Beauty and Skin Care, Lifestyle

Beauty Finds: 1699 Vintage & Nice But First Lashes XXL Extensor de Pestañas/Eye Lash Curler

by natjtanLeave a Comment on Beauty Finds: 1699 Vintage & Nice But First Lashes XXL Extensor de Pestañas/Eye Lash Curler

Welcome to another edition of Beauty Finds! This find in a way is a Recycle Less post too of 1699 Vintage and Nice, But First Lashes XXL Extensor de Pestañas /eyelash curler. Skip 3 paragraphs to get straight to the review.

You can see the bristle lines for the additional eyebrow comb.

I have a few requirements when it comes to beauty products: cruelty free, natural, clean, vegan better. I do my best to avoid nasty ingredients such as SLSs, parabens, PEGs, silicones, etc. Petrochemicals are the sneakiest with so many derivatives and aliases. I also avoid palm oil and it’s derivatives as I prefer orangutans. Coconut oil marketed as the good oil I’m also cutting down on as it can be just a damaging crop as palm oil. If I do get products containing palm or coconut oil I try to get organic or sustainably sourced. With make up it’s a little harder so I go for cruelty free brands. I prefer products with less plastic and thankfully more brands are aware consumers don’t want unnecessary plastic (or governments are telling them less plastic). My skin type’s oily sensitive, acne prone and now wrinkles. I know nothing stops those lines, but if I can delay them then….

I found this in one my favourite beauty shops in Spain, Druni. They have great range of smaller European organic, bio beauty lines as well as designer brands and a huge selection of beauty tools and accessories at very reasonable prices. The beauty tools often a fraction of the price of more well known brands and are great dupes. Did I mention they’re cute accessories too?!

I’ll admit when I saw this I didn’t have clue what it was. Only because it was for pestañas or eyelashes. I used to use an eyelash curler for years until I read they can actually damage eyelashes. I was also getting fed up of repurchasing one every 6-12 months as no matter how many refill curler pads you replaced them with they just didn’t give the same effect as when brands new. They’re also a lot of plastic waste with the replacement pads, packaging etc. Expensive too as I only ever liked Tweezerman’s eyelash curler. I got used to not using one, didn’t really give any thought about them until I saw this I missed open eyes! For €1.99 it was worth my curiosity without breaking the bank. That’s what I like about Druni (and Primor, another Spanish beauty chain), reasonable prices.

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Animal Kingdom, Nature, Photography, Travel

Light: Late Autumn

by natjtanLeave a Comment on Light: Late Autumn

Happy New Year! Happy Winter! 

Could it be that I’m back posting more regularly? Maybe, just maybe. 

Last year as for many was a little crazy and disoriented. I don’t even know where last year went. I still took as many if not more photos than usual. Especially of my summer world, under the sea.

While warm springs and hot summers have my heart, cool autumns and what currently feels like summer Artic for winter (it’s super cold this year) hold it for light. The sun’s lower giving warm crisp yet bright cool hazy almost golden hour light all day. Or when it’s sunny. Last autumn was cloudy sunny than bright sunny. Zoo hours have changed, closing an hour earlier than previous years. It’s a little more tricky to make it and when I do, if it’s sunny I get amazing light! Some days the light’s so pretty I don’t to leave. If I find warm sunny sheltered spot with birds and few humans I almost want to freeze time to enjoy it longer. I don’t want to face what’s outside the gates when I leave. Everything feels just right at that moment.

I went to see my Mum and Dad in November. The UK felt a month ahead being further north with morning light. Warm morning golds which are like January mornings here in Spain. Yes, the sun does shine in the UK. 

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Beauty and Skin Care, Lifestyle

Beauty Finds: Urang Yuja Vita Ampoule (vs Kora Organics Noni Bright Vitamin C Serum)

by natjtanLeave a Comment on Beauty Finds: Urang Yuja Vita Ampoule (vs Kora Organics Noni Bright Vitamin C Serum)

Welcome to another Beauty Finds! This edition is all Vitamin C. Urang’s Yuja Vita Ampoule with a little comparison to Kora Organics Noni Bright Vitamin C Serum. Scroll down a paragraph for the review. 

