Empty Tube #98: Clean and Clear Moisturizer 🌸

As I have said I will be taking all the photos only in one spot. Which will be an everyday reminder for me how messy my place is. Until such time it is cleared out of everything. Anyway for today I am documenting this Clean and Clear moisturizer. I cannot remember if I purchased it back in 2014 or 2015.

The good things about it are: it is not hard to find as most of grocery stores carry it. And it is inexpensive as a tube would cost less than 50AED. And in UAE price that is already affordable. But I was not able to finish it up to the last drop as I have way too many moisturizers. I kept it for a while then forget about it. What I have done to the remaining at least 1/8 of the tube is to mix it with salt scrub. Yes I recycled it as a home made body scrub. So now it is totally empty and gotta throw it out now.

Sadly though I cannot remember if it was actually good on the face. I guess it was okay. Bought and used it at the time that I am not yet documenting the products I am using. Even though I was doing trial and error on which one will works best on my skin type.

Simplicity 💕

PHOTO Credits to the owner

Goodbye #100: LRP Hand Cream Box

From this day on I will take all the photos in one spot only. And that is on the top of my dresser because the light over there is good. Well actually what I wanted was to take a very good composition of a photo to try to hit two birds in one stone. I mean practice photography while discarding an item at the same time. But no matter how hard I tried I cannot find a place. My mind cannot work clearly. And I do not have time.

Maybe when I am done decluttering then there will be a space for photography inside the tiny place. Good lighting is already present. But as you can see in the back it is crowded. Maybe when I am done with all those trash then I can finally put a flowers. Flowers would be a good background right? But as of now focus in decluttering. For today I am throwing out this box of La Roche Posay Cicaplast Hand Cream. And just like all my other trash, I do not know why I am keeping it after so many months. So goodbye. You will not be missed.

Empty Bottle #97: Victoria's Secret Hydrating Body Lotion Verbena 🌸

Another one bottle down. Finally. And I do not know if this will be all done by the end of this year. I always have a dry skin that you will never caught me without a moisturizer and I used this excuse to hoard as many moisturizers I can in the past. One of them is this Victoria's Secret Hydrating Body Lotion Verbena. Which I got on sale for only 25.00AED

The verdict: I haven't seen a Verbena plant in my life but even so I love the scent. It has a soft and gentle scent. Very feminine. But as of its moisturizing agents, nothing new just like any other moisturizer out there in the market. So no I will not repurchase. And I do not need to purchase anything this year as I still have a hundred items to finish. 

The Space - Marie Kondo

PHOTO Credits to the owner

Empty Bottle #96: BBW Velvet Sugar Body Mist 🌸

This Bath and Body Works Velvet Sugar Body Mist was included in my Bath and Body Works Semi Annual Sale Haul back in MAY 2016. Exactly a year ago. I do not need it back then but I purchased it out of impulse and excitement as it was the first time I caught them for only 20.00AED per bottle.

But then sadly I do not have anything new (information) to offer about this product. Everything I will say are the things I've said before. Loving or hating the scent of any Bath and Body Works is a personal preference. For me I am not really crazy about them as I find them too sweet that can trigger my migraine sometimes.

But I purchased because the smell is quite strong compared to Victoria's Secret Body Mists as I am not using it for my body but as air freshener instead. I am living in a closed and cramped place that when cooking there is no way that the air (and smell) will go out of the flat. So since last year I had been experimenting with different perfumes to handle this concern. This body mist can offer a solution that would only last for a minute. So needless to say I will not repurchase. [For the record I will not repurchase any body mist from the Signature Collection of Bath and Body Works. Their Aromatherapy line would have been an exception but then it comes with a hefty price tag].

What I am doing now is trying to cook those heavy dishes at least twice a week then just refrigerate then and microwave for a minute or two before eating them. And whenever I cook I make sure that I will not be washing clothes that day. Or the next day. I no longer buy (or hoard) any kind of perfume since they cannot serve the purpose I am looking for. I am just now trying to finish off the stocks I have. Maybe someday people who are building houses and flats no matter how small they are would take into consideration to install a proper ventilation in the kitchen. Maybe. Anyway here is a quote that I want to share with you all. As afterwards I will be looking for something I can discard (again and again).

This is self explanatory. Since I own a lot, I spent a lot of time cleaning and organizing. Even though I am trying to get rid of an item per day ~ still doing that requires my time. Instead of me spending that watching something I would love to see.

