Day trip to Sergiev Posad, Russia.

I am currently on my study break so decided to explore around before getting stressed up with my finals. Decided to go Sergiev Posad because I've always wanted to take a trip there to visit. In pictures the churches looks so freaking amazing!

Arrived Yaroslavsky station around 12.30pm on a Monday. Once you come out from metro Komsomolskaya you can easily spot the station. :) Bought my ticket which depart at 1pm. There's a train every 30 minutes so it's pretty convenient. My trip there cost 210 rubles. 

While waiting for my train.

Moscow - Sergiev Posad.

It took about an hour to reach there. I think I took the express train. So it didn't stop by every single stations. The sits were pretty comfortable as well. Thankfully it wasn't crowded & you can get snacks on the train too! :)

There's also toilets in the train which are fairly clean & the journey there was alright. Love the scenery!

Shameless selfie before getting down from the train. :P

Upon arrival, I did not know what buses/public transport to take, so I decided to just walk to the place. Do download yandex map & yandex transport when travelling in Russia. Super easy to use & very convenient. I think I had a 10-15 minutes walk from the station to The Trinity Monastery of St. Sergii.

Imagine taking this picture from outside I was already super impressed. It literally took my breath away. So beautiful & the weather was good that day as well.

Apparently you have to pay to enter the place. Because I am a student in Russia so I got the ticket for free. Love travelling around Russia as we get free/half price admission to different places. :D

Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius.

Saw the Orthodox priest as well as the locals fill up their empty bottles here. They even wash their faces too! :)

Inside Trinity of Lavra St Sergius.

When I first stepped foot inside I was blown away. I swear I stood there for a good 5 minutes admiring the interior design. I am a Buddhist, so I've never actually been to a church. This is my first time stepping into an Orthodox church & it was so beautiful! 

Even the ceiling was filled with paintings as well.

After visiting different churches I decided to try their local drink - kvass. It is fermented with black/regular rye bread. Super delicious! If you visit Russia one day definitely check this out. What I like about this drink is that different places taste different because they are homemade. & perfect on a hot sunny day. :D

After a tour around I decided to have lunch. Tripadvisor recommended this place - Gostevaya Izba where they serve traditional Russian food. They have English menus so fret not if you can't speak/read Russian. 

Ordered some sandalwood tea. Pretty delicious tasting!

My fried cod fish with butter & lemon.

I would say the pricing are fairly reasonable. My meal cost about 660 rubles. Drink was a little expensive in my opinion. As you can get that exact drink for a much cheaper price.

Most museums closed on a Monday (which I know I am suppose to make a better planning), so basically there's nothing much to explore around. So took a stroll while walking back to the train station.

Spotted a lake on the way back. It was a perfect day to be on a bicycle & cycle by the lake.

Decided to leave the place about 4.40 pm. Bought my train ticket back at 5 pm. It cost me 164 rubles. This time it wasn't the express train, an older version but comfortable as well.

This is how it looks like inside. Free seating. Thankfully the trip back wasn't crowded as well. Managed to have whole row to myself. :D

Goodbye Sergiev Posad! I'll definitely come back to visit again. :D

Travel essentials: dress comfortably, watch & backpack!

Met this adorable Russian kid on the way back. Basically she kept me accompanied half of my journey back haha!

There's her trying to be cheeky. :D

There we are! Back to Moscow, back to crowded city.

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Overall I really enjoyed this trip alone a lot. Even though I can't speak fluent Russian but thankfully the locals are very helpful. No matter how broken your Russian is the locals love & appreciate if you can speak a little of their language. Will definitely do a better planning next time because I definitely want to visit the museums as well.

Hope you guys enjoy this post! Til next time. :)

Signing off,

Vanessa, x.

Review: Lush Charisma & Feeling Younger skin tints.

Hello everyone, I am back for a review today. In fact, I have two products to share with you guys today.