As usual I have a few requirements when it comes to beauty products: cruelty free, natural, clean, vegan better. I do my best to avoid nasty ingredients such as SLSs, parabens, PEGs, silicones, etc. Petrochemicals are the sneakiest with so many derivatives and aliases. I also avoid palm oil and it’s derivatives as I prefer orangutans. Coconut oil marketed as the good oil I’m also cutting down on as it can be just a damaging crop as palm oil. If I do get products containing palm or coconut oil I try to get organic or sustainably sourced. With make up it’s a little harder so I go for cruelty free brands. I prefer products with less plastic and thankfully more brands are aware consumers don’t want unnecessary plastic (or governments are telling them less plastic). My skin type’s oily sensitive, acne prone and now wrinkles. I know nothing stops those lines, but if I can delay them then….

Urang Yuja Vita Ampoule

A milky-textured ampoule containing Geoje Island’s* organic Yuja is know to be richer in vitamin C than other citrus fruits. a synergy recipe of orange Yuja Water, Yuja Essential Oil, and brightening ingredient Aplha-bisbolol, the ampule gives vitality, brightening and elasticity. Fully energise dull skin and experience the fresh scent of Yuja. 

For a few years I’ve been using Kora Organics Noni Bright Vitamin C Serum and I didn’t think I would switch to another vitamin C serum. It probably isn’t necessary to use one, but this girl likes to have a little glow and smooth skin. I prefer to spend money on skincare than makeup so I’m willing to spend a little more as eating healthy only goes so far. Sometimes your skin needs a little extra help dealing with daily pollution, lights, blue light, easing the appearance of lines which is where vitamin C comes in. More info here. 

I think you know when you’re considering switching products when you start to question a current product or look at others. I was getting little tired of Kora Organics prices and that for the price and the care of the environment, the Noni Bright Vitamin C Serum is all packaged in plastic, which is surprising considering Kora Organics is all about organic ingredients and it’s expensive. Urang Yuja Vita Ampoule, isn’t. The bottle’s glass, the dropper’s glass with the only plastic being the lid and dropper cradle. Kora Organics however recently announced more products like their Noni facial oil and eye oil will now be in glass bottles or more easily recyclable and reusable packaging. While my skin had glow using it, Noni Bright Vitamin C Serum also made my skin at times feel tight and dry. 

I was eyeing up Urang Yuja Vita Ampoule debating to try it as the price while is less expensive than the Noni Bright Vitamin C serum for a product you might not like it’s expensive. Thankfully Miin Cosmetics, yes my favourite skincare shop in Barcelona, had a Spring 20% off sale. Thankfully too it was for a week so I could ask for a small sample to try if I took in my own pot. From the sample I noticed that it was more hydrating, my skin had a little something something going on and purchased the full size bottle.

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Animal Kingdom, Nature

Summer 2021 Project Under The Med Sea. Late Spring May – Mid June

by natjtan2 Comments on Summer 2021 Project Under The Med Sea. Late Spring May – Mid June

All this summer as much as I can I’ve been visiting a magical world. A world I discovered last year on holiday in Mallorca. A world whose outer bubble I see everyday but never give much thought what’s under the surface. A world I’ve only glimpsed at in photos. A world all winter I couldn’t wait to visit as summer came. A world that holds so much allure and mystery humans still haven’t explored perhaps even 1/3 of it. 

Almost every week I’ve snorkelled with a cloud of baby fish. One week they’re super tiny, the next almost teenagers

It started with P wanting me to snorkel. Mallorca is perhaps one of the best places in the Western Mediterranean to snorkel. In the summer the waters are warm, clear and rocky. Rocks perfect for fish, warm and clear perfect for humans to visit without having to suit up. Back in Barcelona I got little sad. I didn’t think I could snorkel or visit under the sea until the following summer. It’s a city beach, there’s not going to be anything hanging around in the water. That changed the day I saw a flash of silver treading water. The next day I took my googles and snorkel. A few days later so P and others would believe me there’s fish along the city beaches his old Go Pro. The Go Pro turned into an Olympus Tough 6 with this year since about late May as often as I can I’ve been in the water visiting the city fish. It might not be the best, clearest waters however it’s world I feel’s secret as few snorkel where I go. That’s changed a bit this year as Decathlon opened up in a local mall with easy access to snorkels more have been visiting, but I think most on the beach think I’m crazy. 

