Davines offers high-end hair products made in Parma, Italy. According to the company's website, Davines aims "to be the most beautiful and ethical company in the world."

I was first introduced to Davines products at the Mint Salon back in October 2015 and I have been in love with the brand since then. Below is a quick overview of my experience with the six products I have bought and used:

01. Dry hair has always been a problem I had to constantly deal with since elementary. I told my hair stylist, Nicole Mesquit, that I suffer from dry scalp and I was wondering if there is a shampoo she may recommend me. She went through the Davines' pamphlet and recommended that I tried the Momo line. This was the beginning of my love for Davines. I cannot remember the last time my hair felt so soft and flaked free after using a combination of shampoo and conditioner. I received compliments on how healthy my hair looked and how soft it is when someone touched it.

02. Is it the Momo Shampoo or the Momo Conditioner that is making a difference in the appearance of my hair? The shampoo helped controlled the flakes from my scalp but the conditioner helped kept it hydrated.

03. I bought the NaturalTech Purifying Shampoo after I realized that Momo was not helping me with my dandruff anymore. I expressed my concern to Nicole and she said that our hair do develop a tolerance to a product over time. She recommended me the Purifying Shampoo. Per the usage guide, the treatment should be used for twice a week for a max of three (3) weeks. For maintenance, use once a week for six (6) weeks. I bought the shampoo and switch it out with Momo after the 3rd the week. The Purifying Shampoo did the trick and it smelled amazing. My dandruff was gone and I was back to using Momo afterwards.

04-05. Minu Shampoo is one of Davines award-winning shampoo. It was Winner of Shelf Magazine's 2015 Self-Approved Beauty Awards. I bought this shampoo after I decided to bleach my hair and dyed it raspberry red. I wanted to makes sure that I was using a shampoo that would protect my colored hair so that I may enjoy the color a while longer. I personally love Minu for colored hair. I remember using Momo after I have colored my hair and I noticed the difference in the texture and appearance from using Momo versus Minu. Minu kept my color protected and made my hair look vibrant. A friend of mine also swears by Minu for her colored hair.

Minu Conditioner may not have won an award yet but I still love it.  I love the smell of the caper blossom extract and I honestly believe it is why my blonde hair does not look brittle. My younger cousin recently told me that my bleach hair doesn't look dried or brittle like her friends' bleached hair. I have been dying my hair with bright colors for almost two years now and this conditioner has helped me kept it hydrated and manageable.

06. I bought Melu Hair Shield for two reasons: 1) I have loved all the Davines products I have bought thus far, and 2) I wanted to curl my hair now that it is longer. It's a good product and I love the smell but I most likely won't be repurchasing the product. I feel that there are other similar products that does an equally good job from protecting your hair from heat damage at a lower price point.     

Saturday Morning Thoughts: Our differences

I always contend that I am special because I am different. I am different in my thoughts and actions from those around me. However, I know that I am not alone in my thoughts and actions. There are people out there who share similar beliefs as me -- I have just yet to meet them all in one place.

There was a time in my life when I thought I should change to fit in with others. But the changes I was making did not make me happier, instead it left me angry with myself. I thought I was changing to make me happy, but I was changing to please others. I quickly learned that I am happy with who I am even if it does not please every person around me. I will change when it feels right for me to change.

***

Every individual are different from one another but we also share similarities. I strongly believe that even though people may hold a different set of values and beliefs on how we should live our lives, there is one common denominator: we want to be good people.

Who is a good person? When is a person good (or bad)? What is the definition of good? Who decides the definition and the standards which we are striving towards? These are some of the questions which I continue to ask myself when I approach a culture which is foreign to me. 

We do not have to agree with beliefs which opposes those we hold, but we can learn to be tolerant and respectful of them. However, I would argue that a belief should be subjected to harsh criticisms if the belief becomes an excuse for a group of people to inflict harms on others.

We should strive to help one another than to harm each other, because we are more similar to each other than we may realize. 

Hello San Francisco Day 5-6

Why hello 2017. It was the first time I brought in a new year away from home and I loved it.

Day 5: December 31, 2016 -- the last day of the year. I woke up with a sense of nostalgia and joy. I looked back on the events of the past twelve months and realized how much personal growth I have done.