I've been eyeing on TheBalm's Mary Lou Manizer & Bahama Mama for quite some time now. But due to budget reason I decided to go for a cheaper alternative. As you may not know I suspect that part of the reason why I am breaking out is due to bronzer. I've tried Mac's golden bronzer & Benefit's Hoola bronzer, both are super hyped & well loved in the makeup world but for some reason, I noticed that this two products might be the culprit for my breakout. Maybe there's certain ingredients in these products that my skin does not agree to. I suspect it could be talc & mica. Both of these ingredients are often found in setting powder & bronzers. & I also read that they are pore clogging ingredients.

I was heartbroken that I might not be able to use bronzer for the rest of my life. (dramatic I know) Because I really love the bronze-y look especially when spring/summer is here. I want that sun-kissed effect! :D Super glad that I stumbled upon Lush! 

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Lush's Feeling Younger.

Love this highlight so much as it gives me the glowy effect I've been looking for.

What Lush says?

A youthful glow

We wanted a highlighting skin tint that would give a gorgeous glow wherever it was applied, so we started with a base of beautiful ingredients (as we like to do). Soothing oatmeal decoction, cocoa butter and some of the best oils for the skin, jojoba and almond oils are blended together for a nourishing base that’s good for your skin. Blended in is a pigment that reflects light, brightening cheek bones, brow bones, the inner eyelid or even your décolletage for a sexy glow.

Ingredients: Oatmeal Decoction (Avena sativa) , Water (Aqua) , Orange Flower Water (Citrus Aurantium amara) , Almond Oil (Prunus dulcis) , Cocoa Butter (Theobroma cacao) ,Glycerine , Stearic Acid , Jojoba Oil (Simmondsia chinensis) , Triethanolamine , Cetearyl Alcohol , Synthetic Fluorphlogopite , Titanium Dioxide , Methylparaben ,Propylparaben . *Occurs naturally in essential oils


My thoughts on this:

I use this skin tint as a highlighter. I apply it on my cheekbones, below my brow as well as on my nose & cupid's bow. I really love the natural effect it gives. Not too "in your face" shimmery & generally gives you a healthy glow. What I dislike about this product is it accentuate your pores. So avoid applying this product around area which you have enlarge pores. Other than that, I really enjoy this little pot of glowy magic! :)

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Lush's Charisma.

Left: Charisma ; Right: Feeling Younger

Tried my best to take the best shot I can. 

What Lush says?

Bronzing tint for a healthy glow

Charisma is our bronzing skin tint to warm up all skin tones. It blends into the skin wonderfully to give you a glowy, natural look. Charisma nourishes and moisturizes skin with oatmeal decoction, cocoa butter, jojoba and almond oils, and gives a warm, healthy glow with a blend of golden colors. It works wonders on tanned skin and gives a bronzed effect to paler skin tones. Wear it under make-up or let it stand alone.

Ingredients: Oatmeal Decoction (Avena sativa) , Water (Aqua) , Orange Flower Water (Citrus Aurantium amara, Aqua) , Almond Oil (Prunus dulcis) , Cocoa Butter (Theobroma cacao) ,Glycerine , Stearic Acid , Triethanolamine , Jojoba Oil (Simmondsia chinensis) , Cetearyl Alcohol , Synthetic Fluorphlogopite , Iron Oxides , Titanium Dioxide ,Methylparaben , Propylparaben . *Occurs naturally in essential oils

My thoughts on this:

I use this skin tint as a bronzer. Glad to know that so far I did not notice any breakout. It definitely gave me a warm sun-kissed look. It is easy to blend as well. Honestly I don't have any bad things to say about this product. :)

Price: They both retail for 690 rubles each.

 I would say it's fairly reasonable because you don't need to use a ton of products. Oh yes! The only downside to these products are their shelf life. They last about a year. Highly doubt that I can finish them in a year time but well, you can't have best of both worlds right? I appreciate they are made with natural ingredients. :)

Highly recommend to people who have sensitive acne prone skin. If you think your bronzer is the culprit to your breakout, give these products a try! :)

& I personally feel that Lush's skin tints/their cosmetic line in general are very underrated. There aren't many blog/youtube reviews on them. So definitely check them out, who knows you might find little gems like me? :D

My awkward selfie wearing the highlight & bronzer.