Goodbye #99: Pink Reebok Shirt

The time that I started de-cluttering my items I did not know yet that things are about to go sour. All I know was I wanted to change my life. My lifestyle. And I am glad that I did. Anyway on this post I just want to share that I am discarding another item again out of hundred items I own.

Saying goodbye to this pink reebok shirt that I purchased back in 2009 meant to wear during exercise. But I did run for only a year or so then stopped altogether. Lack of time. And at the same time I will go crazy with the UAE heat.

Important lesson that I learned with all this de-cluttering thing: when you do not need much then having little money will do just fine. Because you desire less, you need to spend less. Which is very appropriate with my current situation. One of these days I will be out of job. And out of money too.

'Clutter is what happens to things when they become useless but friendly' ~ Russell Lynes

Letting Go - Marie Kondo

PHOTO Credits to the owner

Affection 💕

PHOTO Credits to the owner

The Faceshop Calendula Moisture Toner

I read online where people says that Korean brand of cosmetics are so affordable. But in spite of it only The Faceshop managed to come here in the Gulf and the prices are not exactly affordable. 

Today let me share with you The Faceshop Calendula Moisture Toner. I forgot the exact price but I got mine on sale around 50.00AED for 150ML. This said to be a moisture toner.

Calendula is said to be a flower but unfortunately I haven't seen one so I do not know the real smell and to where to compare its smell. And I cannot figure it out either. I know the smell of roses and sampaguita too well. But not this one. I bought this Calendula Moisture Toner just to try it out. It has a faint flowery smell and said to be moisturizing on the skin. Above photo is the box where the Hangul is written which is something I do not understand. Next photo is written in English with ingredients list.

Next photo is how the Calendula Moisture Toner looks like. Thicker than the usual toner I used in the past. But not as thick as serum or essence. It can remove make up and dirt but I simply run out of time to take photos as a sample. (When did I ever have an ample of time anyway?)

I have 3 variants of toner from The Faceshop but this is my least favorite due to smell. As of the alcohol even though it is not alcohol free my skin does not feel funny nor heavy. And to be honest I also tried the 7 skin steps which was a Korean craze a few weeks ago. Meaning you will use a skin/softener/toner 7 times not necessarily mean you need to have 7 brands or 7 variants. Did I like it? Well yes but then it was cold that time but as soon as March came it became hot (weather) and I don't like applying too many products on my face anymore.

It was 2014 when I decided I wanted to have a beautiful skin. Beautiful in a sense that it does not dry out. Dry skin is not cool as it can be itchy and flaking does not look good. I tried different brands and included toner in my beauty regime. But since 2014 you will hear me say contradicting views regarding toner. The factors are the price and the weather. 

Some says that when the weather is cold that is the time they experience extremely dry skin. But seems like it is the opposite for me. When the weather is hot that is the time that my skin goes crazy. Name it. Dry skin. Oily nose all the time. Whiteheads on my nose 24/7 no matter how I clean, scrub and moisturize. By the time I finished writing this post the bottle would be emptied out. But even so I do not have plans to repurchase it.

No plans to repurchase yet as I still have other toners at home. In UAE even though it is extremely hot almost all the establishments do have air conditioner. And since I am working inside the office I will not be exposed that much under the sun. So even though my skin is going through some craziness I still do not need much face products. As too many face products will lead to feeling sticky and heavy. As well as irritating. Just a cleanser and moisturizer will do. Being inside the air conditioned areas + not being exposed to sun makes my skin not produced much oil and whiteheads.

But if I am in Turkey or Philippines or any place with the opposite condition in UAE meaning the summer is not as hot as UAE but then not all establishments do not have air conditioner, and I will be exposed under the sun ~ that is the time that I will still need all the toners in the world. To prevent my nose from producing too much oil. As well as prevent the whiteheads. Or at least slow them down. 

And since I've used far too many brands of toners that I do not have a specific favorite anymore. Since most works the same. Difference would be the price and the scent. But then financially wise once I lost my job I probably would not even bother to purchase a toner at all.

A minimalist mantra as a friendly reminder.

