Changes

What has changed over the past few months since I temporarily moved out and started living on my own abroad? Yes, I am phrasing it in such a way because I don’t want you to think these changes I am about to share are entirely brought about by the geographical location, which of course, is a factor mais pas que.

Change #1: Make Up

At 30’C, my makeup would fade away even before I step out of our house back in the Philippines. So, I eventually gave up. At the very least, I’d put on powder, lip gloss, mascara – just one or two of these but not the entire ensemble.

Taking advantage of the cold weather here in France where my makeup would last longer and also spending sleepless nights looking at YouTube make up tutorials, I, little by little, purchased make up items here and there (mostly in Sephora but also in Hema, Saga and over-the-counter items like Maybelline in supermarkets). At one point, I became so obsessed, especially over lipsticks – to the point that I wouldn’t mind the 24 EUR-worth of transport fee from USA just so I could get my hands on those ColourPop matte lipsticks (and Nyx, too which, fortunately, has its physical store in France).

Change #2: Skin care

I usually have facial cleansing every month back home in places like Let’s Face It (though never again), Skin Story (which closed down) and most recently, in my fave derma at Lilac St. Marikina City. Even with this, my zits won’t stop from popping out even if I’m +/-  ten years past my teenage years. It’s my pores, they’re just way too big.So again, taking advantage of the cold weather, alongside the need to hydrate my skin because the terrible winds just keep drying them up and the fact that I regularly have makeup on, I need to give my skin some TLC. Except that I found European (Western) brands too harsh for my Asian skin. So, I bought with me some items from Human Nature (PH). Since I didn’t have enough time to think about what I needed to buy while I was home, I had items shipped from Korea (to France huhu shipping fee kills me!) because the only Korean brand I know they have here is Tony Moly (they’re only starting to appreciate the Korean way of putting on makeup and skin care) and most of the items I wished to have are found in Face Shop and Etude House.Another store I frequently visit (but extremely expensive huhu sorry wallet), is Lush. I love their products – natural and not tested on animals!

Change #3: Cooking

Yes, I gained a lot of weight. Not from eating rice but because of all the bread, butter, pasta, pizza, cheese and sweets.  Not too long ago, I decided to buy a second-hand oven and blender (from leboncoin.com, France’s OLX) to force myself to try getting better in the kitchen and not just relying on easy-to-cook meals and delivery. I’ve been sharing the meals I have been preparing over Instagram with the hashtag #CookingWithLeniM – couldn’t get more generic than that! So far, so good!Another influence is B who had to go on a diet for health reasons. To make things easier for him, I researched and prepared a few healthy meals for him for three straight days. I went back home and sort of wanted to give it a try myself. Now I’m in week two of this healthy eating and lifestyle. I hope this continues!I can’t wait to go back home and prepare these meals for my family!

Change #4: Hair

I’ve always wanted to change my hair color into something eccentric but never got the courage to. Last year, I had half of my hair blond (ombré effect). Because I was getting more and more frustrated of the fact that university life is so carrée and doesn’t permit me to be creative, I took it to my hair and just colored it pink and blue – and loving it!Another reason is B calls me his licorne (unicorn) and dyeing it this way is a way to personify that image (since I can’t and in no way will I ever attach a horn in my forehead).

Change #5: Feelings (Logic over Emotions)

Ever since I went away, I feel like I’ve become detached from my emotions. But I think this topic deserves an entire post for itself so I’ll skip it for the meantime.

These are the major changes I could think of as of the moment. I’m sure in the next few days, I’d realize more of it and would eventually write part two of this series called Changes – more so when I leave for good and go back home!