My friends! Saddled Sea Breams

I always believe salt water cures almost anything. Having a bad day, it’s too hot, having a good day, that cooling hug it gives as you take dip makes you forget about everything. When I watch the fish just be, everything slips away. The sea and it’s inhabitants don’t know about how your day’s been, how’s your week’s been, they don’t care if you’re happy or sad. They’re just going about eating, trying not to be prey, hunting, just being. In a crazy way I’ve made friends with a few. Okay maybe not friends, but they always say hi if they’re around. Saddled sea breams are known to be friendly but are probably just checking me out. From visiting almost daily for about 3 months I feel kinda protective of them and the rest of the fish I’ve seen travelling this summer. They don’t know about what’s happening outside of where they live. They might be noticing climate change, they might not be. They haven’t got a voice to fight back to say help like land animals can (maybe Orcas are as they’re the oceans bullies. One rogue pod has been attacking boats in the Med and Atlantic. El Pais in English who first reported it. BBC article). I don’t have to tell you their habitats are changing. For most they’ll only do something when there’s nearly no fish to eat.

Sunken treasure! A Barcelona street paving tile. As I more of less snorkel in the same area I recognise the rocks but I’ve never found this tile again

The below photos are from late May to mid June. I’d had the camera all winter only to test it out 2 minutes before going in. It’s point and shoot right? Nope. There’s a little more to it Nat hence the bad photography and for now they’re jpegs. The sea bottom back in May and June had a lot of seaweed/plants growing. Now in August there’s more peacock’s tail. Yep I got a Mediterranean marine ID book 🤓 And yes I spook myself out when the visibility’s low. When I didn’t know what was just beneath the shoreline when I swam or treaded water I didn’t freak out much. Now I know what’s under there, for every big fish, there’s an even bigger fish…

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Animal Kingdom, Lifestyle, Nature, Photography, Travel

Manoa Falls Trail , Oahu, Hawaii

by natjtan3 Comments on Manoa Falls Trail , Oahu, Hawaii

One of the best things about Manoa Falls are the parking security guards. Semi wild chickens who have the run of the car park! 

Nestled in the Manoa Valley mountains, the Na Ala Hele (trail for walking) Manoa Falls Trail is a 2.6km/1.6mi hike up into the mountains. Starting at the car park the trail takes you into the rainforest. I think admission was about $5 if arriving by car otherwise it’s free. Trees start out tall with canopies reaching fanning out to the sky. Looking up they gently give each other breathing space while almost matching each others outline just like looking at world maps seeing where continents once connected, like a jigsaw puzzle or tropical coral fanning out. As you get higher up the path becomes narrower, steeper. Plants you don’t notice unless you use a branch to help you up. Tree trunks become skinner, the leaves become bigger as they compete for light, the forest becomes more dense, the path narrower and rockier. When we went it had been raining earlier so the path was muddy. Muddy! If you do this hike, wear something more than sandals as several people met the mud in style. Also do the hike earlier in the day if you want to avoid people. The hike takes around 1-2 hours there and back. No photos I’m sure it can be done in just over an hour. I think the trial during the initial covid-19 lockdowns was closed for maintenance to widen the path and make it more user friendly. It’s since reopened however I’m so grateful I got to visit before the covid-19 pandemic took hold. I’d love one day to go back to explore more trails that connect to it and those from the Harold L. Lyon Arboretum located near the start of the trail. This girl can visit in her dreams!

The security guards. Don’t mess with them

The path ends at Manoa Falls, a beautiful waterfall that I swear has ledges cut out each side for shampoo. Only joking, the ledges are filled with plants, but maybe just maybe shampoo. I wanted to get closer but the good positions were taken up with selfies. Take 100, delete all, take another 100 selfies. Another reason to get there early. I felt for the people that hiked up with 2 people with loudspeakers. Why? The epic soundtrack. In a city I get it, but in nature, please leave the music behind if anything to let others who for many it’s once in a lifetime experience to enjoy it. Man, I sound so old! Looking back I didn’t hear many birds. Maybe they avoid the area due to people. There were moments on the path to myself which was cool against the day’s heat.

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