My skin isn't too bad.
For the most part, it is clear with a few spots here and there. One thing that remained persistent over the past few years is my milia. These small white bumps on my nose and underneath my eye seem to grow regardless of how often I exfoliate.
I met with Tao Skincare Clinic to see how we can remove them.
Milia are small white bumps formed when skin flakes or keratin are stuck underneath the upper layer of the skin. They aren't usually painful, they're just there. They've been there for a year now, no matter how much I exfoliated.
While I had them when I was younger, they became more pervasive since coming to the UK. Most likely due to the weather and forgetting to wash my makeup off often as I should. Since there was no way to remove them at home, I decided to see an esthetician.
They literally put me under a microscope.
Each pore and imperfection noticeable as I laid flat on the bed. "They should pop right out," she said, brushing her fingers against my skin. It wouldn't hurt, just little prickle.
We used needling at first. We prepped the skin first, cleaning the area with a cotton pad. Then, she took a sterilized needle, sharp to the touch, to prod the skin. I could feel the scratches, like a prick. A shard of glass pressing against the skin.
Once the skin was crossed finely, she applied pressure to the cyst. Gunk oozed out underneath, leaving a small dot of blood.
Some seeds were difficult to remove so she used electrolysis. Another needle hooked to a machine that poked under the skin, zapping a bit of heat to disperse the cyst. It sounded terrifying, electrocuting yourself in tiny heat strokes. I've never felt anything like that. The tingling sensation around the skin wasn't painful but I did hold my breath.
Afterward, she cleaned everything up with witch hazel. In just under twenty minutes, we were done!
Before & After
I had some scabs for a few days but nothing too obvious. Rather, just a bit of redness that faded away. It's a subtle change but made me feel relieved, as the bumps were pestering me for the past few years. Thanks to Tao Skincare Clinic, I feel so much better.
For more info, you can go to their website here or contact them at 01392 273 860.
with love,
Bash.
*provided a complimentary procedure
in exchange for post*
*insert
'you're so racist to white people'
comment here*
'you're so racist to white people'
comment here*
"We're living in a post-racial society."
"I don't see colour."
"You're exaggerating."
I am not writing this for white people. I am writing this for catharsis.
The acceptance I am not going to please everyone, especially those whose ideas are already set. I am too SJW, too PC, too feminist. I've become so desensitized that they aren't insulting anymore. I find those people ignorant.
I'm making mountains out of molehills. It's not a big deal. Stay quiet, stay complicit.
"You're doing this for attention."
"I don't see colour."
"You're exaggerating."
I am not writing this for white people. I am writing this for catharsis.
The acceptance I am not going to please everyone, especially those whose ideas are already set. I am too SJW, too PC, too feminist. I've become so desensitized that they aren't insulting anymore. I find those people ignorant.
I'm making mountains out of molehills. It's not a big deal. Stay quiet, stay complicit.
"You're doing this for attention."
It's scary to know you feel different because you are different.
They don't see color because they never needed to confront their race. Worried that the color of their skin affects reality's perception of them and vice-versa. I walk a dangerous line every day, trying to fit in without erasing my Muslim and Asian identity - just enough that I don't get called a terrorist on the streets anymore.
"No, you're prettier without your hijab."
"Take that thing off."
"You don't really believe, do you?"
I hear people comment at the expense of us. My first reaction is to shout and cause a scene. Instead, my lips are tight and they stay silent. I can't challenge people who have made up their mind. It cannot always be me who educates the uneducated. It's mentally exhausting to explain basic human morality to people who don't want to listen anyway.
When someone looks at me, they think Asian. They think immigrant. They think 'you don't belong here.'
That's fine. I don't want a place that doesn't want me.
For my law modules and my own commitment to read books written by women of colour this year, I've been reading intersectional feminist literature. One book that came highly recommended was Why I'm No Longer Talking To White People About Race by Reni Eddo-Lodge. The stories of Black struggles in the UK hidden in history.
I am not black. I will never learn fully understand their struggles in an ever-divided society, but I can relate. The colonization of Brunei, the White Rajah of Sarawak, and the lasting effects of colonialism. We will never know a life without British invasion because we still reel in the effects.
The past is the past, but we are still affected now. That doesn't change. Systematic oppression and casual racism still strong, and the rise of racially-motivated attacks are ignored by the public. I can't keep screaming or else I'd lose my voice.
There's no point to this post. It was written after finish a good book, and having one too many conversations where there was no conclusion. Rather than attempting to reaffirm bias, stop instead. Challenge the bias and listen to the minority.
I will start talking when white people start listening.
I'm still here, still breathing, still alive. Just tired.
I'm growing a bit more tired every day.
School life, personal life, and professional life seem to clash every other day. It's a perpetual balance except everything's falling and the metaphor is all wrong. I know I complain too much. My therapist thinks so too but she phrases it differently. Figure out what you want out of life, give yourself space, take a break. So I did.
