All My Favourite Books

Tuesday, 28 April 2020 at April 28, 2020

Weeks ago, I was still spacing out in the office, imaging what it would be like when Singapore finally enforces work from home measures. Today, it has already been 3 weeks since I started working from home. During this period of time, you may choose to see, focus, and even magnify the negative sides of this isolation measure. Despite being an introvert living in a first world country with many privileges (lol), what I dislike most is that I won't be able to see my boyfriend, and even my sister for two whole months. I dislike not being able to go to the gym, I was supposed to visit Switzerland next week, and I don't like not having the freedom to go out whenever and wherever I want. But no matter what you dislike about the current situation, what you choose to focus on creates your experience. Therefore, I choose to see and celebrate the many positives of this circuit breaker.



I think that one of the many perks of this circuit breaker is the sudden increase in free time which is getting more and more people to start engaging in activities and hobbies they didn't had the time for. One popular activity is reading. Therefore, for starters who are trying to get themselves to read more books during this period of time, I thought I would share with you some of my all-time favourite books to get you rolling.


Before I wanted to learn about spirituality, I didn't like self-help books and preferred fiction or 'storybooks' instead. I have a wild imagination (thus an overthinking mind haha) and reading storybooks really allowed me to put that wild imagination to good use as I would imagine how the characters look like. So for those of you who prefer storybooks as well, here are a couple of my all-time favourite!

How To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee

Even if you're not a bookworm, you'd most likely have heard of this book. In fact, that was the sole reason why I even picked this book up in the first place. How To Kill A Mockingbird is a story about a black man who is being accused of raping a white girl. The story is being told in the perspective of Jean, who is the child of the lawyer appointed to defend the black man. Occurring in the early 1930s, racial inequality between the blacks and whites, mainly discrimination of black people was still a huge issue back then. Therefore, the main story tells about how Jean's father chose to not let the race of the black man cloud and influence his judgement despite being mocked and pressured by the white people of the town. At this age, we're often easily influenced and I believe some of us even find the need to constantly please others by blindly agreeing with the majority. This book to me, perfectly shows that a popular opinion doesn't always mean that it's the right one and my favourite quote from this book is:

"The one thing that doesn't abide by majority rule is a person's conscience." - How To Kill A Mockingbird, Harper Lee.

As this is a very old book, be prepared to come across tons of olden days slangs and phrases. Because of that, I find that while reading this book, I had to Google the meaning of multiple phrases and words, but instead of viewing it as troublesome, I actually enjoyed learning some of the olden days slangs!

Kakfa On The Store by Murakami

I have finished reading a small number of Murakami's works, but Kakfa On The Store remains one of my favourites. For a non-bookworm, this book was rather intimidating for me to begin because it is so thick. But surprisingly I managed to finish it rather quickly as it was so intriguing, I just never wanted to put the book down after I pick it up. What I love about Murakami's books is how he made sure to describe every scene in details which kept my imaginative mind busy. Although I finished his book years ago, I still remembered how the library and the serene forest looked in my mind. Another thing I love about his works is how mysterious and mystical the plot is which constantly puts me in a confused state, but once you got it, the sense of satisfaction is worth it. The endings of his books are always abrupt which may bother those of you who have closure issues - like myself, and Sheldon Cooper - but I've learnt that it simply make things more interesting as I'd always go online and read up on different people's ending and analysis of the book.

Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom


I've mentioned this book so many times, I have actually thought of excluding it in today's post. But when I think about how much I love this book, I decided that it is worth mentioning again, just in case you still have not read it. Tuesdays with Morrie is another one of those books that you might have heard of despite not being into books. If you have not, then maybe you've heard of The Five People You Meet In Heaven which is another one of Mitch Albom's works. I believe the first Mitch Album book I read was The Five People You Meet In Heaven, which was really good, but nothing from Mitch Album tops Tuesdays with Morrie for me. This is a book that I finished in 2 days because it was so good I even read it on public transport (I have motion sickness). Tuesdays with Morrie is based on a true story involving the author Mitch Album and his professor Morrie. After being diagnosed with ALS, Morrie is slowly approaching death. During his final months, Mitch meets up with Morrie at his place every Tuesday as Morrie shares his perspective of the various key components of life now that death is right by his doorstep. This book not only conveys the true messages and lessons of our time here on Earth, but it is also heartbreaking and who doesn't love a book that can make you emotional...

