Loreal Paris and Clearasil for Men

A few years ago, I picked up a moisturizer from the Loreal Paris line: Transformance Skin Perfecting Solution w. Vitamin C

I didn't expect to like it so much to write a post on it, but I did. As I got down to the last few pumps, I threw the bottle and its remains into "the stash" and forgot about it until the beginning of this month. Elizabeth Arden wasn't working for my very tired, very beaten-up, dark circles ridden, sleep-deprived summer skin and I was desperate so I rummaged over my stash of old products (so that is why I keep it) for a quick, hopefully miracle, fix. I was almost ecstatic when my fingers hit the plastic pump and I secured my fingers around the body of the glass bottle to keep it from running away. Two days later I was still using what remained of the solution, getting it out with the help of Q tips- applying it and rubbing it on my face with the same Q tip so as not to waste any solution during the transition from the Q tip to my fingertips to my face.

I had to surrender and buy a new moisturizer at the end of that week...
Hoping to find a replacement that can do similar wonders I forgone the other labels and went straight to the Loreal at the Duane Reade near my office. Remembering a conversation that I had with Biggie a few months ago I decided to start my anti aging regime then and there, as oppose to 25, when it may be too late.

The Age Perfect Double Action De-crinkling and Illuminating Treatment w. Elastin and Pure VitaminC



I love how it brightens my skin and adds color to my face!

But most exciting of all, and Rave 2[of 3], is the mask: Loreal Paris Dermo Expertise Advanced RevitaLift Mask.



I'm on my second box because I gave a few masks to my mother and instead of using it once per week (as directed on the box) I decided to try something new and use it every night [to help me relax and fall asleep as well as] to induce a more heighten response from my skin². It has been 4 masks already and I have seen a visible difference, so wonderful that I consciously chose to forgo makeup this past Friday, fully aware that I had to go to a meeting at the branch office that afternoon!


And last but not least, this past Monday I went to the Dentist. Later that night, a very drugged Moi picked up Moi's brother's Clearasil for Men Energizing Acne Scrub instead of hers and [here is the miracle] found that it worked just as well as her old favorite face scrub: St. Ives Medicated Apricot Scrub. I've used it since that fateful night and have never turned back!



Footnote:
1: Dual Action - The double pump combines two complementary formulas in just one application" Elastim, a collagen plumping cream that works to tighten skin and reduces wrinkles and Pure Vitamin C in a gel that helps illuminate and enhance skin tone.
2: Regimen - I've developed my own ritual for using the face mask and after reading what is on the back of the Transformance Skin Perfecting Bottle I believe in my own ritual even more. Here is what it reads:

Isn't that pure genius or what? Ok, I'm exaggerating a little bit here, but it is totally true! No two people have the same skin so why should we all follow the same distinct procedure. Of course, many people may respond to the instructions on the box since the whole point of testing the product is to see what is the best way that works for the majority. But not everyone fits into that category. So for the innovative few, or the few who are balls enough to step out of the circle [who also know their own skin] why not listen to yourself?

Here is what I'm doing: I'm going to use a mask for 7 days straight and then follow the directions on the box and use it once a week for upkeep. If I feel like the week is extra bad or extra long (midterms/finals/projects/whatever) I'll increase my "dosage" according.

With that said, please don't try to create your own regimen for drugs (ie:antibiotics - you have to take it for the full 10 days otherwise it doesn't work!).

Edit: What happened to the hottie? (scroll to bottom)
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The first "business card" I've ever received from a guy...