And I hated it.
I'm not suited for a quiet life.
As melodramatic as it sounds, boredom is my worst fear. I realised that after three months of silence on this blog. I wanted to write but lacked inspiration, I didn't have to write, I needed the space. I crave the silence but I know if I had a day of nothing, I'd grow anxious. I would start another side-hustle whilst learning how to juggle and do the splits. I'd make myself busy.
Not a good idea for someone who is physically, emotionally and mentally, a f*cking mess.
I know I'm a mess.
I once cried to models at an ASOS photoshoot I organized because I thought I hadn't eaten the whole day, only to find a half-eaten veggie wrap in my schoolbag. That was my dinner in the evening and breakfast the next morning.
I'm the most functional dysfunctional mess you'll meet, but I'm still a mess nonetheless.
Work is piling up, law school makes me cry, graduation is looming over me, and don't get me started on relationships. My life is crumbling. I'm barely clinging on with chipped nails gripping at the edges. At least I'm still here and alive.
Sometimes, I think that's the best thing I do now.
"I'm still alive and I have to stay alive," has been my main mantra since I was nineteen. I don't know if that's a good thing anymore.
I'm about to graduate. That terrifies me. It's the time where I need to find a place in this world, wherever that is, or else I'm going to float through as I have the past three years. I'm not ready at all. Staying alive is great, I'm breathing and I'm okay. I just have to start living again.
God help me.
How was your 2018?
I was lucky enough to be invited to the opening of the Selfie Factory Pop-Up at Shoreditch last weekend. Armed with my trusty Canon 600D, EOSM10 and iPhone, I dragged my friend to come along as my last minute photographer.
We braved the cold London streets till we found the place, brightly lit in contrast to the faint street lights. As we entered, we were welcomed to a world of excitement all for that perfect selfie.
Different areas of the places were installations to create fun selfies you'll never find anywhere else. They encouraged us to play with the props from the donut wall to a giant teddy bear. Each 'room' was fit with a certain vibe, perfect for the aesthetic.
I spent way longer than I should in each room, at least 10 minutes, going back and forth to perfect the perfect pose. Playing around with camera settings and angles, and I wasn't alone. Plenty of people around me did the same. I was not the exception, I was the norm.
That being said, there are a few things I would have done differently, given the chance. So I have some tips when you do go!
TIPS FOR THE SELFIE FACTORY
- | Visit during the day. You'll get much better natural lighting than dim ceiling lights.
- | Bring spare clothes - wear something you can easily change out of, and slip into another. This way, you can vary your shots and looks in a session!
- | Equipment doesn't matter. Sometimes, all you need is your phone and a friend you trust (with a lot of patience)
- Play around with shots. Go online and find some cool poses for the installations.
The Selfie Factory is opened now until November 20th!
Have you ever been to The Selfie Factory?
Personally, my friend and I agreed it's a fantastic first date activity, Cute, romantic and plenty of selfies for days. You can find more information on their Facebook or Instagram.
But first, lemme take a selfie.
After all, I am a narcissistic millennial, obsessed with social media by documenting every aspect of my life. The current state of my face included. As such, I have taken many selfies in my life, from an old 3rd Generation iPod to my current iPhone 6Plus, encased by Lumee. In my honest opinion, I think I've learned a few things.
Here are some tips on how to take the perfect selfie!
FIND YOUR ANGLES
Most of us are not born with symmetrical faces but we can fake it. By changing your posture through minute movements, it can help make your jawline sharper and face slimmer.
I know many people have a prefered side, a running joke among bloggers is the side we stand. if you look at my Instagram, you'll notice I usually tilt my jaw to the right or show the left side of my face. It's my go-to angle. If you look closely at other Instagrammers, you'll find similarities between their poses.
RAISE YOUR PHONE HIGHLike the last tip, it's all about angles. Keeping your phone up high and pointing the camera downwards, elongates your face and gives the illusion of bigger eyes. I do this with all my selfies like this or this.
Make sure your phone is far from your face as possible. Bringing it too close enlarges the centre of your face due to the camera's lens, making your nose look wider than it actually is.
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF NATURAL LIGHT
My favourite time to take photos is in the early morning when the sun has risen but no one else, or mid-afternoon when the light is bright. Lighting is important when taking photos so you won't have any grainy quality and easier to edit (if you want to)
If I am taking a photo in a dimly lit area or at night, I use Lumee. This one is their LuMee Duo Marble Case. The case features two warm LED lights, which give off a nice cast on the skin and fill any shadows. Did I mention they are also rechargeable and dimmable?
USE PROPS
To make a selfie more fun and interesting, use props!
Easy as grabbing a milkshake or a boyfriend, but I find milkshakes much more affordable and taste better. It incorporates some fun into a selfie. Play with poses, find new ways to use products into shots, and overall, have some fun!
TAKE MULTIPLE SHOTS
Take. All. The. Shots.