We visited Pier 39 at Fisherman's Wharf. I wanted to visit the Boudin Restaurant but the wait was incredibly long and we were all hungry. Instead, we opted for Swiss Louis Italian & Seafood Restaurant. Everyone decided to load up on carbohydrates since we would be drinking later tonight.

I bought a matte, gold sequin dress for NYE. This fitting dress was bought from Tobi. It was cold and the boys recommended that we wore flats, but I am not always a good listener to those advice.

The quick picture we took before we ran to our ride

The only picture we took that shows the back of my dress

Day 6: I welcome 2017 with kiss and a hangover. Daphne and I slept most of the day away until my flight in the evening. San Francisco was fun and I cannot wait to come back for another visit.

January 1, 2017 marks a new beginning. This year motto is OMG, I love myself. This year is about creating and taking opportunity that I was too afraid to do the year before. This year is about making decisions that would make me feel happier each day.

Hello San Francisco Day 3-4

We can grow up in a city and never explore the places others have traveled far to see.

Day 3: I originally wanted to visit the de Young Museum in San Francisco but opted to visit the Academy of Sciences when I learned that it is home to Claude the albino alligator. An albino alligator is a rare sight and I did not want to pass up the opportunity to meet him.

The Academy has a Thursday Nightlife (21+) but the event was not offered during the holidays. I was a bit disappointed as I heard that the Thursday Nightlife is fun for adults. I suppose there is always next time!

Can you spy the leaf insect?

[Honestly, if we wanted to visit the de Young Museum, we could have. Both locations are within walking distance of each other. We did not visit the de Young Museum since we had other plans after the visit to the Academy.]

We left the Academy without seeing the planetary exhibition show. We were all hungry and driving back into the city afterward would have been too hectic.

Later that night we went to Coin-Op Game Room on 4th Street. I did not take any photos at the bar but I loved its atmosphere. The menu is designed like a comic book and they had vintage arcade games along the walls. The bar also had card and board games which patrons can play with. We played Cards Against Humanities and laughed our heads off with the cards we put down.

Read reviews of the bar on Yelp.

Day 4: I wanted to see the cable car in San Francisco and so we headed to Union Square. The line to jump on the cable car was extremely long. I decided that I only wanted a picture standing next to one. The man was kind to stop the car so we that we could quickly snapped a photo.

We then walked around Union Square looking for a NYE outfit for Daphne and had Senor Sisig for lunch. I later met up with Nedy (Daphne's mother) in the evening and we went out for a massage.

I believe I should schedule for a massage once a month. Everyone should pamper themselves after dealing with the stress in our daily lives.

Hello San Francisco Day 1-2

My friend Daphne and I met 3 years ago when we studied abroad in England. We both went to UC Irvine; she majored in English while I dual majored in Business Economics and Psychology. Despite our different majors, taking separate courses, and living in separate flats, we became close friends in the three months we spent in Europe.

I have not seen her for about a year and half since she moved back up to Northern California for work. We always talk about meeting up and traveling together again. Since I have never properly explored San Francisco (I have only been up in SF for weddings and temple visits), I told her that I would love to visit her and the city for my year end travel.

My visits was from December 27 to January 1. I had 6 days to explore the city.

Day 1: On my first day, we visited Chinatown in San Francisco. I read that San Francisco has the biggest Chinatown in the United States. The shops are quite different from the ones in Los Angeles. We had fun walking around.

We then visited City Lights. The bookstore has been described as "a place where booklovers from across the country and around the world come to browse, read, and just soak in the ambiance of alternative culture's only "Literary Landmark." Read more about the bookstore history here. 

I also wanted to see the Fairmont Hotel Gingerbread House. The gingerbread house is two-story tall and is made from real gingerbread cookies and candies.

Our last stop of the day was Twin Peaks. The hills overlooks the city and sight is even more amazing after sunset. 

Day 2: The day before I had told my friends that I wanted to have my fortune told. They mentioned that their mother reads tarot cards and that she may read mine if I asked her. I did asked her and she read my cards the next morning. 

