january favorites

new series to JDC!

let’s see how long i can keep up with this *new* series. today, we’re looking back at january and rounding up a couple of my favorite items. this is a pretty loose series and the items featured can and will be ANYTHING! i’m always curious about what other influencers and friends love so why not share my own on a regular-post-basis? alright alright alright. here we go!

side ramblings: lately, i’ve struggled with finding an affordable photographer. i thought about quitting this all together but a friend urged me not to. while i don’t mean to be cheap, i have to be cognizant that i actually lose money with each post. the truth is, i’m just not big enough to cover product + outfit + photography costs, let alone do this full-time. but that is okay! i do this because i love it. i love the creative elements that go behind each photo — each one has a story. and i’m okay where i’m at because my lines never get blurred between doing this for fun and depending on it as my sole income. it’s a good place to be and i’m glad you’ve stuck around for this long — thank you! but i am literally a one woman show here. and while it all looks easy, it’s not. i was hoping to get out there again and shoot some fabulous creative content. but i’m going to have to figure it out somehow. i may even get desperate and tripod it. can you imagine?! haha the laughs and stares. it’ll take some courage. but hey, i’m a go getter. i’ll make it happen if i want it bad enough. on another note, i checked out the lunar new year festival hosted by my friends @thepapercraftpantry x @shopkathyphantastic and those ladies did an amazing job putting on an event for all ages while supporting local asian-owned businesses. def check them out! i’m also leaving a list of all the vendors after the jump in case you’d like to browse & #supportlocal.

currently on my playlist: mon soleil by Ashley Park

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01 BIOSSANCE squalane + amino acid gentle cleanser

i love gel cleansers since they seem to be more gentle on sensitive skin. i find them less drying/stripping than foam cleansers even though they don’t lather as much. i purchased this a while back and like the consistency and how gentle it is. what i love about BIOSSANCE is the green-ingredients, the price point (super affordable), and the travel sizes (they aren’t rinky dink ones, they are small packaged beauty products in legit containers and pumps!). this gel cleanser is also avail for purchase at sephora.

02 Bondi Boost elixir hair oil

FINALLY!!!! a product to help soothe my itchy scalp. my gosh. i have tried so. many. products to help relieve the scalp. this was been a problem for me the past two years. one day you’re young and hip, then the next day you wake up to #scalpproblems. it’s greatttt (sarcasm). i’ve tried sachajuan, briogeo, davines, scalp brushes, scrubs, and nothing worked. i knew my itchy scalp problems weren’t from product build up because i rarely use product. it’s because my scalp was SO DRY. the only catch to this product is that it’s a PRE-WASH. yup. you apply it to your scalp and wait 15 minutes. then you shower. sometimes it can take two rinses to get it out. but now i feel relief and can go a couple more nights without having to wash my hair = TOTAL WIN. #aintnobodygottime. it goes perfectly with the Bondi Boost dandruff repair shampoo.

03 c/o True Botanicals renew pure radiance oil

face oils have been one of my favorite new-ish type of beauty product the past couple of years. thank goodness i got over the fear of oil-based products. True Botanicals is a #cleanbeauty company and their packing is well thought out — all their products are in amber bottles which means the contents are more stable. plus amber packaging always looks beautiful on the vanity 😍 the oil is orange-y and absorbs very well. i apply it as the last step in my night skincare routine to “seal” everything else in. it is also one of the #1 bestseller (for good reason) and the renew line help combat anti-aging and is for normal to dry skin. also, my friend @herfashionedlife uses this oil and her skin is beautiful! PS — they graciously also sent me the chebula active immunity serum (not sure how i like the smell yet but otherwise works great and non-irritating on my sensitive skin) and the renew nourishing cleanser (next in rotation!). i’m very curious and plan to try more of their products like the eye treatments, facial masks, body & hair care, oh and the lip balm!

04 Quince gold hoops in 14K solid gold

i stumbled upon Quince during a google search and i LOVE THEM. the transparent pricing is so good. they make brands that i thought had transparent pricing look bad lol. Quince is luxury items that are actually affordable; like really. these are 14K gold solid huggies that are perfect for everyday. these look exactly like the ones from Mejuri at $160. i’ve been wearing these quite a bit. and the great thing about 14K solid gold is you can shower with it. it’s meant to last forever and that’s what i’m investing in these days in terms of jewelry. i also purchased a classic cashmere tee and a silk skirt to try and they are 100!! you bet the cashmere cardi and jogger set are in my cart right now 😆

05 Michele 29 mm deco diamond watch in gold and silver

i have wanted a Michele watch for years. this was a little birthday present to myself. i love the different rectangular face with the diamond pave details along with the two-tone and roman numeral details. what’s not to love?! it will be a piece that will remain timeless #punintended. i couldn’t help myself 😁 this watch is also avail for purchase at bloomingdales.

catch y’all next time!,
JD

2022 Lunar New Year Festival Vendor Line-Up

fall skincare

it’s time for a #beautytalk!