Have a great day everyone! :D

Signing off.

Rainy Spring | Moscow Edition.

After completing my ballet & stretching class, decided to take a stroll around Central Moscow even though it was rainy.

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Along Kamergersky Street.

A street full of branded shops. Everything was so beautiful.

I used to hate when it rains whenever I am out but these days I find it therapeutic and peaceful. Despite the fact that my umbrella was almost blown away a few times. Definitely a good experience exploring the city and it is very mind calming. 

Bought some products from a local brand. The wind was so strong & the rain got a little heavier, the lavender scent from this stall attracted me. Lavender scent + cosy chilly weather = perfection! Highly recommend to check out their website if you live in Russia. :) 

Website: Lavanda 

Review: Kieh's Ultra Facial Moisturizer SPF 30.

Hello guys,hope you are all doing well.

Today I have a product to review, which is the Kiehl's Ultra Facial Moisturizer SPF 30. As you guys may already know Kiehl's has came out with one without SPF. I got a sample from them & did not liked it. Personally I have combination skin, I felt it just sits on my skin & by midday my T zone was super oily & gross! So I guess those who have dry skin might enjoy it more.

Since Spring is already here, it's very important to be using SPF! (even though we are suppose to use SPF all seasons round). Because I have sensitive acne prone skin, I avoid products with SPF at all cost because I think my skin does not react well to products which contain SPF. But I read online that it's super important to incorporate sunscreen to your daily skincare routine not only to protect your skin from the UV rays but also to prevent hyperpigmentations/dark spots from getting darker. (which is one of my problems/concerns)

Thank God whenever my face has an outbreak, they don't leave scars (which in my opinion is 10 times harder to treat than dark spots). I was always left with brown spots which takes time to go away. So I decided I should incorporate sunscreen to my skincare routine, taking into account that it might break me out.

It comes in a 125 ml bottle. Simple and nothing fancy just like any other Kiehl's products.

What Kiehl's says?

Ultra Facial Moisturizer SPF 30

Lightweight hydration with SPF 30

• This moisturizer is readily absorbed, leaving the surface area soft and nurtured.
• Broad spectrum SPF 30 protects against sun damage which can cause premature aging
• Effects are continued beneath the surface layers for daytime or anytime
• Assists in improving skin texture

Active Ingredients: Avobenzone 3%, Homosalate 7%, Octisalate 5%, Octocrylene 5% 

Inactive Ingredients: Water, Propylene Glycol, Dicaprylyl Ether, Glycerin, PEG-100 Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Squalene, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Phenoxyethanol, Sorbitan Oleate, Caprylyl Glycol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Triethanolamine, Beeswax, Tocopherol, Disodium EDTA, Stearic Acid, Myristyl Alcohol, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil, Prunus Armeniaca (Apricot) Kernel Oil, Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil.

It comes off as a pretty thick consistency but as you work it into your skin it absorbs fairly quickly.

How it looks like when I spread it around the back of my hand.

My thoughts on this:

First of all, when I was squeezing the product out from the tube it was a tough one. Due to the packaging it is very difficult to control the amount of product I want. 

Second of all, I was scared by the consistency. As I told you I have combination skin, the product came off as a thick liquid I was worried my skin will be shiny by midday. But thankfully it wasn't that case! It was also easy to work with. When I rubbed the product into my skin it absorbed fairly quickly & it didn't made my skin felt oily or uncomfortable. It has the typical sunscreen scent which I don't really mind because it fades off after application.

I've been using this product for a week now & did not noticed any breakout which I really appreciate & thankful for taking the risk. It did not made my skin felt oilier than usual & so far I've been enjoying it. The only downside for me is the packaging & the price. So hopefully Kiehl's will come out with better packaging next time like in a pump form or something. :)

Price: 2200 rubles.

Pretty expensive in my opinion. But it works as a moisturizer & sunscreen in a product. Plus you don't need a lot in one application (slightly more than a pea size) so I guess in that case this product can last me pretty long! 

