Supermarket goodies

Normally, I get my skincare items at drugstores or department stores. But for the past year or so, I've been trying out products from Trader's Joes (TJ) and Whole Foods (WF), and have been pleasantly surprised.

TJ has a great selection of skincare products, and they are reasonably priced. Their Nourish Antioxidant Facial Serum is amazing! It is loaded with vitamins and oils to hydrate and nourish your skin. At $10 for 1 ounce, it is a bargain. Normally, serums go for $40 and up at other places, though I'm not sure why. I think I will stick with TJ's serum since it does the job of moisturizing my skin.

 

I've also recently tried their Grapeseed Oil to moisturize my skin. Apparently it is good for acne-prone/oily skin. I'm always looking for a good hydrator since whenever I go get a facial (not very often), the facialist always tell me that I have dry skin. But I'm always in a dilemma because I have combination skin - very dry in some places and super oily in other places.

Yesterday, I smoothed the oil on my face, and went about my day. My face felt soft and supple, and surprisingly my face wasn't as oily as it normally is. The only downside is that I smelled like French fries the whole day. So I think I will stick to using this at night. Or if I use it during the day, I will put a thin layer or mix it with another lotion/essential oil.

Whole Foods also has a great selection of products. But since they have a greater selection of brands, the quality is hard to tell. I've had some misses/hits. I really like the Alba Botanical line - their scrub is really good. I wasn't a big fan of the MyChelle line - their serum doesn't really do much for my skin. But their skin analysis is super fun! You should get a free skin analysis if you are ever in a WF. They tell you everything about your skin from sun damage to wrinkles and pore size. You basically get a rank on how you faired - quite intimidating. But it encouraged me to wear sunscreen every day.

WF also has bath bombs by Hugo. They are amazing. If you like Lush bath bombs, you should try Hugo's. Their scent is long lasting. I've only tried their Lavender & Chamomile, but their Grapefruit Orange one smelled good as well. They are currently having a sale at 2 for $8. Tip: I cut them into smaller pieces (around 4-8 pieces) to use it for several baths.

Do you have any skincare favorites at your local supermarket?

Inspiration from Actresses

Happy Friday! I am excited to start the weekend.

Lately, I've been watching the TV show, Once Upon a Time, on Netflix. It stars Ginnifer Goodwin and Jennifer Morrison. Morrison plays Snow White's daughter, Emma Swan. Emma is a tough kid; she grew up thinking that she's been abandoned by her parents. One day, she runs into a kid who happens to be her son, and the story unravels. I love the show, and I love the style on Emma and Snow White (played by Goodwin). Emma has a very edgy look with her signature red leather jacket. But she also softens it up with loose waves and sheer sweaters and t-shirts.

 

 

 I like to take style advice from characters on TV shows and movies. Costume stylists are very creative and try to exude a certain personality through the clothing. If it weren't were these fashion role models, I would probably just stick to what I wear best: t-shirts and jeans.

I was browsing through Uniqlo the other day, and I stumbled upon a sheer sweater. It was thin and made of linen. I instantly fell in love with it and bought it. This sweater is great for the spring/summer when it's too hot to wear a full-on sweater, but ideal for when you are indoors/in the subway where the A/C is blasting.

Another character I've been inspired by is Tessa Scott, played by Dakota Fanning, in the movie, Now is Good. Tessa is a girl battling leukemia, and she has a list of things she wants to do before she dies. Her character has a serious demeanor, yet it is offset by the crazy activities that she wants to do such as break the law and do drugs. She wears layers of sheer shirts and sweaters, which complement her pixie haircut.

 

 

Uniqlo has a great selection of lightweight shirts in summer material. I bought the shirt below as a layering piece. They have many different styles and colors in stores and online. Uniqlo is one of my favorite stores - such good prices, good quality and classic styles.

 

Recipes

In the winter, I prefer hot dishes and soups to warm my body. But in the hotter months, I enjoy light and refreshing dishes. Lately, I've been cooking with a lot more veggies and making fruit/veggie smoothies. In Korea, we have a vegetable called kenip (also known as sesame or perilla leaves). It is a dark green leaf that is loaded with antioxidants to promote good health. It's very easy to use as a garnish, side dish, or a wrapper.

One of my favorite things to make is Korean sushi rolls (aka kimbop). I like to add a variety of veggies/meat to create different rolls. My favorites are spam/kimchi, tuna/kenip, and beef (with the traditional veggies). (I am still working on making them look more presentable).

 

Here is a recipe for Tuna/Kenip Roll:

Ingredients:
1 can of tuna in water base, drained
2-3 sesame leaves
2 T of mayonnaise
2 tsp. of mustard
a few slices of fried zucchini
1/2 cup of sweet brown rice
1 T of sesame oil
a pinch of salt
1 sheet of seaweed laver

In a small bowl, place the 1/2 cup of cooked brown rice. Add in the sesame oil and salt. Mix it up.

Then, in another bowl, add the can of tuna, mayo, and mustard. Mix.

Lay the piece of seaweed on a cutting board. Shiny side on the bottom. Place the rice on the lower third (or half) of the sheet, depending on how much rice you want to add. Start adding the tuna, zucchini and sesame leaves on top.

Then roll the kimbop from the bottom until it is neatly packed. Quickly slice the roll into small pieces. Enjoy while fresh and warm! This is a very easy recipe and filling!

 

I also tried adding kenip into burritos. I'm a bit obsessed with these leaves - can you tell? On a whole wheat tortilla wrap, I placed Trader Joe's Sweet Basil Chicken & Turkey Sausage, fried egg, fried zucchini, freshly sliced kenip, and a pinch of salt and black pepper. Quite delicious!

I love the texture and taste of kenip. It's not for everyone, but you should definitely try it if you get the chance!