“Love always win.” - Morrie Schwartz
“Don’t cling to things because everything is impermanent.” - Morrie Schwartz

As I've mentioned, I never used to like self-help books, but that was before knowing that 'self-help' is such a wide genre. My boyfriend reads self-help books as well and they are so incredibly different from what I read. Therefore, instead of calling them self-help books, I like to call them spiritual books instead. For those of you who aren't familiar with the terms 'spiritual' or 'spirituality', I get it. It sounds completely like some witchy-woo, psychic, connecting with "the other side" thing. But it's not. Spiritual books are books that remind us of our capabilities, our source, our power (not the witchy-woo kind), our purpose on Earth as spiritual beings. That being said, you don't have to be aware of what spirituality is, or the law of attraction, or how the universe works to 'be spiritual' or to be a 'miracle worker' or to 'vibe high'. There are people out there already performing miracles even without knowing all these terms. I however, need to be reminded of who I really am constantly, and so reading spiritual books is a great way for me to stay centred and awaken.

A Return To Love by Marianne Williamson

This is my all-time favourite spiritual book. When I first started this book, I felt a little uncomfortable because of it kept mentioning 'God', and 'the Holy Spirit', and 'Christ'. Despite growing up in a Christian family, trying my best to pray every night, being forced to go to church every Sunday and whatnot, I've never felt a connection with God. In fact, I've unknowingly developed a resistance towards these words along with Christianity. Nonetheless, I continued reading which made me realise that I had such a huge misconception about God. I've always thought that God is exclusive to Christianity and more importantly I've always thought that God is a judgemental old man who watches your every move and on judgement day when you pass, he'll send you to suffer for the rest of eternal as long as you did not believe in him or has done something sinful and didn't repent during your time on Earth.


A Return To Love perfectly highlights and explains why some of us have these misconceptions and resistance and it also tells me the truth, which is love.



What I love about A Return To Love is how it not only transformed my perspective and resolved my resistance towards God, but it is also a great book that reflects all the teachings of A Course In Miracles. I read this book when I was in a slightly darker place in my life. I had a lot of insecurities which made me feel like I'm not enough, less than others, unworthy, etc. But this book made me see that I am and have always been good enough and the amount of comfort it gave me during that period of time was immeasurable.

A Course In Miracles Made Easy by Alan Cohen


A Course In Miracles Made Easy is a book I have recently finished and it is definitely my second favourite spiritual book as of right now. This is another book that perfectly conveys all the lessons and teachings of A Course In Miracles. I own A Course In Miracles and even though I've had it for months, I just don't think that I'm ready for it. Thus, to help me ease into the course better, I thought I would read A Course In Miracles Made Easy to at least get a gist of what the book is about. Although both A Return To Love and A Course In Miracles Made Easy are both books that refer to A Course In Miracles, I would say that they are still two different books.



A Return to Love is more of an afterthought and reflection, while A Course In Miracles Made Easy is... Well, the course itself, made easy. What I love about this book is that it's easy. It's super easy to read and I love that it contains real life experiences of how the author and other people implement the course's lessons in life because sometimes, I feel like I'm struggling. Times when I lose my temper over small things, or times when I become petty or act like I don't have enough. Even though I try not to beat myself up about it, sometimes it's still disappointing to see how slow I'm progressing. In this book, I find that the author made a huge effort to highlight such moments and it made me learn how to see these moments with a new pair of eyes.

"When you cultivate activities that truly bring you joy, you establish yourself in the domain of the soul." - A Course In Miracles Made Easy, Alan Cohen.

The Power Of Now by Eckhart Tolle


The Power Of Now is another really popular book that you might have heard of even if you're not interested in the topic of spirituality. After developing a higher sense of self-awareness, I notice that I would always, always, find myself in either the past or the future. When I'm showering, I've almost never once thought about how the soap foams and how smooth it feels on my skin because I'm always reliving the highlights of my day, even if they're bad ones. When I'm in bed, realistically speaking, nowadays I'd always be thinking about my breakfast the next day, but there were also days where I would think about how much my skin sucks and how come I don't have clear skin, blah blah blah and these thoughts often caused me to lose sleep, feel anxious and depressed. Although there are numerous ways to practice spirituality, being in the present moment is by far the easiest method and this book basically tells you why.

You Can Heal Your Life by Louise Hay



Most of the self-help books mentioned above have been very comforting for me as with each book, I experience deeper inner peace. Being in alignment with what is, also really helped me during this circuit breaker and so I hope that if you're having a tough time coping with all the changes in this period, reading these books will provide you some comfort too.