But I definitely recommend people with sensitive acne prone skin like me who thinks sunscreen is one of the culprit in contributing to their breakout should definitely check this out! Plus Kiehl's are always super generous in giving out free samples, so I definitely urge you guys to grab some samples first before investing your money. :) 

One tip: at the end of the day make sure to double cleanse to ensure that you properly removed sunscreen/makeup/dirt that has been on your face throughout the day. I recommend using cleansing oil/balm as your first cleanse. :)

Signing off.

Sunny day out | Moscow Edition.

Top: Polo from Uniqlo.

Pants: jegging from Uniqlo.

Shoes: New Balance.

This picture was taken by my friend right after we had Korean food for lunch.

This week is another long weekend for me because tomorrow is Russian Victory Day so it's going to be a public holiday. & the weather is amazing today so decided to take a stroll to the park with my friend. Studies has been stressful for me so it's good to take some time off & walk around Gorky Park. & it's about 15 minutes walk from my place so why not? :)

Moscow is such a beautiful city & I feel like I've been missing out a lot throughout my 2.5 years stay.

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Today is one of those days where I reflect about life,again! Talked to some random Russian guys because they approached us & it's really nice not thinking about what other's people motives are and just let the conversation flow. It's nice knowing people's perspectives towards life. Even though I seriously suck at socializing in person but it's definitely something I want to work on. And I appreciate his kind words saying I am not a boring person, at least I don't seems to be to him. :P

It honestly sucks when people ask me what do I like to do during my free time besides studying. Because at one point of my life all I do is basically go to class, study, eat, sleep & repeat. Nowadays I've been trying. Trying to come out from my bubble. Instead of doing what I usually do, I explore places around my neighborhood, try to make more friends and generally just finding new vibes. Maybe in the near future I should start finding new hobbies. So the next time when people ask me what do I like to do during my free time, it's no longer about ballet only. :P

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Got matching flower headbands with this beautiful thing. :)

Blessed to have vain friends like them, & it's great to spend such an amazing day together.

Signing off,

April Beauty Favorites | 2016

Time to share some good stuff I've been enjoying on the month of April!

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There's mixture of beauty related stuff & one food item that I really enjoyed last month.

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Lush's BB Seaweed.

What Lush says?

Soothing, smoothing seaweed mask

Created especially to care for sensitive skin, BB Seaweed is a best-seller for its soothing, smoothing effects. No surprises here, it’s packed with none other than the ocean greenery itself! Seven pounds of it in each batch, in fact. This locally-harvested, nutrient-rich seaweed nourishes the skin, while finely ground almonds ever-so-gently exfoliate leaving skin perfectly smooth. We use a generous helpings of aloe vera gel and rose absolute to calm and soothe sensitive spots, and a gorgeous combination of honey and olive oil to moisturize. You look beautiful, BB!

Ingredients: Lime Tree Flower (Tilia Europaea) & Sweet Violet Leaf (Viola Odorata) Decoction , Kaolin , Honey , Glycerine ,Ground Almonds (Prunus dulcis) , Bladderwrack Seaweed (Fucus gardneri) , Organic Aloe Vera Gel (Aloe barbadensis) , Millet Flakes (Panicum miliaceum) ,Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil (Olea europaea) , Bentone Gel , Fresh Rose Petal (Rosa centifolia) , Rose Absolute (Rosa damascena) , Patchouli Oil (Pogostemon cablin) ,Rosemary Oil (Rosmarinus officinalis) , Seaweed Absolute (Fucus vesiculosus) , *Citral , *Geraniol , *Benzyl Benzoate , *Limonene , *Linalool , Fragrance . *Occurs naturally in essential oils

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Honestly that trip to Lush I did not intend to purchase any item. But you know how lovely and friendly the staffs there can be & I was itching to purchase something. It's not normal for me to purchase products before checking reviews but I took a risk on this mask. Because I love seaweed haha. Thankfully I really enjoyed it. My face instantly feels baby soft after washing it off, even after the next day! My skin is so much calmer & brighter as well. And I like how the chunk of seaweed act as a gentle exfoliator.

Unlike some fresh face masks from Lush, this one is pretty easy to work with. I can easily smear them throughout my entire face. And when it dries off this mask wouldn't flake off like Lush's Catastrophe Cosmetic. 

