19 Questions Tag
/
Tuesday, May 7, 2013 /
Posted in
music video,
Tag
The Questions:
1) Where were you born?
In a hospital.
2) Were you named after someone?
Yup! I was named after the smartest girl in a Chinese-English class.
3) When was the last time you cried?
At the time I answered this question... today.
4) Do you have any kids?
Nope!
5) If you were another person, would you be friends with you?
Hmm... I would hope so. I tend to be a very loyal and supportive person (at least I think). Then again,
I can also be pretty huggy-clingy.
6) Do you have any pets?
Not currently. During college I had a couple of salamanders.
7) Do you use sarcasm?
Yes. Especially if I am tired.
8) Would you bungie jump?
Of course! Why not be adventurous?
9) What is your favorite cereal?
I don't really have one. I don't eat cereal... oatmeal maybe?
10) What is your eye color?
Brown
11) Scary movies or happy endings?
Of course happy endings!
12) Do you have any brothers or sisters?
Mmm-hmm! Guess...
13) Computer or TV?
Computer hands down.
14) What is the first thing you notice about a person?
A lot of things can be gathered about a person within the first few seconds one meets another. The human eyes naturally go toward the face. If the person is far away, perhaps the silhouette of the body.
15) Favorite smell?
Fruits and flirty flowers.
16) Furthest you've been away from home?
Hmm... define home. If China, then probably most of my life. If the US (TX), then perhaps when I visit China.
17) Do you have any special talents?
I can do the splits =D
18) Do you have any hobbies?
Making 3D DIY projects, drawing, writing, blogging, dancing
19) I only had 18 questions, so adding my own to make it 19... Are you in love?
That is for me to know and you to find out ;P
It's Melanoma Monday!
Get your skin checked at the dermatologist's 1x/year in order to prevent skin cancer!!!
Christian Science Monitor Article
Melanoma Monday Official Website - American Academy of Dermatology
Wear Orange for Melanoma Monday
Review: Nivea and Olay Body Lotions
It was the wettest of times,
It was the humidest of times,
It was the age of discovery,
It was the age of the old,
It was the age of reuse,
It was the age of recycle,
It was the age of reviews,
It was the age of great tales,
Thus goes, the tale of two lotions.
*Reference to A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens
I picked up Nivea Express Hydration during my senior year in college at Target. I believe around the time it was for sale around $7 for 13.5 oz. I bought the Olay Quench Plus Firming lotion after seeing some comments about it on Futurederm. It is said to be a very good anti-aging lotion that was within my price range, around $7 for 12.5 oz. I bought this product on Drugstore.com.
With a cursory glance at the ingredients list:
Nivea Express Hydration Body Lotion:
Water, Glycerin, Isopropyl Palmitate, Alcohol Denatured, Glyceryl Glucoside, Glyceryl Stearate SE, C12 15 Alkyl Benzoate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Sea Salt, Sodium Cetearyl Sulfate, Fragrance, Carbomer, Sodium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol, Methylisothiazolinone
Olay Quench Plus Firming Body Lotion:
Water, Glycerin, Niacinamide , Isohexadecane Isohexadecane, Petrolatum , Isopropyl Isostearate, Elaeis Guineensis (Palm) Oil, Panthenol , Dimethicone , Dimethiconol , Sodium Pca, Betaine, Sorbitol, Glycine, Alanine, Proline, Serine, Threonine, Arginine, Lysine, Glutamic Acid, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Propylene Glycol, Punica Granatum Extract, Butylene Glycol, Stearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Polyethylene, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Behenyl Alcohol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Fragrance, Tocopheryl Acetate , Benzyl Alcohol, Mica, Titanium Dioxide , Tin Oxide, Ethylparaben, Stearic Acid, PEG-100 Stearate, Cetearyl Glucoside, Cetearyl Alcohol, Isodium EDTA, C12-13 Pareth-3, Laureth-7, Sodium Hydroxide.
As you can see, the ingredients list for the two lotions are quite different. While the first two ingredients for both are the same, afterward differences appear. Nivea has fragrances, sea salts, fatty alcohols, and dimethicone (a skin protectant) as well as different glyceryl components. Its high concentrations of glycerin give it humectant properties. Olay, on the other hand, has a lot of niacinamide, which can help reduce fine lines and sunspots (if used for quite awhile). Of course, it also has ingredients such as dimethicone and petrolatum for skin protection and emollient properties, but also includes lots of amino acids (arginine, lysine, glutamic acids, serine, threonine, proline, alanine, glycine, etc) as well. However, it must be noted that while these amino acids are listed in the ingredients lists, their concentrations and actual effective properties in situ are not known. Both products have preservatives as well as other commonalities such as fragrances.
Now, how did these products do on my skin?
After a few months of testing, here's what I've come up with:
Nivea:
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| FTC: These products were purchased with my own money. I am not compensated for any reviews. |
Spring is here and summer is right around the corner. For where I live, that means quite a change in climate. Although we've had some crazy weather lately (including a flood with hailstones) for the most part the weather has been sunny, in the 80's and 90's, and super humid and hot.
For me, that means that I have to put away all of the body butters and super-emollient substances. Too sticky and icky for body care.
Thus, I've been using two other lighter body lotions. And here are their stories.
For me, that means that I have to put away all of the body butters and super-emollient substances. Too sticky and icky for body care.
Thus, I've been using two other lighter body lotions. And here are their stories.
I picked up Nivea Express Hydration during my senior year in college at Target. I believe around the time it was for sale around $7 for 13.5 oz. I bought the Olay Quench Plus Firming lotion after seeing some comments about it on Futurederm. It is said to be a very good anti-aging lotion that was within my price range, around $7 for 12.5 oz. I bought this product on Drugstore.com.