Take three hundred shots to get the perfect one. Where the sun hits your skin just right, and your jawline cuts and your milkshake isn't half empty. Selfies aren't a science nor an art, they are a fun way to capture your look then and now. Taking multiple shots helps your mini-photoshoot come to life.
what are your tips for a perfect selfie?
with love,
*Partnered with Nakturnal
Primark has a makeup collection.
I pass it every single time I'm in a Primark, always tempted to purchase but never do. Until today. When I stormed into my local Primark and found their latest Nudes Collection. The cashier looked impressed, and perhaps even shocked, with my bag.
So it begs the question, how is Primark makeup?
So it begs the question, how is Primark makeup?
While I wish I could have purchased everything instore, I only got a handful from each section. Hopefully, enough of a range to encapsule the whole collection.
Primark Nudes Collection launched in February 2018, packaged in neutrals with a focus on natural brown and pink hues. Certain products remind me of KKW Beauty and Milk Makeup. You can definitely tell their collection is lower cost version of those expensive 'natural & nude' brands.
HIGHLIGHTERS & BLUSH & CONTOUR
NUDES HIGHLIGHT & CONTOUR KIT :
This kit is most reminiscent of KKW Beauty Sticks. It came with a Highlighter Duo Stick, a Contour Duo Stick, Brow Highlighter and a double-ended brush and sponge.
The Highlighter Duo Stick was not universal. One end was too dark for me. The other end matched my exact skin tone with some shimmer. The Contour Duo Stick was surprising. I used both ends on my skin because it ended up blending lighter than I expected. Applies dark, but blends most colour away.
In this collection, I prefer the brush since it blended the contour evenly and feels soft against the skin, blending well.
NUDES HIGHLIGHTER STICK :
It looks like an almost exact dupe for Milk Makeup. It swatched beautiful, a light nude with a pink glittery sheen. However, it clung to the skin, making it difficult to blend out.
NUDES BODY SHIMMER DUST :
Perhaps my favourite, simply because it surprised me. An off-white shimmery loose powder. If pressed, I'd use it as my everyday highlight but if applied on darker skin, it would wash them out.
NUDES CONTOUR PALETTE :
Consists of two highlighters, a contour, and blush. An overall okay palette, their highlighters (Polar and Pure) aren't blinding. Instead, they give a subtle glow to the skin. The contour (Reveal) looked dark on the pan but once applied, blended to a warm bronze shade. I think the winner is their blush (Exposed) that gave a nice pink flush.
EYES
NUDES MATTE EYE CREAM in WHIPPED :
I applied the Matte Eye Cream as a base for the eyeshadow palette. What I assumed would be off-white looked grey against my skin. It was creamy but once blended, dried down to a matte finish. I wouldn't reccommended it since the grey cast was prominent.
I applied the Matte Eye Cream as a base for the eyeshadow palette. What I assumed would be off-white looked grey against my skin. It was creamy but once blended, dried down to a matte finish. I wouldn't reccommended it since the grey cast was prominent.
NUDES EYESHADOW COLLECTION PALETTE :
This looks like it came from a child's toy makeup collection with cheap, breakable packaging. That said, I am dumbfounded by their eyeshadows. They consist of 28 shades for £8, making it 28p per shade. And the strangest part?
They're actually good.
I used different shades from the palette, each time impressed with the colour pay off and how it blended together. And for 28p a shade, what a steal.
This looks like it came from a child's toy makeup collection with cheap, breakable packaging. That said, I am dumbfounded by their eyeshadows. They consist of 28 shades for £8, making it 28p per shade. And the strangest part?
They're actually good.
I used different shades from the palette, each time impressed with the colour pay off and how it blended together. And for 28p a shade, what a steal.
LIPS
NUDES MATTE & GLOSS LIP COLLECTION :
Their Matte & Gloss Lip Collection consists of two glosses and mattes. The mattes and glosses were pigmented, with one swipe enough for the full efect. While the mattes did dry down, they didn't dry out my lips which impressed me. The glosses were fine on their own, but I prefered them as toppers to other lipsticks.
NUDES HIGH SHINE LIP GLOSS in MESMERIZE :
A £2 product feeling like a £6. Their lip liner and gloss reminded me of NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream, with their smell and application. Though High Shine Lip Gloss is (obviously) a gloss. It pulled pinker than I assumed from the packaging. It still applied smoothly and wore on for some time.
SUBSCRIBE TO BASH HARRY
Overall, I am impressed with this collection.
Their eyeshadows and lipsticks, being the most note-worthy. For the price, they work much better than what I expected. As for their highlighters and contours, I prefered their pressed powders since their cream kits aren't universal.
If you're still learning makeup and looking for some quality products in your Primark, pick up the Nudes. They get a thumbs up from me.
Have you ever tried Primark Makeup?
What do you think?
(*) Receieved eGiftCard from Primark PR
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