i thought it would be good for me to go back to my roots on a beauty/skincare post so i’m here to prep your beautiful skin up for fall! as the temps drop, my combo skin (oily t-zone, dry-ish cheeks) tends to get more dry and some HH (hardcore hydration, i mean happy hours too) is needed! just as you change your clothes for the seasons, do the same with your skincare. different seasons require different types of clothing, just as skincare.

repeat after me: moisturize. moisturize. moisturize. to sum this post up in a few words, some key ingredients you can add to your fall skincare routine include: hyaluronic acid, lipids, retinols, and oils. but if you’re a nerd like me and need more explanations/ramblings since you want to up your skincare game, more after the jump!

side ramblings: it’s been hard trying to navigate social life again after half a year of hibernation. but hey, baby steps right? i’m trying to manage my anxiety better and get out there again. safely of course! i never thought that something that came so naturally to me would be difficult. i watched Work It this past weekend, super cute highschool dance team movie and i’m loving the upbeat happy soundtrack! linked one song below :)

currently on my playlist: let me move you by Sabrina Carpenter

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hylauronic acid //

hyaluronic acid is a sugar naturally found in our skin that holds water and keeps it hydrated. as we age, HA gradually decreases (gotta love aging!). applying HA can help draw/hold water to make your skin look more plump & hydrated. this is essential during the fall months when we’re subjected to heaters and wind that dry out our skin. the two serums i interchange are:

  1. Dr. Barbara Sturm hyaluronic serum — this has a hefty price tag associated with it and for the price point, i was expecting life changing results. that did not happen as i near the end of the bottle. i won’t be purchasing it again solely based on price point. but hey, if you’ve got money to blow, by all means give it a go! it is a non-fragranced clear serum in a dropper bottle.

  2. SkinCeuticals hyaluronic acid (H.A.) intensifier — this a light opaque muted reddish color (nothing scary looking) in a dropper bottle.

i tend to go through anything with HA pretty quickly. i think it is because of the serum consistency and i think my skin “eats it up” so i use a lot of it. but it’s also important to note that these are also light enough to use year-around.

heavy moisturizer //

note: heavy doesn’t always mean greasy. greasy isn’t my style.

  1. SkinCeuticals triple lipid restore 2:4:2 — gosh, i LOVE this stuff. this thing REALLY works. i cannot go any fall season without it. you can feel it seep into your skin and it feels heavy-good without the greasy-ness. if there is one thing you are thinking of purchasing from this post, let this be it! it’s my BFF in the fall months and random patches of dryness that pop up during the year. i use this in the AM and it is a non-fragranced white cream consistency in a jar.

  2. TATCHA dewy cream c/o — the dewy line is my favorite from the TATCHA line. TATCHA was one of my first brands into skincare and they still hold my heart! it isn’t as “thick” as the SkinCeuticals triple lipid but this one feels light enough to use year round and is a lightly fragranced light purple cream consistency in a jar.

retinol (plant-based) //

retinol is something i’ve always been on the fence about. my skin is pretty dang sensitive so anything harsh i usually stray away from. retinol is for anti-aging. it’s supposed to help reduce lines and wrinkles by increasing our collagen production (also, did i mention that also decrease as we age? haha). plant-based retinol started popping up in the past year or so and in my research i found that this naturally derived version is better for sensitive skin. so it was time, plus i’m not getting any younger! they usually recommend using retinol products during the winter when you are less exposed to the sun as retinol is active and can make your skin more “photo-sensitive.” i only use retinol at night.

  1. BIOSSANCE squalane + phyto-retinol serum (not pictured) — this is a light pink/salmon cream in a glass pump bottle. it has a slight fragrance to it but dissipates pretty quickly.

  2. Drunken Elephant a-passioni retinol cream (not pictured) — haven’t tried this one so it’s an honorable mention & DE products are usually on point.

oil //

if you’re hesitant to put oil on your face, trust me when i say i feel you. WHY would anyone want to put oil on their face? but fear not my friend. oils are/will become your BFF, esp in the fall. i use oils only at night and as the LAST STEP of my routine. oil will always be your last step to seal everything in.

  1. Drunken Elephant virgin marula luxury facial oil — this absorbs really well and is a non-fragranced clear-ish oil in a dropper bottle.

  2. BIOSSANCE squalane oil (not pictured) — i purchased this recently and i’m a pretty big fan of this brand. their main focus is on one ingredient: squalane. squalane is another element that we naturally produce but as we age, it decreases. it also helps retain moisture. i really like BIOSSANCE because of how green the products are and the price point is pretty affordable. can’t wait to try this one! it is a non-fragranced clear oil in a pump dispenser bottle.

misc & optional //

  1. TATCHA dewy mist c/o — because why the heck not?! mists are great when you need a little pick me up, esp after a plane ride (what are those anymore btw?) or when you’re feeling extra bougie.

hope y’all enjoyed this skincare edit!,
JD