The only down side about these fresh face masks are their self-life. They last about 2 weeks & I admit sometimes I couldn't finish the product before it expire. But at least I know that these masks are made with fresh ingredients & there's no worries of preservatives that might irritate my already sensitive and disaster skin.

Price: 495 rubles.

Price point wise I would say it's fairly reasonable considering you can have up to 8 uses per pot. And I would most definitely repurchase again after trying out more of their fresh face masks! 

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Kieh's Rare Earth Deep Pore Cleansing Masque.

What Kiehl's says?

Rare Earth Pore Cleansing Masque

A cleansing masque that helps to purify skin and visibly minimize pores

• Formulated with Amazonian White Clay to gently draw out oil, dirt and toxins that clog pores
• The addition of Oatmeal and Aloe Vera helps to soothe

Ingredients: Water, Kaolin, Bentonite, Propanediol, Glycerin, Titanium Dioxide, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetearyl Alcohol, Corn Starch, Phenoxyethanol, Ceterath-20, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tocopherol, Lecithin, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Oat Kernel Flour, Allantoin.

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This is my old favorite. I've already went through a tub of this! I bought other masks to try after I ran out of this one because I am always on the hunt of something new. Hoping that I could find a new holy grail. I've been very into skincare & beauty for the past one year because my skin decided to betray me. I've been breaking out so badly like I never did before! :( And now I am left with constantly trying out new things, sticking into a strict skincare routine hoping that my hyperpigmentations and active breakouts will heal soon.

Back to this mask.

After venturing into different masks, from Clinique, Lush, Origins, Aesop & I realised I couldn't live without this mask! Not that those brands that I mentioned did not helped my skin. But there's something about Kiehl's that draws me to repurchase it.

Note: I rarely repurchase stuff. As I told you I am always on the hunt for the next best thing on the market. So if I repurchase them means it's something really good & definitely urge everyone to check them out! :)

Definitely one of the best clay base consistency mask I've ever tried. Super easy to work with. Melts on your skin like butter. The effect after you wash it off is even better! Definitely noticed brighter skin tone, skin texture is a lot smoother & blackheads are easier to remove as well. The next day I woke up with a calmer skin & some spots shrink in size as well!

This mask also works great as a overnight spot treatment. Especially on those that you feel a monster is about to haunt your skin, put this baby on & trust me, those monsters never come to head! Don't worry that if it might dry out your skin because it contains aloe & oatmeal that soothes your skin while bentonite draws out gunk from your face.

Price: 2050 rubles.

Yes! The price may be steep but I think it's reasonable considering the fact that it comes in a 142 g tub. And you only use it twice a week. My first tub actually last me a year so if you do the Math, definitely something to invest on. :)

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Vegan peanut butter.

I was on a dairy-free diet previously so I was looking for some alternatives. And thankfully stumble upon this local brand. Totally love their concept. They make vegan peanut butter, chocolate paste, almond butter and etc. Packaging is on point as well!

Love this so much as there's only two ingredients in this tub. Peanut and sea salt. Would definitely repurchase again. Running low on my current supply. :(

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Urban Decay All Nighter Makeup Setting Spray.

Pretty sure everyone heard about this product because it is super hyped up in the beauty world! I usually find most products are over-hyped but not this baby. I promise you, it is LIFE CHANGING! 

Prior to buying a full size I actually got a 30 ml travel size from Sephora Malaysia to see how I liked it. I was in love!! My makeup literally stay put all day, definitely sweat proof as well because I tried a few workout sessions with this baby. And I also like that after you set your makeup with this, it gives your makeup a "blended" effect. Could not recommend this enough! Even though it's expensive but trust me ladies, it is worth every single penny!

Price: 1900 rubles. If you live in Russia, I would recommend you to get it from iledebeaute especially if you have a member card, who doesn't want 10% off anyways? :P

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That is all for my April favorites! Hope to hear from you guys what are your favorites as well. Will definitely do more monthly favorites/products I regretted buying in the future. 

Have a great day!

Signing off.