Irresistibly Cute // The Face Shop x KaKao Friends

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Reviewing The Face Shop x KaKao Friends - Sunscreen Cushion and Lip Creamer.
Reviewing The Face Shop x KaKao Friends - Sunscreen Cushion and Lip Creamer.
Reviewing The Face Shop x KaKao Friends - Natural Sun Eco Sunscreen Cushion.
Reviewing The Face Shop x KaKao Friends - Natural Sun Eco Sunscreen Cushion.SCENT is essentially non-existent. I love how this has none of that typical sunscreen smell.TEXTURE is just like foundation cushion, which is a blendable…
Reviewing The Face Shop x KaKao Friends – Natural Sun Eco Baby Sunscreen CushionBLENDABILITY is just ok when I use the applicator pad to apply to skin (top, using hand for more clear demo). You can still see the white-cast on my skin even after tapp…
Reviewing The Face Shop x KaKao Friends – Natural Sun Eco Baby Sunscreen Cushion// LIKE //- Super cute collectable packaging...who can resist those KaKao Friends characters!- Sunscreen has nice texture and doesn't irritate my skin. - Love that …
Reviewing The Face Shop x KaKao Friends – Melting Color Lip Creamer
Reviewing The Face Shop x KaKao Friends – Melting Color Lip CreamerSCENT is that of Jolly Rancher or fruity candies. Super yummy and doesn't smell too artificial!TEXTURE is very creamy! It's actually pretty tough to blend it evenly wh…
Reviewing The Face Shop x KaKao Friends – Melting Color Lip CreamerPREP is needed because of its creamy texture. Best to prep lips with Vaseline Lip or the equivalent. My first try was a complete failure as I didn't prep my lips -&nbs…
Reviewing The Face Shop x KaKao Friends – Melting Color Lip Creamer// LIKE //- Same as the sunscreen, it's hard to resist the super cute collectable packaging.- Soft color that's perfect for everyday & can also build up to fuller colors.- Love t…

Do you have a tough time resisting these adorable KaKao Friends, too?  Hope you've enjoyed this post and thanks for stopping by!


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24 Hours in New York City // Korea Town Beauty Shopping & Yummy Dessert Tasting

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Sharing my 24-Hours Adventure in NYC // Beauty shopping in Korea Town. Shown here: Nature Republic Store on W 32nd Street.

My brother flew in from Asia and one of his short stops was New York City, so I flew down there to meet up with him.  We had some great meals and museum visits, but of course, when it came to beauty shopping in Korea Town, he opted out.  No worries, my trusted roommate from college @concon95 (who lives in NYC) was more than happy to go with me since she's just starting to dabble into the exciting world of Asian Beauty!

Given my 24-hours time limit in the city, I could only afford to be in K-Town for 1.5 hours.  It's not an issue as it was a Sunday and all the shops were pretty quiet.  I drew up this so-not-to-scale map of the key part of K-Town we ventured to - On West 32nd St, between Broadway and 5th Ave.  In this short block, you can hit all the major K-Beauty brands and taste some super yummy Korean food and desserts.

~ FUeling up before our express shopping spree ~

I've been to a few really great dessert places in NYC, but I've never ventured into K-Town before.  I did some homework prior to arrival and found Grace Street as one of the new faces in the K-Town dessert scene.  It has some rave reviews and it sure did not disappoint! 

P.S. I included 2 honorary mentions on the map for food - BCD Tofu House (which I frequently visit in California and love their tofu stews) and H-Mart (which is a Korean supermarket...I don't think I need to tell you why it's a must-see!)