Reading 📖

PHOTO Credits to the owner

Empty Bottle #95: Evoluderm Shower Gel 🌸

Evoluderm Shower Gel

Paraben Free

Price: 17.00AED
Made in France

Purchased on: 2016

Purchased at: Tati Mirdif City Centre

Finished on: March 2017

I am thinking of good words/nice words to say about this product but there are none. I mean this is not a bad product. But then there is nothing special about it that will make it stood out in the market with a hundred others to choose from. I cannot remember the scent. Not bad but something I forgot as soon as I used it. Foams up well but hey shouldn't shower gels are supposed to be that way? So that's it. I am just glad this is another bottle out of my stash. And I must really used up all my stash as I might be out of job soon and need to move out of the country.

Thanks for dropping by.

Empty Tube #94: Eucerin Hand Cream 🌸

Eucerin Hand Cream

Price: less than 100AED

Purchased on: 2014

Purchased at: Aster Pharmacy

Finished on: May 2017

I bought this hand cream during the hoarding phase of my life [if you will notice this is the reason of all the products in my Empty Post Series] and it has taken me more than 2 years to finish simply because I have way too many products. So guys do not be a hoarder like I used to be. Nothing good will come out of it. I was a stupid hoarder that until now I have dozen or so creams to finish.

Anyway Eucerin hand cream is a good product. But expensive. Because of the price and because I have a dozen creams to finish that I will not repurchase. Honestly in the span of 3 years that I used so many brands of hand creams and moisturizers, some are better than other but still it does not really matter to me anymore. Because no matter what brand I use or how many times in a day I use it I still have dry hands. Dry skin. 

I am drinking a lot of water. Eat fruits and vegetables. Do not smoke. Do not take alcoholic drinks. Still same result of dry skin. Sometimes I think I am overdosing with moisturizer. But whether I use it or not still no changes. That applying it several times a day is still better than not applying at all. And it is frustrating. Maybe once I am done with all my moisturizers I will switch to oil as hand cream. Maybe oil can do a miracle with my hands. 

Thanks for dropping by.

OFW Blues 🇵🇭

PHOTO Credits to the owner

Goodbye #98: Mango Red Long Sleeves

Mango Red Long Sleeves

Purchased on: 4 or 5 years ago

Purchased at: Mango Mirdif City Centre

Sale Price: 49.00AED

Discarded on: April 2017

Mango is a Spanish brand of clothing that I love but I do not buy regularly from them. Because in the UAE Mango is expensive. And some items are too big for me. I bought this red long sleeves on sale years ago because I get used to wearing long sleeves in here. But I was not able to use it much as the V neck is making a little of my chest exposed. Which is something I am no longer comfortable with. So this is one of the hundred items sitting in my drawer that I finally had to let go.

That's all for today. Thanks for dropping by.

OFW Blues 🇵🇭

PHOTO Credits to the owner

Goodbye #97: Daiso Nail Decorations

Daiso Nail Decorations

Price: 7.00AED

Purchased on: 2009

Discarded on: April 2017

I used to have extremely long nails which I think was cool but time has come that I had to cut them all down when I started learning how to cook. I have chosen cooking than having the cool long nails. Found this among my stash. Nail decors that I have forgotten when I have given up using them.

Every time I write about an item I am discarding the more I am realizing what a waste of money I had done for the last 10 years of my life over here. I just wish anyone reading my posts learn a thing or two out of my experiences. Live a minimalist and frugal life and you will have a peace of mind.

OFW Blues 🇵🇭

PHOTO Credits to the owner

Mga Abuso

PHOTO Credits to the owner

Goodbye #96: The North Face Travel Pouch

The North Face Travel Pouch

Purchased on: June 2016

Purchased at: Mirdif City Centre

Original Price: 89.00AED

Sale Price: 49.00AED

Discarded on: April 2017

I bought this The North Face travel pouch for my Turkey vacation. But since it is quite bulky I was never able to use it on the said vacation. I ended up using it as a make up pouch at home [took out all the makeup items inside and put them all at my dresser.. looks messy but at least I will be reminded always to use them and finish them]. But since I am continuously discarding my items with the goal of living a minimalist life, I have decided to give it up. With this thought in my mind: if I will keep this then I might have a reason to buy some more items because I have something where I can put them. I do not need to organize my items. I need to reduce them.

My space is small. And more items the more places where insects like cockroaches can hide. I am tired of them. And you know what? I do not miss the things that I have given away. Not even a bit. That means I do not really need them in the first place.