The first "business card" I've ever received from a guy was the evening of my graduation, high school graduation no less, I crossed the streets to the corner that housed Walgreens on Union Square and made a dash for the bus. As I was getting on to the bus I noticed this extraordinarily cute guy. He let me go in front of him (what a gent!), afterwards I took a seat in the middle of the bus facing the aisle, better for me to stare at him and his cute face. I remember the crisp white shirt and fitted jeans he wore, the classic style is always the rage - at least for me. Perhaps I looked older than my 18 years in my tight white sun dress and  blazer. Whatever it is, every time I looked up I caught him looking down at me. I eventually gave up my seat to two young boys who managed not only to kick me (on my white dress!) a couple of times but also left the whole bus smelling like McDonald French Fries. Nevertheless I smiled back as he gave me a toothy grin and his chubby younger brother sent me into a fit of warm smiles. Did I give up my seat out of the goodness of my heart? Yes. Did I also do it to stand next to him? Yes. My three inch stiletto strappy sandels brought me to a little pass his shoulders. Perfect height! As I stole stares and dreamed about days at the beach, I thought about my ex (bummer) I was just fresh out of a heartbreak and didn't want to involve myself in anything else (too chicken? yes) so I was quite satisfied just standing there and creating different scenarios about what kind of future we could have. One stop before I got off,

Excuse me.

I moved aside, obviously when someone says excuse me on a bus one would assume that the person saying it is getting off and you're in their way. So I did just that...

No, I didn't mean to ask you to move.

I was stunned silent, why is he talking to me? How should I respond? I took a deep breath and ... looked at his cute face, averting his eyes, and not sure exactly what he wanted from me. He continues,

Here is my card.

I forgot what else he had to say to me, something along the lines of to call him or contact him. After he left, I looked at the card and read the contents of it over and over again. This is what the card read...



My only complaint was the close proximity of the tables.


but it's fine because...

I was able to snap pictures of our neighbor's food... Hamburger with the lot (I originally wanted to order this but wasn't sure) The table also enjoyed many rounds of moo mary's, so next time that is what I'll be having!


Additionally, we also made some new friends who gave me a little "lesson" on what to order next time.


I hear ya!

I say: Get there early and make a reservation (only taken for parties of 6 or more) if you can. Although even a reservation may not be able to help you. As we made our way out, we were swamped by loyalists.

So what about the hottie?
When I was walking there, I imagined what I would do/say if I ran into him...
Scenario 1 - I'm standing outside waiting for a table with the rest of the hungry patrons. He sees me and recognizes me, offers me a table so I don't have to wait. But then I would have to decline, "I rather wait for my boyfriend."

Scenario 2 - I think I recognize him but I'm not sure. I introduce myself and bring up the story on the bus. He doens't remember me (either because he really doesn't or because he's mad I didn't call him). Both reasons would call for a very boring and sad ending so I immediately shook my head NO and proceeded to cook up another scenario.

Scenario 3 - ...

Honestly, the closer I got to the burnt cow the less I thought about him. Perhaps I also knew that the chances of seeing him would be far too slim. If I am doing my math correctly, that was 3 to 4 years ago. If he is still holed up in that place, unless he owns it, I would want someone far more ambitious.

Truthfully, I was more attracted to what the restaurant had to offer... haha!

It's called Shabu Shabu
(somewhere on 18th Avenue and 64 or 65th street corner)

Friday night was interesting to say the least, instead of having meetings in the office like we usually do we moved it to a restaurant where food and entertainment (only mine) were aplenty! It was after all my first shabu shabu experience....

Here I am with my Kiwi Juice. They start you off with a sweet herb drink that is meant to provide relief and "coolness" but after a while it just wasn't working. I found the kiwi juice alot more helpful.


I wasn't sure about what to order so instead my eyes wandered to the big "SUSHI" side of the menu instead. Their sushi is surprisingly good, in taste, for a Shabu Shabu restaurant. Here is the East Side Roll, Cater Roll and California Roll.


So, each person gets their own pot of soup in front of them. Condiments like the watercress dumplings, FJ Seafood Balls which have pork inside, cellophane noodles, lettuce, egg, taro etc. are free.


I started off with the dumpling and a lettuce leaf...


Thinly sliced beef for easier cooking...


I'm not sure what exactly this is but I think it's something along the lines of the cow's digestive tract...


Pork


Seafood


There is a station with a gazillion sauces for you to mix and match your own... I added hoisin, soy sauce and peanut butter = YUM!


While it was definitely an experience, I didn't find the food or the broth to be particularly good or interesting to say the least. What held me over was a iced grande white mocha at the Starbucks two blocks down.

The "meeting" finally ended four hours later, at 11pm. Talk about a long day!