Sharing my 24-Hours Adventure in NYC // Fueling up for the shopping spree at Grace Street Coffee & Dessert.Highlight // Korean Dessert and Perfect Hangout SpotHighly Recommended // Hodduk (Korean donuts), Shaved Snow, Savory Waffle Sandwich
Sharing my 24-Hours Adventure in NYC // Fueling up for the K-Beauty shopping spree at Grace Street Coffee & Dessert.The food here is the star, but Grace Street is also a great place to hang out or use as your remote ffice!  The st…
Sharing my 24-Hours Adventure in NYC // Fueling up for the K-Beauty shopping spree at Grace Street Coffee & Dessert.Shaved Snow:You can order Grace Street's signatures or you can make your own.  I opted for my own creation - Milk snow, swee…

~ ready for some k-beauty shopping?? ~

With that yummy meal in our stomach, @concon95 and I said goodbye to Miss S and began our express shopping spree.  

Sharing my 24-Hours Adventure in NYC // Shopping for Korean beauty products in Korea Town.Having to do an express shopping spree in less than 1.5 hours, I was only able to hit 3 stores.....But I've vowed to return!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks @conco…

 

// The face shop //

Sharing my 24-Hours Adventure in NYC // Shopping for Korean beauty products in Korea TownHIGHLIGHT // You can load up on those cute character masks here!  And don't forget the super cute KaKao Friends Collection.  I am also in aw…
Sharing my 24-Hours Adventure in NYC // Shopping for Korean beauty products in Korea TownWHAT WE BOUGHT // My Stash...New Real Nature Peony & Lily for Brightening and Revitalizing.KaKao Friends Character Masks for Brightening, Soothing and …

 

// nature republic //

Sharing my 24-Hours Adventure in NYC // Shopping for Korean beauty products in Korea TownHIGHLIGHT // I love NR products, but every time I walk into one of their stores, I am more drawn to their store designs. - The dramatic…
Sharing my 24-Hours Adventure in NYC // Shopping for Korean beauty products in Korea TownWHAT WE BOUGHT // My Stash...Real Fresh Olive & Blueberry for Hydrating and Revitalizing.Aqua Collagen Solution Marine Hydrogel Eye Patch.Multi Patch A…

 

// The Mask Bar//

Sharing my 24-Hours Adventure in NYC // Shopping for Korean beauty products in Korea TownHIGHLIGHT // If you're looking for a 1-stop-shop for sheetmasks, this is the place to go (especially if you're under a huge time crunch!).  …
Sharing my 24-Hours Adventure in NYC // Shopping for Korean beauty products in Korea TownWHAT WE BOUGHT // My Stash...I'm Sorry For My Skin for Pore Care, Brightening, Revitalizing.Holika Holika Juicy Mask Sheet Blueberries for Bright…

~ must shop more! ~

I can't believe I live so close to New York City and I don't go down there more often!  But now that I know all the "treasures" I can find there, plus having found my new Asian Beauty shopping buddy, I'll be making more visits to the fabulous Big Apple.  I do want to venture into Chinatown on my next trips to explore other Asian Beauty brands that are not available in K-Town.  Any suggestions on other Asian Beauty brands I should explore?  Leave me a comment below!

~ and i want to share this with you... ~

Needless-to-say, @concon95 and I have collected quite a few pieces of new masks to try (and nose strips for her)!  It's been so much fun reading all of your mask reviews on Instagram and I love it when you ladies share some honest insights to help me figure out if a mask is "worthy" to be added to the stash.  With that inspiration in mind, I am launching a new series where me and a few guest writers will share our utmost honest reviews on sheet masks we love and, sometimes, meh, not love.  I hope you'll join us on this new adventure on Hula With Me!

Thanks for stopping by!

If you're curious about the other legs of my NYC adventure, click links below for previous posts:

The Food Edition @ Caracas Arepa Bar + Spot Dessert

All About MoMA (Museum of Modern Art)


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Did Someone Say "Hello Kitty"?

Sharing Hello KItty beauty products from Hong Kong.

