Lockdown Discoveries & Favorites

We are officially week five on lockdown here in Hawaii and the governor extended it to another month with some modifications. The parks, around 300 of them here in the 808 state, are now open but for exercise only. Same is true with the beaches, you need to be exercising or doing some form of water activity otherwise you’ll get fined. Elective medical procedures and low-risk businesses have resumed as long as strict protocols are in place. So we’re seeing a little bit of normalcy so to speak (read: Hawaii life on lockdown).

During this lockdown, I have discovered few favorites that I would like to share with you today (read: how to work from home during lockdown). Items range from lifestyle to beauty to fashion. Mother’s Day is coming up pretty soon so these can be great gift ideas too and with social distancing still enforced, a nice gesture of love will be very much appreciated by our moms during these trying times!

HAIR CARE TREAT FOR THE SALON-DEPRIVED

Salons are classified under the high-risk group here in Hawaii so plenty of us women had to resort to DIY. I cut and colored my hair as shared in this previous post and while it’s not exactly the color I was going for, I think I did a decent job while locked up. I had a chance to try this haircare line from Neuma Beauty and boy it was love at first wash! I received the moisture set and I can say that my hair loves it! First, no allergies and breakouts from this sensitive skin gal; second, it has very subtle fragrance; third, my hair feels soft and tangle-free. Neuma Beauty offers salon-grade products that are 100% vegan, cruelty-free, gluten-free and devoid of major irritants. You can read more about their ethos on their website. The products are reasonably priced and they offer free shipping on your first order. The hair masque is an absolute must-try, it’s easy to use and the result is immediately noticeable!

SKINCARE GADGET FOR THE BEAUTY JUNKIE

I discovered this nifty gadget early this year but didn’t get to use it on a regular basis until this pandemic. I go to my esthetician monthly and since facials are non-essential, I had to amp up my skincare game. While I don’t have a lot of comedone buildup, it doesn’t mean I’m going to neglect my pores. This ultrasonic spatula scrubber does an amazing job of “unearthing” trapped sebum around my nose, the area I am mostly concerned with. The vibration causes the grease and grime to detach but there’s a caveat: don’t overdo it or press hard against the skin. Just use it gently and allow it to lightly vibrate as you “scrape off”. It won’t replace the good old manual extraction by your esthetician or dermatologist but a handy device like this is something you can use in the interim. I use it right after shower with water still dripping from my face, followed with mask, then skincare. Think at-home facial spa. Anyone obsessed with “pimple-popping” videos will find satisfaction watching the trapped sebum gets scraped off, haha!

FACE MIST TO ADD TO YOUR SKINCARE

You can totally argue with me but between makeup and skincare, the latter is more important. I mean, aside from the obvious reasons, makeup is covered by you wearing a mask anyway. I’m glad to have discovered this face mist from Mukama Botanica, a luxury skincare line inspired by Hawaiian botanicals. Their products are completely vegan, cruelty-free and gluten-free. Although it comes in a glass spray bottle, note that it does not dispense as fine mist so it’s better to apply it either with a cotton pad or gently tap the product onto your face post-misting. The list of ingredients is very short, only 6 for that matter: Hamamelis Virginiana (Organic Witch Hazel), Rosa Damascena (Organic Rose) Water, Santalum Spicatum (Organic Sandalwood), Citrus Reticulata (Organic Tangerine), Rosa Damascena (Organic Rose), Arginine

• 

• 

FOOD SUPPLEMENT FOR THE HEALTH CONSCIOUS

Not too long ago, I shared my easy and ultra-yummy smoothie concoctions (I post more on Instagram) and while I prefer fresh vegetables and fruits, I know people who also like to add supplementation to their diet. I mean especially during this pandemic when people start to really pay attention to what they are eating. This green powder from BetterBody Foods lists spirulina, moringa, spinach, chlorella, carrot, apple, beet, tomato, orange, to name a few as key ingredients. No, it does not alter the taste of your drink at least based from my personal experience. It comes finely milled, certified USDA organic, gluten-free, lactose-free, soy-free, non-gmo, vegan and free of artificial ingredients. For this smoothie, I mixed 1 teaspoon of green powder to my blended kale, orange and banana drink.

• 

• 

CHIC FACE MASKS FOR THE FASHIONAHOLIC

Can you believe I snagged these animal print masks for a little over $20 for three pieces? Look, aren’t they a showstopper? The only thing is if you have small face like I do, you need to clip the mask to your headband or it may fall off your ear. The shipping was fast too coming from California to Hawaii. You may remember me posting this photo on Instagram wearing this mask when we went for a quick walk at the park last weekend.

• 

• 

HANDMADE ACCESSORIES FROM LOCAL BUSINESSES

I’m all about supporting local businesses even before this pandemic. 70% of Hawaii’s economy is driven by small businesses and as a small business owner myself (check out my shop), I can totally relate to the financial loss this pandemic has caused us. So when I saw a quick ad on TV that some of the local businesses launched an online shop via Popup Makeke to help support them thrive, I immediately purchased this pair of earrings made from koa wood. They have a wide selection of vendors that sell anything from lifestyle to food to fashion. The shipping was quick too and because I want to help more, I bought my mother’s day gift from them. I will not say what it is because my mom reads my blog but it’s definitely coming her way soon. Made in Hawaii, proudly Hawaii.

• 

I hope you found these helpful! Stay tuned for my next post featuring this pretty tie-dye outfit!