The Pocket Stylist

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7 Day Minimalist Challenge

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Empty Bottle #112: Bioderma Gentle Wash 🌸

First of all let me tell you that even though I embraced minimalism it does not mean that I am doing it perfectly well. I still have lapses every now and then. Meaning I still buy items I do not really need. Just like last week I turned to Ebay and purchased 2 eyeshadow palettes from Korea. Unfortunately one palette was no longer available and the seller said she would refund my payment. So you see as a human being I am not perfect and I am still struggling.

About the 112th product I was able to finish, it is called Bioderma Gentle Body Wash. Sorry again as I do not have an in depth reviews about the product. What happened was I read somewhere that body gels are better for people with dry skin. And 2014 was the start of my hoarding phase. So needless to say I purchased bottles after bottles of body washes hoping to find the holy grail that will give me a good skin. And so Bioderma was one of them. And because I have too many that I managed to use it only last May 2017. After more than 2 years of being stuck in one of my magic drawers.

Moment of truth: Bioderma is brand of skin care products from France. It is not exactly affordable in UAE market. This bottle was 80.00AED and only a few pharmacies carry Bioderma. Now after more than 2 years of using body washes that the truth is staring at me back. No body wash can give me a moisturized skin. Achieving it consists of many factors. Environment. Food and drinks I take. Etc. And so these companies do a lot of thinking about their marketing ploy on how would they sell their products. Body wash feels good to use as they lather up a lot than a bar soap. But still both can do the same job perfectly well.

Now do not be mad at me for always speaking about minimalism because I do it a lot to remind myself. And not go astray. And at the same time documenting my progress no matter how small they are. And I am not exactly pushing it to anyone's throat. If you have money and space and you want to spend in whatever your heart desires then go for it. But if you are like me who has to find ways how to make both ends meet then minimalism and frugal life is the easiest route. 

And that's all for today. While I keep on cleaning my tiny space. Looking for items I can discard. Or items I can still finish. Ciao!

Goodbye #137: Pink Sleepwear

Finally I was able to raid the space under the bed. Was able to take out all the contents. And as expected I found many items again that I can discard as I no longer use them. That makes them nothing but a mess inside the small flat. One of the items I found is this pink sleep wear that has been with me for a decade now. Wore it no more than 10 times. Stopped using this because honestly I am way more comfortable in using jogging pants inside the house especially when sleeping than a sexy lingerie like this one.

You see even though I am a poor I have spent recklessly on items in the past. Maybe if I did not I will still be poor but still be able to afford some things life has to offer like consuming my yearly vacation in a place of my choice. Each little items I am discarding cost a price. If only I kept the money and use it for something useful like collecting good memories. This sleepwear cost me likely around 50AED. By wanting and needing less I will enjoy other things that I love in life.

Minimalist Mantra

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Empty Box #111: CY Gabriel Soap 🌸

This post is supposed to be dedicated to my 111th product that I was able to finish. But seriously what else can I say about a bar soap? So instead I will keep on writing about minimalism. I had been reading a lot about other people's opinion about Minimalism last week. Well a lot of people are still opposed to the idea and some even said that it is actually anti-poor. But my thoughts? There has been a confusion actually about minimalism that makes some angry.

Normally people who are writing books or giving speeches or writing blogs about minimalism are people from first world countries. Meaning they do have money. So from being minimalist they can go back into the world of consumerism if they want to. And so some poor people like me kinda find it off because it is easy for them to say and do things, while it is the opposite for us who do not have many choices. Admittedly that is often times irritating.

But then if we will look beyond it. Those rich people are not actually the ones who invented minimalism. And the concept isn't something new either. For the longest time Buddhist people have been practicing simple living. Ever since the Catholic have been avoiding gluttony. We often associate gluttony for only overeating but it only means do have more than what you need in almost everything.

For Pete's Sake I am a dirt poor. Poor in a sense that I cannot afford to stop working as long as I am alive. But in spite of it I have so many items littered around the tiny flat. And even though I am poor I am not also financial literate that I made so many spending mistakes in the past. And so even the poor like me somehow need to really understand what minimalism is and how it can help us. But it is not compulsory. Only those who wants it. But then at the same time do no try to bite those people trying to teach or preach about it. Because at the end of you day is it your personal choice to do it or not.

