Red wine mask

I finally managed to get my hands on a bottle of this mask from Taiwan earlier this month. This mask was highly recommended by renowned Taiwanese artiste Big-S, in her book, 美容大王.

I've heard that there are lots of imitation products out there due to the success of the book, so when one of my Taiwanese ex-colleague offered to go to the clinic to get them, I was thrilled. They cost quite a bit so I got her to get me a small bottle (60g) for now.

When I got the bottle, I didn't feel that thrilled anymore.

On the rather cheap looking plastic bottle, the English translation says "Direction: Apply thin layer of the mask with a spatula to the face and leave it for 15-20 minutes. Remove the mask with a spatula, then, with adequate amount of water with sponges."

Remove the mask with a spatula? Erm.. the mask is supposed to be on my face, right..?

Very dodgy.

Fortunately, the directions in mandarin were much clearer, just remove the mask with wet cotton buds.

Keen to test out the effects of the mask, I used it everyday, for about half a month now.

And I must say it is good. I feel that it brightens my complexion and my skin feels smoother.

This mask is available on sale at this website. You'd have to be able to read traditional mandarin to navigate this website.. although... I don't really know if it delivers overseas.

But I've managed to secure my channel for future supplies now. It's nice to have friends from different parts of the world.

And now soil mealies?!

Oh.. this is really bad.. my purple chillis (all four of them) and my cherry tomatoes (all three of them), have been attacked by soil mealies..

I saw those pests yesterday and I stared for a while in disbelief. I took some actions immediately.. but I don’t think my babies stand a chance.. they are still so young!


My garden is now almost bare again..

I’m quite convinced I have black fingers now.. and am too sad to blog on further.

I think is my plants’ way of complaining my absence from the garden.

Sigh. And I’d be away for another week soon again. Oh dear oh dear.

April is sakura month

Sakura, or cherry blossoms, are one of my favourite flowers. For one thing.. they are pink! And they look so delicate and ladylike.

I was going going through some old photos and came upon these ones, taken in Beijing about 2 years ago in April at this park called 玉渊谭公园. It is extremely crowded in the weekends.. But weekdays are less scary.. and it is nice to visit when the sakura flowers are in bloom in April.



Of course, I love the sakuras at Shinjuku Gyoen in Tokyo as well.

Thought I'd use a picture of these as my blog's header and share some pictures as well.. :)