My fellow beauty lover on Instagram, @blanckittyyy, and I were sharing our favorite mascara on one of her recent posts.  I mentioned to her that, don't laugh, my fave was a Hello Kitty version I bought from City Super, a popular store in Hong Kong.  And she asked me to do a blog story about it, so here you go my dear...along with a few other items I picked up + a surprise!

Confession of a former hello kitty addict

Yes, when I was little, I was all about Hello Kitty, down to my nickname "Kitty".  I know, why would I confess to that, but in case someone from my elementary school in Hong Kong has a picture of me all decked out in HK gear, I may as well spill the beans here!  I remember first day of First Grade, I had pencil case, stationery, backpack and hair pins all in the classic red and white style.  I felt fearless even though it was a new school and I didn't know a soul there.  Funny how little things made us so happy when we were kids.  Fast-forward to today, I'm still a huge fan, just in a more toned-down version, but I'd still get excited when I see special Hello Kitty merchandise!

About city super

Quick intro to this awesome shopping heaven in Hong Kong.  It's dubbed the "mega lifestyle specialty store" - Think Whole Foods + MUJI + Container Store + Sephora all in one place.  Pricing is definitely higher than the local supermarket, but you're paying for the convenience of a one-stop-shop.  There are several locations throughout Hong Kong...I know it's not a typical tourist attraction, but if you're ever visiting the city, it's worth popping into a City Super for the experience and for some of their unique beauty finds.  For more info, check out their site.

 
 
Reviewing Hello Kitty beauty products bought from City Super in Hong Kong - Hand Cream, Hair Styling Stick, Sheet Mask and Mascara.
 

~ bcl hello kitty edition ~

~ browlash ex long separate mascara ~

Hello...Long Lashes // Reviewing Hello Kitty beauty products - BCL Hello Kitty Limited Edition Extra Long Separate Mascara with Comb Wand.
 
Hello...Long Lashes // Reviewing Hello Kitty beauty products - BCL Hello Kitty Limited Edition Extra Long Separate Mascara with Comb Wand.I'm very low-key when it comes to makeup.  I'm usually either MU-free or go with the bare minimum and I th…
 
Hello...Long Lashes // Reviewing Hello Kitty beauty products - BCL Hello Kitty Limited Edition Extra Long Separate Mascara with Comb Wand.Application // I must confess that my MU application skills are so-so.  Picture here shows my left ey…

To Buy Online // YES STYLE or eBay (try to check for authenticity if buy on eBay!)

 

~ matomage x hello kitty ~

~ hair styling stick super hold ~

Hello...Smooth Hair // Reviewing Hello Kitty beauty product - Matomage x Hello Kitty Hair Styling Stick Super Hold.
 
Hello...Smooth Hair // Reviewing Hello Kitty beauty product - Matomage x Hello Kitty Hair Styling Stick Super Hold.I'm constantly fighting with my flyaways that like to stick straight up around the top of my head!  I've tried the water trick, b…
 
Hello...Smooth Hair // Reviewing Hello Kitty beauty product - Matomage x Hello Kitty Hair Styling Stick Super Hold.Before and After Use. 

To Buy Online // eBay (try to check for authenticity if buy on eBay!).  This also comes in a red version for "regular hold".

 

~ hello kitty hand cream ~

Hello...Smooth Hand // Reviewing Hello Kitty beauty product - Hello Kitty Hand Cream.
 
Hello...Smooth Hand // Reviewing Hello Kitty beauty product - Hello Kitty Hand Cream.Does anyone else have a collection of hand cream and still continue to buy more?  I hope I'm not alone in this obsession...and when I saw these Hello Kitty one…
 
Hello...Smooth Hand // Reviewing Hello Kitty beauty product - Hello Kitty Hand Cream.

To Buy Online // YES STYLE carries other Hello Kitty hand cream. Just search on their site.  Here's one offering - HK Shea Butter.

 

~ hello kitty cherry blossom ~

~ essence face mask ~

Hello...Glowy Skin // Reviewing Hello Kitty beauty product - Hello Kitty Essence Face Mask.
 