And now back to the photo, I am really sorry that I am not a big help. It just happened that back in 2014 I do not know how it happened but upon cleaning the house, I found myself having 30 or more bar soaps. Aside from the body washes. I am trying to finish them all as you know paper boxes like this one can attract cockroaches. One of the reasons why I am embracing minimalism. To lessen items where they can breed.

It is a bar soap from Philippines that uses the marketing ploy of making your skin whiter. Which is a bullshit. A bar soap is just a bar soap. No more and no less. And intentionally or not I used many whitening products for me to know that those were all lies. Only your good old dermatologist can really help you lighten your skin. 

13 Reminders For Single Tasking

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Ethical Closet

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Sleeping Positions

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Goodbye #136: Black and White Shorts

I got these shorts on sale back in 2009. But I was able to wear it no more than 10 times. And since I am not letting go of whatever I am not using much, so these has to go to. It could be useful to someone else. Rather than rot in my closet. My closet that still full of stuff after a year of decluttering. I cannot let go of everything all at once due to anxiety. So I am letting go one by one. Takes time but will definitely get to my goal someday.

Tony Moly Snail Cream

Tony Moly Snail Cream sample comes as free with an Ebay purchase I made months ago. Well what can I say? Been seeing snail cream for years now but not paying any attention to it. Methinks it is just a marketing ploy to lure people to buy and try it out. Well I was mistaken. I am surprised that this sits well with my combination skin. Does not make my face oily. Absorbed by my skin in no time. And I woke up the next day with feeling my skin has soften. I will definitely purchase a full bottle. But not anytime soon as I am stuck to finish off all my moisturizers before getting a new one.

150+ Things To Throw Away Today

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Goodbye #135: HM Blue Shorts

I wanted to talk more about simple living but since I do not have a time yet, I am just posting another item that I am discarding. I bought this H&M blue short from the kids section last year for only 10AED. But wore it around 3 times only. It is true when people say that we only wear 20 percent of our clothing most of the time. So whatever it is not I am not using regularly has to go. 

Tony Moly Black Tea Cream

Another sample from an Ebay purchase. Decided to use it now before I forget all about it. Well first of all, silly me as I was expecting it to be black because the name says Black Tea cream. Anyway this sample is good for one use only. Which is fine with me. Impression? Well this is good for my combination skin but I did not feel any difference. I mean my skin says there is nothing special to it that makes it stand out from all the facial moisturizers I used in the past. So I will not be buying the full size.

Work Out 🕕

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In Utopia the working hours would be 5 to 6 hours only so you can have a life outside work. People says that if you have work you are lucky. But will that be enough? You will be on earth only to just keep on working. Until the day you die.

Etude House Sunscreen

Got this sample from my Ebay purchase last February 2017. Has taken me a long time to use it because as I always say, I have way too many products. And I only have one face. Now for the feedback. Well this is not for me as this makes my face oily. Normally only my T zone is oily but using it makes my whole face sticky. So needless to say that I will not buy a full size.

Daiso Product #15: Make Up Cotton Buds

The last time I post something about Daiso was from last year. Well I still buy from Daiso from time to time but I am no longer hoarding or making a haul.

One of the items I purchased this year was the makeup cotton buds. This packet is for only 7AED. The difference? As you can see in the photo the other tip is pointed. Which is perfect on reaching the edges of the makeup like when I used up my Une Breezy Cheeks Blush. 

It will take time before I finished this packet as I am using it only when I am trying to finish a make up or skin care and I am already in the part of hard to reach parts. My English is not good. But I hope my explanation makes sense. Ciao!

Sahod!!! 💭

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Mango Pudding Milk Tea

Chinese product currently available at Carrefour across the UAE. Expensive for the price of 7AED per cup. Good idea if only the mango tastes good. 

To all the Single Ladies ♥️

Soulmate 🛣

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Goodbye #134: Purple Skirt

We often hear that gluttony is a sin. And all the time people associates the word gluttony with food. Or overeating. But then gluttony means the greed to have more of almost everything. And yes my dear friends even having a closet full of clothes that you never actually get to wear is gluttony. And I am guilty of that. If I can turn back the time I would not have done so. And keep the money in the bank to be used for something else like business or other source of income. 

