TRAVEL | April 2016 Part IV | Boston

Hope you guys aren't sick of reading about my travel adventures yet, because this is a recap of the last - and arguably the best - part of my trip. Boston, baby!

Beacon Hill

So what was I doing in Boston, you might ask, when clearly I was just in Rotterdam for my dad's marathon, and partying it up (not really) in Amsterdam? Well - thanks for asking - we flew from Amsterdam to Boston because my dad also qualified for the 120th Boston Marathon. My dad is a prime example of age being just a number - he's over sixty years old and runs marathons and 100km ultra-trail races like they're nothing. Just two years ago, he and I traveled around Europe together for a month because he decided he wanted to run a marathon every week. Four marathons in four weeks - Barcelona, Rome, Paris, and London. Such a badass.

Anyway, I've always loved visiting Boston - I spent two of my four college thanksgivings there with my closest pals who all went to school in the area (whereas I studied in Washington DC). Being back in Beantown was quite a nostalgic occurrence, and I enjoyed every second of it. It was my first time being a part of the crowd at the Boston Marathon, and the city - especially the finish line - was buzzing with so much energy and excitement that it was hard not to feel like a huge interconnected community. Our family friends also came down from Toronto to support my dad - they have both known me since I was a baby - and it was amazing to be together again after all these years.

Boarding in Amsterdam to Boston

Pinkberry!

Boston Marathon Expo

My dad's name on the "wall of runners"

#Boston2016 #RunBold

Beacon Hill

Chinatown

Faneuil Hall Marketplace

Inside Quincy Market

The central atrium

Sunrise on race day

Race day at Boston Common

Daddy Sit near the finish line

The 120th Boston Marathon finisher medal

Celebratory dinner at Ruth's Chris Steak House inside Boston's Old City Hall

That's a wrap, guys - my adventures in Rotterdam, Kinderdijk, Amsterdam and Boston! These two weeks have been an absolute blast, and I am so happy and proud to be able to support my dad and also see the world together!

I'm actually thinking about doing a few travel posts recapping all the places and adventures I got up to with my dad on all his previous marathon trips. Hopefully you guys will see that soon.

Stay tuned for a massive makeup and beauty haul - I'm talking Sephora, Colourpop and more! Meanwhile, check out my previous Rituals and Kiko haul if you haven't already!

HAUL x FIRST IMPRESSIONS | Kiko Milano

Alright guys, don't judge, but up until a few weeks ago, I had no idea that Kiko was an Italian brand. I had always thought, assumed, that it was Japanese (I didn't know the full brand name was Kiko Milano), and thought to myself, ain't nobody got time to hunt around for those! Then cue my trip to Amsterdam, when I chanced upon one of their glorious stores near Dam Square.

I've only heard positive things about this brand, so naturally I took full advantage and tested out pretty much every single thing they carried in the store. After two hours, I walked out of the store with just six products - that shows restraint and discipline, my friends. Trust me, I could've filled my entire backpack with Kiko products.

Extra Sculpt Volume Mascara | Long Lasting Stick 38 | Natural Concealer 04 | Gossamer Emotion Creamy Lipstick in 107 Mocaccino | Gossamer Emotion Creamy Lipstick in 109 Amaranth | Glossy Dream Sheer Lipstick in 204 Warm Rose

The first thing I gravitated towards were the lipsticks - look at that packaging! The pictures don't do them justice, guys. You press the button on top and the lipstick bullet comes out of the casing, you then twist and apply, and snap it back into the casing until you hear that satisfying click. Ugh, so gorgeous, I can't get over it.

Gossamer Emotion Creamy Lipstick in 107 Mocaccino | Gossamer Emotion Creamy Lipstick in 109 Amaranth | Glossy Dream Sheer Lipstick in 204 Warm Rose

Gossamer Emotion Creamy Lipstick in 107 Mocaccino | €10.90 
This was the first color I swatched on my hands, a pretty mauve pink - boring, I know - but I'm a sucker for these neutral shades. All these lipsticks are super creamy and apply like a dream, and smell a bit like vanilla cupcakes. Mmmm.

Gossamer Emotion Creamy Lipstick in 109 Amaranth | €10.90
Now this shade just screams my name, but I had to resist and instead picked this up for my sister. As someone who doesn't own too much makeup, I thought this would be a flattering and wearable berry shade to have in her collection. The more I look at it, the more I wish I had picked up one for myself too. Sigh. 

Glossy Dream Sheer Lipstick in 204 Warm Rose | €10.90 
As soon as I saw the word glossy in the name, I knew my mom would prefer this formula over the other ones - she loves lipsticks with a bit of moisture and shine. This is quite similar in color to my shade 107, but glossier (duh) and a bit more sheer.  

And because two of these were gifts for my mom and sister, I actually thought ahead and swatched the testers in the store instead of having to swatch their gifts. Give yourself a pat on the back, Shirley. Well done.

107 Mocaccino | 109 Amaranth | 204 Warm Rose

Extra Sculpt Volume Mascara | Long Lasting Stick 38 | Natural Concealer 04

Extra Sculpt Volume Mascara | €8.90 

I distinctly remember Kathleen from KathleenLights (gorgeous human being, btw) raving about this because she declared it her favorite mascara of all time. That's huge! I've tried it a handful of times so far, and unfortunately I can't say the same for myself. The biggest gripe I have about this is the size of the wand - it's massive. I can't apply mascara without getting it on my eyelids, but maybe that's just an issue with my eye shape. Formula-wise, it's nice and buildable, and my lashes do end up looking quite voluminous. However, it does smudge on me by the end of the day, so I would suggest going for the waterproof version if you want to give it a try. 