Hello...Glowy Skin // Reviewing Hello Kitty beauty product - Hello Kitty Essence Face Mask.I bought these masks purely because of Hello Kitty and had pretty low expectation of their quality or effectiveness.  After one use though, I'm pleasantl…
 
Hello...Glowy Skin // Reviewing Hello Kitty beauty product - Hello Kitty Essence Face Mask.Essence // There's a stickiness from the mask's essence.  I thought this would be a case of say-no-to-the-mask, but then I took it off and waited ab…

To Buy Online // eBay and various lesser-known sites (try to check for authenticity).

 

share the love with a

hello kitty x character giveaway

Hope you've enjoyed this Hello Kitty tour!  I want to share the love with all of you...enter this giveaway using the Rafflecopter widget below for a prize pack that includes:

  • 2 x Hello Kitty Cherry Blossom Essence Face Masks (as shown in this post).
  • 1 x Hello Kitty Cherry Blossom Sakura Hand Cream (as shown in this post).
  • 4 x SexyLook Disney Princess Character Sheet Masks (One each: Snow White, Ariel, Belle, Sleeping Beauty). To see what they are, go to my Instagram feed @hulawithme.
  • Plus some surprise bonuses.

TO ENTER & QUALIFY

  1. Use the Rafflecopter widget below to enter. 
  2. Very Important! Be sure to follow instructions in the Rafflecopter widget to complete the 4 qualifying requirements.
  3. Also very Important! Entering your handle in the Rafflecopter widget does not count. You must follow and repost within Instagram app.
  4. Participants must be 18+ years of age.
  5. Giveaway, fake, or business accounts will not be considered.

DEADLINE + WINNER NOTIFICATION

  1. All entries must be submitted by 11:59PM EST (Eastern Standard Time) on June 12, 2016.
  2. One winner will be chosen at random and to be announced on June 14, 2016.
  3. The winner's name will be listed in this blog post & on Instagram post.  Winner will also be contacted via IG.  Be sure to keep your IG account in “public” mode to receive notification.
  4. The winner will receive prize pack as stated above.

DISCLAIMERS

  1. Please use caution when trying a beauty product for the first time.  Spot-test your skin first to test for any reaction.
  2. Winner is responsible for any applicable taxes and custom/import fees.
  3. This is not sponsored, endorsed, or administered by Instagram.
  4. By entering this giveaway, participants confirm that they are 18+ years of age, release Instagram and giveaway host of responsibility and agree to Instagram’s term of use.

Good luck!

 

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Skin Health Series 1.2 // Taking Skin Health Beyond Rituals & Products

// Part Two //

Taking Skin Care Beyond Rituals and Products - Improving Your Skin Health Through Food

 

Continuing our skin health journey in this part two of the Skin Health Series.  If you've missed part one, where I've discussed in length the "what" and the "why" behind a multi-steps skin care ritual, I'd recommend reading that first (check it out here).  It'll help you connect to today's story much better!

 

Skin Health Eating Habits: A change in mindset about your skin from just skin care to skin health will make a huge difference.

I also used to focus only on the skin care and the associated products.  Nothing wrong with that at all as they are integral parts of our overall skin health.  At the same time, I've learned that what we eat and how we live also play a key role.

Skin Health Eating Habits: "Healthy eating" doesn't have to mean going on a diet. 

Oh gosh, I love to eat and my favorite foods may not be considered super "healthy".  But similar to skin care, we don't have to follow the trend because the key is to create balance - Eating my beloved Asian desserts every night wouldn't be the best choice for me, so I balance it with fruits on most nights.  Remember, key word here is "balance"!

Skin Health Eating Habits: Become friends with your fruits and veggies and know how they are helping you maintain skin health.

