BEAUTY | WHAT'S IN MY EVERYDAY MAKEUP BAG

In day to day basis, I barely wear a lot of makeup. It's either I go with soft-glam or no-makeup makeup look, there's no in-between. Today I want to share what's inside of my everyday makeup bag, means, the no-makeup makeup look products.

I only have five products that I use every single day, they are easy to use, not too much, and most of them are drugstore products.

Pond's Instabright Glow Up Cream in Pink Crush

I love this cream because it is a multipurpose cream: it can be your moisturiser, primer, or even highlighter. Although, because I have fair skin, it doesn't work well as a highlighter. I apply this cream after I put my moisturiser and sunscreen to add more moisture to my skin. It works well as a primer, smoothing my skin nicely.

Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Concealer in Fair

It's been my favourite undereye concealer for years! It helps to cover up my dark circles, brighten the area and of course, compliments my skin tone nicely.

Maybelline Fashion Brow in Gray

Instead of using a brow pencil, I prefer to use a cream product on my brow. It creates a softer and more natural-looking look. I like how this product is very easy to use but stay on my brows all day even when I wudū three times during the day.

Tarte Amazonian Mascara

I have quite a few favourite mascaras but I realised, over the last three months, this is the only mascara I've used. I've been using this mascara since two years ago, stopped when I discovered another mascara, then I came back to it again. This mascara is beautiful. It makes my lashes look longer and have more volume. It is also not a waterproof mascara so it doesn't hurt when I remover the makeup on the evening.

Lancomê Matte Shaker in #270 Beige Vintage

This lip product is so gorgeous, I can't get over it even I've used this for almost two years now. It is moisturising my lips, creates a beautiful, soft, velvet matte colour on the lips, and it can be used as a liquid blush as well! The colour, beige vintage, specifically is so natural. I got so many compliments whenever I use this product on my lips (and as a blush as well!).

What's your must-have beauty product? 

Love, Vera

BOOK | LITTLE WOMEN

As I'm doing a book challenge this year, February's book is a book that is also a movie which is perfect! In my previous post, I posted the Little Women movie review. I kinda planned everything together because believe it or not, I never read the book until now! 

So, I've finished one of the most loved books by Louisa May Alcott just a few days after I watched Gerwig's 2019 Little Women in the theatre (the movie premiered on the 7th February 2020 in Indonesia). Although I've watched Armstong's 1994 version, it is still fun to read and then watch the movie. There's always a new insight into it. 

Little Women novel is truly a masterpiece. Since its publication back in 1868, it has been described as a new kind of literature, a type of feminism and realism that's needed at the time. Even now, decades after its publication, the novel still is a literature that has to be read by everyone. 

As I kept reading, I found myself rooting for the March sisters. As they go through love and loss, they truly learn how to be little women while all they have is their mother, Marmee, because of their father off to war. 

I'm so in love with everyone here. They have reasons to do what they have to especially the March sisters. Jo is not only boyish and rebellious but also fiercely independent. Meg with the softness and kindness that filled inside her heart, make her the lady she always wanted to be. Amy who always stay true to herself and Beth who's quiet but has the loudest mind of all. I like how the four sisters represent a different type of human nature. 

This book is also underline so many things about family values which pretty rare to find in most of the modern literature. Marmee is a beautiful mum who allows her girls to do and pursue whatever they wanted to be despite what society would think about them. She encourages Jo to keep writing, Meg to follow her heart to marry someone she loves although he's not a rich man, Amy to pursue whatever she thinks the best for her, and Beth to keep playing music. She never forced them to do something for her, but the relationship she has with the girls is full of trust. In the end, the girls always put her as their priority. The kindness and love she teaches the girls eventually comes back to her. I love it so much. 

Alcott's way of writing is so poignant and elegant. It gives you an impression of how to be a normal family in 1800 and how it feels to be a woman at that time. The society only cares if a woman marries a rich man - or should I say, marry his name? So you can be wealthy and able to support your family as well. Little Women describes that very well but the characters are nothing like the society, that what makes this book is beautiful. 

However, I have a few complaints. As how the classic books go, this book also a little bit boring at times. There are some plots that I feel unnecessary to add and not exciting for the readers. I also found how perfect all characters are, especially Laurie. He's so annoyingly perfect - handsome, rich, smart, and has a beautiful heart. I want to see the characters have flaws - just like a normal human. 

Overall, I'm so in love with this book. By the end of the book, I found myself reading the last line twice, I was so satisfied but also wanted more. I highly recommend this book for everyone, despite the gender and generation, you'll find something valuable to learn from this story. You won't find a book like this anymore.

Love, Vera