Fromage d'Affinois (fro-mah-ZHAY dah-fee-NWAH)

(Read E's version of the story here!)

I was adament not to make this sunday one of those sundays, so instead of lounging around dieting, pigging out,mopping around and then travel to BF's uncle's pharmacy to "shop" which is usually proceeded by dinner at BF's place, we (my mom, younger brother, and I) went to E's house to do some summer cleaning and to pick out her dress for a wedding. After numerous hours, Starbucks, Champagne, Pate and the most creamy cheese ever, we finally had the winning number ensemble.

Here is to the day I discovered some really good cheese, thanks to E!


We spent another hour exercising (her) and eating (me) before we turned my grandaunt (E's mom) on her head to dislodge some cracker bits that fell down her "windpipe" ( I didn't know if it worked but in my RTE class at the American Red Cross, we turn babies on their back and whack them to dislodge the food. So it was pretty much a desperate attempt since she had been feeling uncomfortable for a good part of the day already).

I walked home, half typsy, half sedated but feeling quite good.

I noticed this restaurant when it was still in its early stages of construction but by its completion, the restaurant had already slipped out of my mind. I was reminded of this restaurant thanks to a friend, Jeff. He exerted alot of effort (a long email) to persuade us to join him for lunch at Ippudo on a Saturday, however I had plans and BF had a meeting, yes on a freaking Saturday! I was curious as to whether the restaurant could live up to its hype, so on a quiet Tuesday, we walked from Union Square to Cooper Union. After a loud formal greeting, much like what happens at Megu, we were promptly seated, no wait, yeah! and I immediately fell in love with the strange seats (Left), the decorations at our commune table (middle) and the individual booths (right) not to mention the bamboo tree-lookalike that loomed behind us and over our heads.   
 


Our waitress was very good at answering our questions, five minutes after sitting down we were ready to order.We gave up the classic to go for the modern version... Instead of Shiromaru NY (Original Recipe Tonkotsu Soup with stewed pork, cabbage and scallion) BF ordered the Akamaru Modern with an extra egg.

Akamaru Modern (Original Recipe enhanced with Ippudo's Special Secret Sauce)


and I the Karaka-men, which is like the Modern except with spicy meat sauce. I loved my version better because it was more flavorful. I asked for it to be "mild" but their degree of mild is "spicy" compared to other restaurants. The broth is so yummy, creamy and fragrant! I could sip the soup alone! The noodles weren't that outstanding, I compared it to the wonton noodles in chinatown except the noodles had a smoother texture, better for slurping.

Karaka-men (Original Recipe Tonkotsu Soup with spicy meat sauce, pork and scallion





A Menu Tidbit ...
Kae-dama: For an extra $2 you can get an extra serving of noodles.
Other extras include $2 for an egg, not worth it in my opinion ( I can get you 3 for a buck! ); park cha-su for $3 and other condiments that were also $3. I would just stick with what they gave you.

BF asked for the bill shortly after and I was extremely upset. What guy doesn't let his sweets-loving girlfriend order dessert. Provided that I sometimes forgo dessert because I'm so stuffed and that I did have a Final tomorrow, he could have still asked again. (He actually did ask in the beginning and I said I wanted dessert.)
I ordered Brown-sugar plum wine... I forgot the actual name of it but it's just plum wine that is a tad sweeter with ice in it. oh let's not forget the frozen raspberry and mint leaf. Very refreshing but not a good dessert to tie us over.



VERDICT - Excellent Broth, I'll go back just for the broth... maybe. But I wasn't quite impressed or blown away.

BF says - "I still like Soba-ya better!)

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DESSERT TRUCK

If you were reading, you would know that we weren't quite satisfied with dessert at Ippudo, so when BF found the DESSERT TRUCK outside of Cooper Union, he excitedly ordered a Vanilla Creme Brulee (made with real Madagascar Vanilla Beans is written on the menu)


Just look for yourself...


For $5, this dessert is wel worth it! It is very yummy. He had an obscene amount of fun cracking the fresh layer of burnt sugar....


OMG it's so good, he exclaimed. He only gave me 2 bites (well I was really full so whatever, you're forgiven honey!)