A friend recently asked me if she should do a detox.  My own experience didn't turn out that great...I almost fainted at work!  I've since opted for adding more fruits and veggies to my eating habits as not to shock my body like that again.  The key here is the same as in skin care - Listen to your body!  For me, my body didn't like detox, so I look for a different way to cleanse my body.  I'll share some my of favorite foods along with their skin health benefits and super easy recipes that you can make! 

Skin Health Eating Habits: I want to be completely transparent about one thing...

I'm sharing my personal skin health journey with you and, same with skin care products, foods or habits that my body takes in well may or may not work for you.  Always listen to your body and cater to your own needs.  Also, always consult with your family doctor or nutritionist on any dietary needs or if you have any pre-existing health conditions. 

Skin Health Eating Habits: I hope you'll walk away with 3 key points from reading Part 2 of the Skin Health Series.

1. You start to think of your skin in terms of overall skin health that incorporates rituals, products and eating habits.

2. Always listen to your skin and your body. 

3. Skin health is a journey and there's no shortcut to it, but the rewards that you get along the way are simply priceless.

 

Ready to take your skin health one step further?

Let's go!!!

skin health super hero nutrients

As I was thinking about how I should write this post, I realize there are soooooo many nutrients and foods that have great skin health benefits and I can probably write a 100-pages blog post about them all!  But of course, who has the time to read that and I definitely want to give you something that you can easily absorb and, more importantly, take action on!  So I've narrowed down to these 3 "super hero" nutrients based on the foods I eat regularly and on the promise that the recipes are super easy to make.

~ 1. Antioxidant ~

Skin Health Super Hero Nutrient: AntioxidantWhy Do We Need It?1. I know we're all familiar with topical antioxidant from our favorite skin care products, and there's even greater benefits by absorbing it from its most active form, which is the kind …
Skin Health Super Hero Nutrient: AntioxidantWhat Are Considered A/O?1. There are 3 major A/O - Vitamin A, C and E. 2. Within each one, there are many different foods/veggies/fruits you can choose from.  3. What I'll show later on are some …

 

~ 2. omega-3 fatty acids ~

Skin Health Super Hero Nutrient: Omega-3 Fatty AcidsWhy Do We Need It?1. Omega-3 is more well known for promoting heart health, but the lesser known benefit has to do with skin health, too!2. They help maintain the health of cell membrane, which is …
Skin Health Super Hero Nutrient: Omega-3 Fatty AcidsWhat Are Considered O-3?1. You can get healthy dose of O-3 from seafood such as tuna and salmon.  That is the most common way of getting O-3, but other foods such as walnuts, flex seeds, and c…

 

~ 3. vitamin b6 ~

Skin Health Super Hero Nutrient: Vitamin B6Why Do We Need It?1. Vitamin B6 has many health benefits that sometimes indirectly affect our skin health (such as hormones, metabolism).2. For skin health, V-B6 helps us maintain good skin condition. &nbsp…
Skin Health Super Hero Nutrient: Vitamin B6What Are Considered V-B6?1. The list here is endless!  It covers whole grains, nuts, meat, seafood, veggies. 2. One I like the most is banana.  It's very universal as you can make a lot of di…

Now it's time to feed our skin some yummy goodness!

I'll be the first to admit that I'm a terrible cook!  Fortunately, my mom has some exceptional cooking skills and I occasionally figure out a way to copy some of her causally-whip-together recipes.  She's also probably the healthiest 60+ person I've known and it's because she understands how her food affects her body.  Despite our occasional disagreements, she remains my motivation in my quest to live a balanced life, inside and out.  Enough of my mushy stuff, let's move onto the fun part!

First, I want to share this chart with you - These are the foods I eat regularly and I dub them "Skin Health Super Foods" because they contain the skin health nutrients we've just talked about.

 
Skin Health Super Foods: Strawberries, Blueberries, Chia Seeds, Banana, Matcha, Carrots, Beets, Avocado, Fish Oil. They contain skin health nutrients Vitamin A, C, B6 or Omega-3 Fatty Acids.
 