Currently, I'm trying to finish the book Conversations With God by Neal Donald Walsch. Even though I have way more free time than before, it's still sometimes difficult for me to find the motivation to pick up a book and read because I'm always wanting to do something else. Therefore, for this book, I've started listening to the audio book instead which has been really helpful for me to fully utilize my time as I'm able to cook whilst listening, paint whilst listening, do my nails whilst listening, work whilst listening, etc. Thus if you're like me and you're always wanting to do something else instead of sitting there with a book, definitely try out audio books!

Labels: lifestyle, stress relief

Skincare Talk: The Relationship Between Your Mental Well-being and Your Skin

Saturday, 27 July 2019 at July 27, 2019

Clear skin is a combination of good skincare, a balanced diet, and a healthy mindset. 

Most beauty gurus often touch on skincare and diet, but many miss out mental wellness which in my opinion, mental health actually plays a bigger role when pursuing clear skin, than diet (while skincare comes first, of course).


I've talked about this a couple of times on my platforms, but in case you are still unaware, acne depression is a thing. Go on to r/acne, every single day there are at least a couple of people talking about their struggles with acne depression and how it affects their daily life. I was one of those people. I was one of the many people in this world who struggled with life, because of acne, because of my skin, because of my insecurities. I didn't even have severe acne but it's actually proven that it doesn't matter how severe your acne is. There are people who cancel plans because of one pimple and that is how you know that acne is running your life.

Labels: bodycare, face, lifestyle, skincare, skincare talk, stress relief, tips

Gifts for Her: Affordable Skincare and Body care!

Monday, 21 May 2018 at May 21, 2018

Birthdays, Mother's Day, Valentine's Day, Christmas Day, Anniversaries,... Too many occasions, too little gift ideas? Well, even as a girl, I too struggle at times to think of what gifts to get for all the women in my life, especially when I've been gifting them gifts for years. Over the years, if there's anything I've learnt about gifting gifts to women, it's that you can hardly go wrong with skincare and body care products, especially if they're from a reputable brand, of course. Nobody wants to put anything dubious on their skin. So today, I'm back with another gift guide which will include a total of 5 affordable, gift-worthy (and coincidentally insta-worthy for those insta-babes) skincare and body care products that will sure meet the standards of your receiver!



Did you know that our hands is one of the first places on our body that'll show signs of aging? Well, now you do. And if there's a common fear in all women, it's probably the fear of showing signs of aging. We moisturize our face and neck every day and night, so why not do the same for our overworked hands? First up on the list, I've got the 1. Lavender Hand Cream from L'Occitane (US$21).

I don't think any girl, or anyone really, likes greasy fingerprints all over their phone. Thus, this hand cream is sure to steal the hearts of all with its non-greasy and lightweight formula. Enriched with shea butter, this hand cream will bound to leave their hands feeling smooth and well-nourished.  Lavender is so effective for relieving stress and anxiety that some people actually carry around sachets of lavender to give it a little whiff when they're feeling overwhelmed. Since this hand cream is Lavender scented, it works just as well as a sachet of lavender. If you don't know yet, Lavender is one of my favourite scents when it comes to relaxing scents, and I can assure you that this hand cream smells incredible and non-artificial.


I love how huge this cream is compared to regular hand creams because it looks extra special, plus it's in this cool aluminium tube which gives off an industrial vibe.

We've got well-moisturised hands now, but how about the largest organ on our body? I used to be so lazy when it comes to moisturising my body, but after I finding a body lotion I love, I started using one religiously every night, and it honestly makes such a huge difference! The key to developing the habit is to find a body lotion that smells and feels incredible, so here, I have 2. L'Occitane's Aromachologie Relaxing Body Cream (US$38).



Although this body cream has a non-greasy formula, I personally prefer to use it at night because of its rich texture and 100% natural soothing scent (*no artificial fragrance used!). Made with a blend of essential oils along with sweet almond oil, this body cream is sure to help your girl relax with its comforting yet captivating scent. My favourite part about applying body lotions at night is waking up to ultra smooth and soft skin! This body cream also comes in this hefty glass tub which will look bomb in any flat-lays vanity.
If your receiver is already someone who's into moisturising their body, why not let her try out something new! You guys know I love my bath and shower oils, so it's only right that I introduce you once again to the goodness and wonders of a shower oil! Even though it's not very commonly used here in Singapore, there are actually a huge range and selection of shower oils available in the market. Being one of L'Occitane's most loved products... I feel like the 3. L'Occitane's Almond Shower Oil (US$18) is a safe bet.