My card showed that I have several issues to sort out. I have been hurt but I have to let go of the past in order to move forward. It was advised that I spend time alone to contemplate through my problems. My strong-willed personality will also help me sort through the issues but I have to learn how to balance my strength. 

After the reading, we started off our day in the city with lunch at the Palace Hotel. Due to the holiday season, we were not able to order from their regular lunch menu. The pre-set menu was delectable though. I had a butternut squash bisque and rib-eye steak. After, we went to the Original Ghirardelli Ice Cream and Chocolate Shop for dessert. 

I love history and learning about different cultures. Our plan for day was City Hall, the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco, and the Nutcracker Ballet at the War Memorial Opera House. 

The Asian Art Museum currently has a special exhibition on history of Rama. I enjoyed going through the The Rama Epic exhibition and would highly recommend it to anyone who is interested in one of Southeast Asia's classic literature and sacred tradition. 

It was the first time Daphne and I attended a ballet performance. I had asked her before my visit if she was willing to watch a ballet with me so that I can have an excuse to wear the dress below. 

Sisley Intensive Serum and Mattifying Moisturizing Skin Care

Before I begin my review of the two Sisley products I have recently bought, I want to discuss skincare. There is not a single product out there that absolutely works for everyone. A product that works well for me may not work well for others.

I have used low to high end products on my face. I have scoured forums and blogs to read other's experience with products that work for them. Some swears by the high end products while others believe the hefty price tag is not worth it--there are more reasonable priced products that deliver the same results. Personally, I believe a product is worth the money if it works for you. I have used many different types of moisturizers which ranges from $20 to $100+.

I have had the opportunity to sample the Sisley products before investing in the full size bottles. The products work well for me and I would continue to buy it if my budget permits (I cannot justify buying a $100+ moisturizer if I am struggling to pay rent and any necessary bills).

Now on to my review of each product:

Sisley Serum Intensif (Sisley Intensive Serum with Tropical Resins for combination and oily skin)

Most of my papule and pustule acne are cleared after using the serum for two weeks. I use the serum as a spot treatment for my acne per the recommendation of the Sisley representative as the sales counter. The serum is not heavy and it does not feel tacky when I put it on my face compared to other serums I have tried. However, I most likely will not be repurchasing the bottle since the positive effects of the serum is also evident in the moisturizer; and I am not willing to pay $178 for a second bottle.

Furthermore, the serum has a poor packaging design. The silver on the serum bottle extends beyond the rim and it is chipping off the bottle, and the chips are getting on the pump. Also, the pump does not extend to the bottom of the bottle so it's difficult for any products to be picked up and pumped out.

Sisley Soin Hydratant Matifiant (Sisley Mattifying Moisturizing Skin Care with Tropical Resins for combination and oily skin)

I have sampled their Tropical Resins Complex for combination and oily skin before and liked it. Recently, I was given a sample of the mattifying moisturizer and fell in love with it. The mattifying moisturizer is a new formula that came out about 3 months ago. It feels matte when I apply it on my face. The best part? My face is not super oily later on in the day. This is a plus for me because I tend to develop more sebum as the day wears on.  I will continue to invest in the moisturizer once my bottle runs out.  

Syringoma

Syringoma are benign skin tumor that derives from specialized cells related to sweat glands. They are the little bumps that usually developed around the eyes that won't go away with a good skincare regime. The cause of syringoma is still not understood but there appears to be a genetic link.

I started developing syringoma under my eyes when I was in high school. I initially thought the bumps under my eyes were acne, but they never went away when my acne started subsiding. My family physician originally thought that it was milia and told me that my only solution is to have them laser off. I later learned through my own research that I had syringoma. It was confirmed by a cosmetician that I went to last week that what I had was syringoma.

The cosmetician told me that my syringoma can be entirely removed in one session, and that the syringoma will not reappear in the same area once I go through the procedure; the procedure used was an RF ablation. However, syringoma may form in surrounding areas since my skin is prone to developing it.

In my research, I have read that there is not a cure for syringoma and it can reformed even after removal. But I decided to do some more research after my procedure and found that it is possible to eradicate syringoma without recurrence in the same area using RF ablation.

Before RF ablation

After RF ablation

8 days after procedure; 3 days after the scabs fell off