Now that you have a good idea of what skin health goodness these foods provide, I'm going to share below how I incorporate them into my everyday eating habits! I promise you that these are very easy to make!

~ Chia seeds + blueberries ~

Perfect For // Breakfast, Snacks

Substitutions // Any toppings will work!  If you want protein, you can add protein powder or bananas.

 
Skin Health Recipe - Chia Seeds Pudding with Chia Seeds & Blueberries (Antioxidant).Ingredients:Honey 1 tspn, almond milk 1 cup, vanilla extract 1/2 tblspn, a dash of cinnamon, blueberries, quick oat 1/2 cup, chia seeds 1 tblspn.To Make This:1.&…
 
 

 

~ matcha + bananas ~

Perfect For // Breakfast, Snacks, pre/post workout snack.

Substitutions // You can use any type of milk.  I use almond milk because it's dairy-free.

 
Skin Health Recipe: Matcha Banana Smoothie with Matcha Powder and Bananas (Antioxidant + Vitamin B6)Ingredients: Almond milk 1 cup, honey 1 tblspn, vanilla extract 1/2 tblspn, matcha powder 1 tblspn, Korean grain powder (optional), 2 bananas, a hand…

 

~ carrots ~

Perfect For // Lunch, Dinner (with entrees or side dishes).

Substitutions // I would stick with carrots as the base and sub green carrots/radishes (if you don't like them) with tomatoes or melons.  You basically want at least two kinds of veggies to get a good flavor.  Note: Tomatoes are not suitable for people with GERD or suffer from heartburn.

 
Skin Health Recipe: Chinese-Style Veggie + Pork Soup With Carrots as Base Ingredient.Ingredients: Chinese herbs (optional), dried orange skin (optional), 2 dried dates, 6 dried scallops, 1 green carrots/radish, 2 carrots.// To Make This //1.  P…
 
 

 

~ carrots + beets ~

Perfect For // Lunch, Dinner (with entrees or side dishes).

Substitutions // I would stick with carrots as the base and sub beets (if you don't like them) with tomatoes or melons.  Note: Tomatoes are not suitable for people with GERD or suffer from heartburn.

 
Skin Health Recipe: All Veggie Soup with Carrots and Beets as Base Ingredients.Ingredients: Barley 1/4 cup, 4 carrots, 2 dried dates, 4 beets, 1.5 potatoes, 1/4 cabbage, 6 dried scallops.To Make This:1.  Prepare ingredients as shown.2. In an 8-…

 

~ avocado ~

Perfect For // Breakfast, lunch, pre/post workout snack.

Substitutions // You can use any kind of bread.  Also, you can switch out the toppings, but definitely stick with at least the boiled eggs.

 
 
 

 

~ strawberries ~

Perfect For // Dessert, snack.

Share The Love // This is a recipe by the fab Mary-June who runs Southern Meets Urban blog.  Mary-June is a nutritionist by training and a mom of twin girls.  She is always cooking up something in her kitchen and whipping up what I call magic with her Vitamix.  For more of her recipes, go check out her blog here.

 
Skin Health Recipe: Ruby Red Strawberry Sorbet with Strawberries and Bananas (Antioxidant and Vitamin B6)Ingredients: 2 Bananas (frozen), raw honey 1 tblspn, strawberries 1.5 cups (frozen), 2 pitted dates.// To Make This //1.   Prepare ing…

Many thanks

I had so much fun writing this particular post because I get to talk about foods I love!  I hope you've enjoyed it as well!! 

In full disclosure, the list of recipes here is a combination of my trial and error, my mom's homecooking and word-of-mouth from friends.

I've narrowed down the content for ease of reading, but if you have questions about anything in particular, comment below or email me...I'd be happy to help dive in further!

I also want to say thank you to all of you who have been super supportive of this blog and just want to send you lots of hugs and kisses!!! 


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