With a cursory glance at the ingredients list:
Nivea Express Hydration Body Lotion:
Water, Glycerin, Isopropyl Palmitate, Alcohol Denatured, Glyceryl Glucoside, Glyceryl Stearate SE, C12 15 Alkyl Benzoate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Sea Salt, Sodium Cetearyl Sulfate, Fragrance, Carbomer, Sodium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol, Methylisothiazolinone
Olay Quench Plus Firming Body Lotion:
Water, Glycerin, Niacinamide , Isohexadecane Isohexadecane, Petrolatum , Isopropyl Isostearate, Elaeis Guineensis (Palm) Oil, Panthenol , Dimethicone , Dimethiconol , Sodium Pca, Betaine, Sorbitol, Glycine, Alanine, Proline, Serine, Threonine, Arginine, Lysine, Glutamic Acid, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Propylene Glycol, Punica Granatum Extract, Butylene Glycol, Stearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Polyethylene, Aluminum Starch Octenylsuccinate, Behenyl Alcohol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Fragrance, Tocopheryl Acetate , Benzyl Alcohol, Mica, Titanium Dioxide , Tin Oxide, Ethylparaben, Stearic Acid, PEG-100 Stearate, Cetearyl Glucoside, Cetearyl Alcohol, Isodium EDTA, C12-13 Pareth-3, Laureth-7, Sodium Hydroxide.
As you can see, the ingredients list for the two lotions are quite different. While the first two ingredients for both are the same, afterward differences appear. Nivea has fragrances, sea salts, fatty alcohols, and dimethicone (a skin protectant) as well as different glyceryl components. Its high concentrations of glycerin give it humectant properties. Olay, on the other hand, has a lot of niacinamide, which can help reduce fine lines and sunspots (if used for quite awhile). Of course, it also has ingredients such as dimethicone and petrolatum for skin protection and emollient properties, but also includes lots of amino acids (arginine, lysine, glutamic acids, serine, threonine, proline, alanine, glycine, etc) as well. However, it must be noted that while these amino acids are listed in the ingredients lists, their concentrations and actual effective properties in situ are not known. Both products have preservatives as well as other commonalities such as fragrances.
Now, how did these products do on my skin?
 |
| Left: Nivea; Right: Olay |
After a few months of testing, here's what I've come up with:
Nivea:
- Pros: super emollient, hydrating, pleasant scent, affordable cost
- Cons: felt kind of greasy, even after a night's application in the morning, felt a sticky residue the day after use
Olay:
- Pros: super emollient, felt rich and freshening, pleasant scent, affordable cost, no sticky residue after a night's use
- Cons: None
Bottom line, I think I understand why FutureDerm raved about Olay's product. I truly believe it is the better product. If one must get picky, per ounce, Nivea is cheaper than Olay (by perhaps pennies) but there is a difference in quality that makes the extra worth it. While I do not think I will repurchase Nivea, I probably will repurchase Olay sometime in the future.
Hurrah!
The Sunscreen Project, Part 23: EltaMD Tinted Moisturizer SPF 41
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| Photo source |
I received a couple samples of this tinted moisturizer during a skincare event held for a recent community fundraiser.
Revelation: This is actually the first time I've used a tinted moisturizer. For many years I was "shielded" [from self-proclaimed skincare gurus and random Asian gossip forums and soothsayers] with the preconceived notion (not originally formed from myself) that any form of tinted moisturizer, foundation, BB cream, CC cream, concealer, etc - would "blemish the skin" and ruin its "purity" due to its "hormones, artificial ingredients, etc". *insert rant against brainwashing here* But truth be told, I wanted to break out of this sort of mentality; I personally think that it's not bad to use such products. Especially when they contain SPF, right?
IDK. I decided to try out this product anyway.
My first impression: Nice. Lots of zinc oxide and titanium oxide. Coverage of UVA and UVB.
My overall impressions:
Pros:
IDK. I decided to try out this product anyway.
Ingredients: (according to DermStore):
Zinc Oxide 9.0%, Titanium Dioxide 7.0%. Aluminum Hydroxide, Butylene Glycol, Citric Acid, Dimethicone/Methicone Copolymer, Hydrated Silica, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, Iron Oxide, Isopropyl Palmitate, Lecithin, Linoleic Acid, Octyldodecyl Neopentanoate, Octyl Stearate, Oleth-3 Phosphate, Perfluorononyl Dimethicone, Phenoxyethanol, Polyacrylate 13/Polyisobutene/Polysorbate 20, Purified Water, Quercetin, Sodium Hydroxide, Thioctic Acid (Alpha Lipoic Acid), Triethoxycaprylylsilane.
My first impression: Nice. Lots of zinc oxide and titanium oxide. Coverage of UVA and UVB.
My overall impressions:
Pros:
- Not greasy
- Not oily
- Blends in easily into the skin
- No white cast
- High SPF (>30, good to follow FDA guidelines)
- Doesn't cause me to break out
- Is an inorganic sunscreen
- Is broad spectrum - covers both UVA and UVB rays
- Reapply every 2-3 hrs for protection (if not in water)
Cons:
- Price ($29 for 3 oz)
Bottom line, this sunscreen is a tinted moisturizer. It has a tint. It is a very nice product that blends easily into the skin and works very well. However, I don't think I'll be purchasing the full-sized version of this. Its price is a bit way out of my comfort zone.
Mottoes of the day: Dispelling all myths and searching for that sunscreen!