Just look at the photo of a purple skirt that I purchased back in 2009 that I wore only twice! This is the story of majority of the clothing I own. Had I keep the money it would be enough to buy myself a plane ticket back and forth in Japan or South Korea. Well sadly I cannot turn back the time. I can only look forward. But for now I must keep on clearing my tiny space. I know one of these days I have to leave and move on.

Goodbye #133: Daiso Wooden Spoon

Just another simple story. Throwing it away now. Purchased it to be used when making sushi. But I never really got around into using it. Hence it has been kept in one of the drawers in the kitchen. Had accumulated dirt. And totally useless to me now.

Will try hard to concentrate on my drawers. To make sure that all the useless items will be out of the house in no time.

Wallet Ko

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Goodbye #132: Daiso Wooden Comb

Ramadan is about to end. My goal was to discard at least 300 items but obviously it ain't happening. But I need to keep on doing it anyway. Hoping to one day achieve something.

Today bidding farewell to this Daiso wooden comb. My hair is kinda tough that I broke it into two. Throwing it now in my attempt to lessen my mess/garbage.

Sahod 🤣

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Goodbye #131: Old Wallet

Wallet from 2008.. Used for a few times only. Then kept in one of my bags for almost a decade. Now time to say goodbye. 

Someone told me that an average American home contains at least 350,000 items. Wow. Just wow. Well I do not condemn people with so many earthly possessions as long as they can handle and they have a place for it. But in my case minimalism is the way it should be because most of the things I own are just garbage. Or does not hold a value. I live in a very limited space. And there are times that I need something important but cannot find as they are lost in my pile of mess.

Goodbye #130: Old Mesh Bag

I have this way back from 2008 and used it to keep various things... and upon my recent inspection sadly all those things are mainly useless! Bidding farewell to it now.

Goodbye #129: Old Registration Card

It is not even mine to begin with and yet it has been in my possession ever since. Crazy of me huh? So goodbye!

Goodbye #128: Beauty Bag Tag

Just another piece of junk out of the house for good. Sadly though because Ramadan is about to end and I am not even close to my goal of discarding 300 items this month.

May Nag Text

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Goodbye #127: Carrefour Receipt

Kept this receipt thinking I have a use for it later on. Until I forgot about it. And the device? I do not even have it now. The device lasted only for around a year. And discarded already. So this piece of paper has been useless for me for the longest time.

Goodbye #126: Strawberry Cream

For the month of Ramadan we are working 2 hours less than the normal timings. Hence I am expecting to get rid of at least 300 items. And I am still trying. 

Another item that I am discarding is this Thailand Strawberry Cream. But sorry I cannot give even the slightest review/feedback. I was a hoarder that I cannot remember anymore when I purchased it? How much? And why? Or maybe I got it for free? I can't even remember using it ever.

Found it in one of my paper bags. And if I do not have any use for it back then, means there will be no use for it now or in the future.

Goodbye #125: Event Tag

I am not working in Al Naboodah but I was able to attend one of their events last year. Kept this as memento. But then again memories are enough? Aren't they? And so now this has to go. And for Pete's Sake I already have way too many little items in my possession. So Goodbye!

Sigaw ng OFW

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Sweldo

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Goodbye #124: Reel Movie Guide

All the items I had been discarding have the same stories. Because I do have this plastic 4 layer cabinet in the tiny flat. Which I am using to just put about anything. That I am certain it has at least 100 or more items. Aside from the bags and papers bags all over the place. I am constantly checking them to see what item I do not need that I can throw away. And all the items I cannot remember why I kept them even though I know they will not be useful to me. Others I can't even remember being there. Like this Reel movie guide. I hope I will be able to finally emptied out that drawer before the month ends.

Mars

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Goodbye #123: Vichy Deo Stick

I am not the one to waste a product even if I do not like it. But this one is an exception. As it is expired. And becomes to sticky that it feels like I am applying a glue on my skin. And I doubt that this can still work as it has been months since it expired. So no point in keeping it now. Accumulating dust in my dresser. It has to go.

