

I went out to see my OB today, and although it was over 30 degrees outside, I still had to wear clothes which would at least cover my elbows and knees! I also wore a cap to avoid the "wind" going into my head!

From the 12th day onwards, I CAN HAVE VISITORS (I think it's so the mother can have enough rest, before having to deal with guests)!!! Apart from that, this is the day when I start eating foods mainly containing GINGER and glutinous rice wine (usually by the 12th day, the lochia would have mostly gone, and we can then replenish the body)!

Confinement cuisine basically consists of ingredients such as old ginger, rice wine, black vinegar etc., which are used in every confinement meal! Chinese herbs, such as "dong gui" (當歸) and ginseng (but I can't take any of it, because it will cause delactation) are also vital to help the body heal. I don't have a choice but to eat the foods that are prepared for me, but I did feel slightly skeptical at first about eating dishes containing rice wine, because the wine would pass into the milk that I breastfeed my baby, but I soon got over that issue, because the wine actually evaporates when being cooked (and it's not like I have a choice of what to eat anyways).

Certain foods are must-haves during the confinement period, and the most common dish is the Pig Trotter in Vinegar with Ginger (豬腳薑醋). My mother-in-law started preparing the black vinegar and ginger when I was 7 months pregnant (we boil it every week to ensure it doesn't spoil), but the ginger-vinegar had been sitting there for months, and that's why it's so nutritious!! After giving birth, she added in the eggs, so by the time I ate the dish, the eggs would be all black inside, and would be super hard to chew, but apparently they contain a lot of calcium!! As for the pig trotter, we add them in everyday, and when the pot has been boiled for a long time, the ginger-vinegar becomes really thick, because all the collagen has dissolved into the sauce. I love this dish, but perhaps, eating it every single day is a bit much haha! It's also a Chinese custom to share this dish with your friends and relatives, though nowadays, people usually buy vouchers and they can redeem the dish at certain shops instead.

The others consist of dishes containing Glutinous Rice Wine of which the ingredients will differ (sometimes they will add chicken or fish), but the "sauce" is the same. In this photo, my mother-in-law cooked it with eggs, pork, and fungi.

I forgot to take a photo today, but my mother-in-law made pig's kidney today with lots of ginger! The other dishes also include pork liver (I can't eat this yet, because it's used for suppressing lactation), pig stomach soup, and many other soups, but all foods that are too "yin" are forbidden during the confinement period. The dishes also have to be consumed while still hot or warm.

Don't be mistaken that every Chinese person will have this tradition, because this is only a popular ritual for the Southern Chinese. Many younger generations don't bother following these anymore, especially if they're not living with their parents or in-laws; however, it has become very popular for families to hire a "Chinese Doula" where she will assist the mother by cooking the confinement dishes and also looking after the baby during the confinement period.

So for me, I am half way through my confinement period, and despite the hormones inside my body that are making me rather emotional these days, I have to try my best not to cry, as it is said that it will make my eyes swollen FOREVER - scary!!!

Okay, so why do people do this? Many women are "fine" after giving birth without these weird rituals. It all comes down to the health of the mother herself. Of course, you're not forced to follow these rules unless you have very strict in-laws, but we have heard stories from those who didn't do their confinement properly, and they now have joint pains and constant headaches. Nonetheless, it is said that if you didn't do your confinement properly the first time, you can still make it up by giving birth again, and doing the second confinement properly!!

The one month confinement is actually for the health of the mother, so although it's tough to follow all the rules, but who wouldn't want better health? You can call it superstitious, but if it has come down to us through so many centuries, there must be a reason behind that.

Hope you guys understand the concept a bit more after reading this post, and if you guys have any questions, feel free to comment below!!

Thank you, and have a nice day!!

MEMEBOX SPECIAL #16 OMG BOX UNBOXING

When this box came out, I instantly bought it, expecting there would be something weird or surprising inside...

Memebox Special #16 OMG Box

This box was a little disappointing in the sense that nothing was really as OMG as the theme states, but the products seem really useful and fun to try out anyway!!!

PROMO CODES FOR AUGUST:

• 3MZU - $5 discount on any purchase, but can only be used once. Valid until the end of August.
• MEMEBUNDLE3 - get $5 off on orders when you buy 3 or more Memeboxes
• MEMEBUNDLE4 - get $8 off on orders when you buy 4 or more Memeboxes
• FREESHIPPING - get free shipping on purchases over $70 at the Memeshop
• VQ9L - August VIP 10% off on Orders Above $100
• W1H2 - August VIP 15% off on Orders Above $150
• GVBV - August VIP $7 Shipping Charge Waive (only applicable when you purchase separate boxes)
• Use my links, and get additional discounts (they are automatic and can be used in conjunction with the aforementioned codes): $5 discount on orders above $100 and $10 discount on orders above $100

For more information on Memebox:

http://us.memebox.com/user/geniesfavproducts

REVIEW: VELIEVE WHITE CLAY MASK

Velieve White Clay Mask was featured in Memebox Superbox #13 Pore Care. It is a wash-off type facial pack which contains amazon white clay that claims to absorb excessive sebum and bodily waste and leave your skin clean, soft and dry. It temporarily contracts pores by removing dusty blackheads and helps to cultivate skin elasticity. It contains oat extracts to help maintain skin elasticity, accompanied by echo-certified aloe vera leaf extracts which act to ease stressed skin.

How to use:

Use on a cleansed face. Spread the mask over a damp (but not wet) face, avoiding the eye area. Wait for 10-15 minutes or until the mask dries, and wash off using warm water. Recommended to use once or twice a week.

Personal Experience:

I personally did not find this clay mask to be effective in removing any of my blackheads; however, unlike other clay masks, this did not leave my face feeling dry at all. It also left my face feeling quite soft and smooth, and surprisingly hydrated. I find that the Deep Pore Cleansing Masque from Kiehl's is more effective at removing blackheads, even though that is slightly drying on my face.

Rating: 6/10

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