This shower oil not only cleanses your body like a regular body wash, but it also hydrates and nourishes your skin with the almond oil. If you're new to shower oils, don't let the word "oil" fool you! Shower oils will not leave your skin oily at all after you've rinsed it off, but the thin layer of oil left on your skin, will keep it feeling extra soft, silky, and smooth for the entire day. Another reason why I love shower oils is that it never fails to make the bathing experience so luxurious and therapeutic. The subtle calming nutty fragrance makes it suitable for day and night use. Also, how cute is the packaging of this shower oil!


Enough love for the body, now let's go back to the face. No woman enjoys seeing her skin sag and turn wrinkly. Therefore, a firming skincare product is definitely a must-have in every woman's vanity. Glamglow has been making headlines ever since it entered the beauty scene, and it has been proven multiple times that their products are definitely worth the hype! So for my first skincare recommendation, I suggest treating your lady to an at-home-facial with the 4. Glamglow Gravitymud Firming Treatment (US$48)!



The Glamglow Gravitymud Firming Treatment is a hassle-free peel off mud mask, most suitable for all the busy #girlbosses (or #justanybusygirls haha) out there. Simply apply a generous amount with the mask brush provided and wait 20 minutes for it to dry before peeling it off. This mask is made to instantly leave your skin looking firmer and more lifted! The mask is originally white, but once it has dried, it will transform into a cool silver chrome shade - the perfect time to snap a shot for Instagram. If you're gifting this to someone older like your mum... Well, my mum is pretty old-school, so I think the colour-changing technology will really give her a fun and new experience!

My very last skincare recommendation is for those who don't even have 20 minutes to spare for a face mask, but still wants to pamper herself with a short, but effective mask session. Here I have the 5. Origin's Out Of Trouble 10 Minute Mask (US$25), and yes, like the name says, you'll only need 10 minutes for this mask to work its wonders.



In Chinese, "acne" are called "青春痘" (qing chun dou), direct translating to "youthful spots", because technically you only get acne when you're young. But acne is not to be confused with pimples! Pimples can still haunt you even when you're done with puberty. That said, even my mum have pimples occasionally and like I said, she's kinda old-school... So she actually uses baking soda to deal with them which I actually think might be too harsh. For all younger, oily girls out there like myself, pimples are a frequent uninvited visitor, but thankfully with this mask, it promises to effectively get rid of all the nasty oils, whiteheads and blackheads within 10 minutes to keep pimples out of sight. If putting it on her entire face is too much, she can also have the option of using it as a spot treatment!


And that's it! Those are my 5 skincare and body care gift recommendations for all the wonderful women in our lives. You can get everything on this list from Cosme-de.com, and while you're there, don't forget to input my discount code "thatxxrin15" for an additional 15% off all your purchases on Cosme-de.com!

Labels: bath, beauty, bodycare, face, review, skincare, stress relief, tips

Review: Introduction to Bath Oils (Aromatherapy Associates, Jo Malone)

Monday, 9 April 2018 at April 09, 2018

Unlike other countries, taking baths is very uncommon here in Singapore. Most Singaporeans find bathtubs a waste of space, a waste of money, and a waste of water. I've had the bathtub in my house for more than 10 years, but it was only until recently that I've learnt how to appreciate taking a bath.


To me, the most important thing to do when it comes to taking a bath, is to use the right products. Soaking in plain warm water is not relaxing, and not fun, at all. But soaking in good smelling, soft water that is good for your skin, is. I have a total of 3 products that I absolutely love to include in my bath. One, bath bombs. Bath bombs are amazing for softening the water, and adding a lovely colour to your bath. Two, bubble bars. Bubble bars and bubbleroons are best for creating bubbles and trust me when I say that you will never be able to achieve the same amount of bubbles using your regular body wash. Most bath bombs and bubble bars also contain ingredients and essential oils that will benefit your skin, body, and mind. The third product is what this blog post is going to all about because it's probably one that majority are not familiar with, and that is, a bath oil.


After I became obsessed with taking baths, I decided to expand my comfort zone by trying out new bath-related products, and that was when I stumbled upon bath oils on Cosme-de.com.


The first bath oil I fell in love with is the Aromatherapy Associates Deep Relax bath and shower oil. There are a total of 3 main ingredient in this bath oil. Vertivert, a grass often cultivated for its essential oil, known to have a grounding, soothing, calming and relaxing fragrance. Vertivert oil is also often use as a massage oil to warm and ease tense aching muscles. English Chamomile oil, known for it's comforting scent that will help relax your mind and calm your emotions. And last but not least, Sandalwood oil, that can help protect and soothe not only your body, but also your skin.