Successful

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Goodbye #122: Hair Pin

I do not know why I even bothered buying a hair pin or hair clip. I always have thick hair. That no hair clip or hair pin will be enough to keep my hair in place. Throwing it out as it has been useless for me for the last 8 years that I have it in my drawer.

Empost and My Skin

When I posted about TFS Calendula Toner towards the end I sounded like a drunkard. But I do not drink. Well June is hotter than May. July and August will be the hottest. And as expected my skin had been crazy since March. In short since summer kicks in.

What I meant was during winter or cold months my T zone is oily but the intensity goes high as the weather gets hot. The hotter it gets the oily my T zone will be. So the number of white heads on my nose depends upon the weather. Cold season means for me my skin will be in a good condition. I need to use nose strip only once a week. I can do skin layering without worrying of my face getting sticky or too dry.

Summer in UAE versus summer in Turkey or Philippines. UAE is hotter than the two countries but if I am in UAE I will be in the office or mall or at home. And those places are air conditioned. Even the vehicles. Somehow I think the coldness coming from air conditioner helps to slow down my T zone from secreting oil. I need to use nose strip every 3 days only. But if I am in Turkey or Philippines and not all vehicles/establishments have AC, I will be more exposed to the sun. No other way to slow down the oiliness of my T zone. I can always use face powder but then the amount of white heads in my nose will be never ending. Meaning after taking a bath in the morning and using a nose strip, even though I can see that the whiteheads on the nose strip my nose says different story. My nose looks like I never used a nose strip at all. 

Aside from the whiteheads on my nose that decides to live there permanently during summer the rest of my face gets drier than Sahara. Put too many face products = chaos. Do not use any face products = chaos. Using only moisturizer and sunscreen = chaos. It is something that I cannot fix. A reminder from nature. So even though The Faceshop UAE was on sale last month and this month I cannot bring myself to buy any face products from them. As none of them can help me. Remember I had been experimenting on how to fix my skin issues since 2014.

Lastly the Empost ~ been ordering from Ebay in hope of saving money and/or getting items that are not available in the UAE market. I want to keep on using the company PO box but then as per the procedure of the Empost there should only be one person who can take the parcels. As of this date I still haven't received my package from YesStyle which is worth 160.00AED. I think it has been in the Empost for 2 months now but the person is too lazy to get it for me. Just because it is quite bulky. So I might as well forget about it. The solution would be stop ordering from Ebay for good. And if ever I will do, do not use the company PO box even if I have to pay 5AED per package. 

As soon as I have time I will check the last facial toner I ordered online. Problem was based on my experience I know that a package from Korea will take less than 2 weeks to arrive. But the staff in Empost was too lazy to check it out for me. She wants me to wait at least a month to check if it is already available or not. That one do not have a tracking number. If I get it then I could still order a few items until October. 

Goodbye #121: Pony Tails

I have many of these all over the house. So I am throwing this bunch now while I hunt down for others. I have to keep on decluttering. While I still have time.

Sweldo ⏰

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To Parents

Goodbye #120: Sewing Crafts

Purchased back in 2008. But as you can see in the packaging I never used it even once. There is no need for me to stitch anything over here. Clothes has never been a problem for me since we do have uniform at work. I don't attend anything for the last decade. And I can get away wearing the same clothes every weekend and no one would notice. And I have to discard everything inside the house that are not useful to me like this one. Goodbye.

Goodbye #119: Speedo Plastic Sachet

Another garbage I found in one of my bags. I bought this last year when I started swimming lessons. Forgot to throw it out and has been lying in my bag ever since. Time to go. Goodbye!

Ottogi Spicy Sauce With Pork

Found this Ottogi Spicy Sauce With Pork at Hanarum in Karama. At the back of Karama Post Office. A box cost 10.00AED and good for one serving. This is meant to be paired with rice but I mixed it in my scrambled egg. Enjoyed it but will not repurchase due to price. Sharing the information for those who are interested in Asian products in UAE.

Paghihiganti

Goodbye #118: Ponds Plastic Sachet

From 2015. Once again I do not know why I kept it. I do not need it and so it has to go. Goodbye. And I am now looking at my dresser once more. Looking at the items I can discard now.

Kulang daw padala

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