I love this bath oil, as you can see, I've already used up more than half of it. Like the name suggests, this bath oil helps me to relax myself whenever I'm feeling worn out, physically, or mentally as I find that the scent is very comforting and intense.


After I noticed I'm running out of my favourite bath oil, I thought I'd order a few more Aromatherapy Associates bath oil to stock up, and at the same time, try out a different scented one. Browsing through Cosme-de.com, I found 2 other bath oils.

The first one is the Aromatherapy Associates Support Lavender & Peppermint bath and shower oil. If you are a frequent reader of this blog, you might already know that Lavender is one of my favourite scents when it comes to relaxing. Therefore, I chose this as obviously one of its main ingredient is Lavender. Lavender is widely used in aromatherapy because of its ability to help reduce emotional stress and anxiety. It also improves sleep quality, which is great for people who suffers from occasional insomnia like myself. Lavender is so commonly used to help one relax that some people even carry a small pouch of lavender in their bag! The second main ingredient in this bath oil is Eucalyptus, another commonly used essential oil in aromatherapy. Eucalyptus has natural antiviral and decongesting benefits, and it is also able to aid in breathing, and even lymph circulation!


The next bath oil is the Aromatherapy Associates De-Stress Mind bath and shower oil. Juggling a full-time job, a Youtube channel, and a blog, on top of my social life and exercise routine, can be very stressful at times, especially when due dates clashes. Therefore, stress is something I deal with very often, and it is something that I honestly hate. Stress can lead to several other health problems and even break outs, which is why I keep in mind to go through my de-stress routine every now and then, even when I'm not feeling the most stressed out. I believe maintaining low stress levels is better than trying to tackle it when it has reached its peak. Therefore, when I saw that a de-stress bath oil was available, I immediately knew that I had to get it.


This bath oil smells fairly similar to my Deep relax bath oil, probably because they both contain Chamomile. It also contains 2 other main ingredients. Frankincense, an aromatic resin that helps to counter anxiety and trauma by encourage deep breathing. And Petitgrain, an essential oil obtained from the leaves and tree bark of citrus plants that is also effective for combating anxiety and relaxing the body.


The last bath oil is from Jo Malone, as I thought I'd give another brand a go too. I have been enjoying the candle I got from Jo Malone, so since then, it has left me with a good impression of the brand. Out of all the fragrance available, I decided to go with the Jo Malone Blackberry and Bay bath oil because one of my favourite Youtubers, Zoella, mentioned that this is her favourite scent from Jo Malone.


This bath oil has a fresher, and cleaner fragrance as it contains the fruity accents of blackberry juice. I find that this scent is also rather musky and woody, due to the addition of bay. With that, this is definitely not something I will use if I am looking for a relaxing, please-put-me-to-sleep bath time, but I'll most probably use it on days where I want to smell amazing for the day. This bath oil is also enriched with a mix of sweet almond, avocado, and jojoba oil which are oils best known for conditioning and hydrating the skin and hair, so be prepared to step out of the bath with smooth supple skin.


There are two ways to incorporate these bath oils in your bath. The first method is to directly pour a cap-ful of oil into your bath and simply soak in your oil-infused bath. Sometimes when I'm feeling really down, I like to go a little over a cap-ful to make the scent even stronger. The second method is to massage the oil onto your torso, or wherever that needs a little massage really, before stepping into your warm bath.

Got no tub at home? No worries, as there are other methods to use these oils. To use them in a shower, all you need to do is apply the oil all over your body, give yourself a little massage if you want to, before rinsing it off with water. The water will not be able to completely rinse the oil away, but it will leave your skin feeling moisturized and you will still be able to smell the oil when you're out of the shower, which is the best part. You can also dap a teeny tiny little drop of oil on your wrist for a hint of fragrance.


My favourite thing about bath oils is that unlike a bath bomb or bubble bar, the scent of the bath oils is really intense and it follows you even after you're out of the tub or shower. Whenever I use my bath oils, my entire bathroom will smell like it and even when I wake up the next morning, I will still be able to smell the scent on my skin. I also love how my skin feels so soft, smooth, and enriched with the nutrients and moisture from the bath oil.

If you're keen on trying out bath oils to help yourself de-stress, or relax, Cosme-de.com has a great selection of bath oils for you to pick the one most suitable for your needs. Bath oils are not the cheapest products, so make sure to utilize my discount code, "thatxxrin15" for an additional 15% off all your purhases on Cosme-de.com.

Labels: bath, beauty, bodycare, review, skincare, stress relief, tips, tutorials