Long Lasting Stick in 38 Golden Taupe | €6.90 
These long lasting eyeshadow sticks were calling out to me in the store, and I tried really hard to venture out with a shade that I didn't already own. I failed. This shade is a gorgeous taupe-y brown with flecks of shimmer, and I wore it out to dinner that very night after the haul and there was no creasing and smudging whatsoever. A winner.

Natural Concealer 04 | €5.50
Since color correcting has been all the rage lately, I decided to try this green concealer to help with the minor redness around my nose and to cover up blemishes. I'm happy to report that it's working great so far! I dab a bit on my problem areas, slightly blend it out, then apply foundation on top of it. Flawless.

Long Lasting Stick 38 Swatched | Blended out | Natural Concealer 04 Swatched | Blended out

Wait, I'm not finished! While playing around with the Golden Taupe eyeshadow stick, I found that it looked suspiciously similar to the Urban Decay 24 Hour Eyeshadow Pencils in Juju and Rehab that I had just mentioned in my April Favorites. Lo and behold, they are 99.9% exact dupes (which confirms I did indeed fail, miserably). Golden Taupe can look exactly like Juju or Rehab, depending on the light. In fact, the best way to put it would be if Juju and Rehab had a baby, it would be Golden Taupe. Everything from the shimmery finish to the lasting power is the exact same. Can I get a woot-woot?! I love discovering dupes!

Urban Decay JuJu | Kiko Golden Taupe 38 | Urban Decay Rehab

Hope you enjoyed this haul! Let me know what your favorite Kiko Milano products are!

PS. Just found out, after writing this post, that Kiko Milano is available in Hong Kong. Oops. So if you also live here and want to give these a try, there are stores in Time Square and Harbour City!

TRAVEL | April 2016 Part III | Amsterdam

Amsterdam has been on my wanderlust list for many years - canals, markets, architecture, museums and so much more - and it took me a few moments after stepping out of Station Amsterdam Centraal to accept the fact that I was finally here.

The city is pretty much exactly how I imagined it would be - beautiful and alluring, with blue skies and the sun reflecting off the tree-lined canals, and big intersections crisscrossed with narrow alleyways, dominated by the bustling bicycle culture that proves why Amsterdam is the "bicycle capital of the world". The city is mapped out in the shape of a fan, with canals and bridges forming concentric segments outwards from the city centre. Everywhere we went was so wonderfully picturesque that it was tough to say goodbye after our four day visit. The city is also unique in the sense that it's a melting pot of religions, culture, sex and drugs - where else in the world can you visit the Biblical Museum, the Anne Frank House, the Sex Museum, the Van Gogh Museum, the Jewish Historical Museum, and the Erotic Museum all in the same city? 

(And trust me, watch where you are going because it is so unbelievably easy to be navigating the streets and alleys looking for Chinatown, and find yourself instead in the heart of Amsterdam's Red Light District. With your dad. And his friends. And they're starting to ask questions. Awesome.)

Strolling down Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal on the first morning

Damrak Avenue, the main street leading from Amsterdam Centraal into the city center

Hopping on a canal cruise (such a tourist, I know)

View of Church of Saint Nicholas from the cruise

The corner of Reguliersgracht and Herengracht canal, where you can catch a view of 15 of the city's bridges all at once

Visiting the Van Gogh Museum 

Trying out Holland's #1 Fries (pretttty tasty, I'd say)

Lovely dinner at De Goudvis Club

De Goudvis Club again the night after - my dad couldn't get enough!

Possibly the creamist, fluffiest, most amazing whipped milk ice cream I've ever had in my life from Banketbakkerij van der Linde (my dad and I had this twice a day, no joke)

Shopping, shopping, shopping

The famous Dam Square

Incredible steak from Haesje Claes, one of the oldest Dutch restaurants in Amsterdam that's been open since 1520

Sunrise on our last morning

See you again, Amsterdam. You were incredible. 

Another one checked off my bucket list!

HAUL x FIRST IMPRESSIONS | Rituals Home and Body Cosmetics

The morning I arrived in the Netherlands, I immediately went online to look up - what else - beauty brands, or more specifically, Dutch beauty brands that seemed worth trying out, with products I wouldn't be able to get back home. All my research directed me to one brand - Rituals Cosmetics. And boy oh boy, a ten second scroll through their website was all I needed to make a beeline for the nearest store (#sorrynotsorry).

Founded in 2000 in Amsterdam, this luxury store sells everything from bath and body to fragrances and clothing, with its main inspiration rooting from nature and eastern traditions. The products are made only with "natural, renewable and organic ingredients", are never tested on animals, and carry quite a reasonable price tag. What more could a girl ask for?

I visited a total of three Rituals stores (two in Rotterdam and one in Amsterdam) and was taken aback each time by how wonderful the stores smelled and the overall aesthetics. I was offered tea upon every arrival (I'm so fancy, you already know) and allowed to wander and do my own thing without anyone bothering me - can I get a halleluuujah. There's a sink in the middle of each store that lets you test out the bath and body products, which is such a brilliant idea because I ended up leaving with six different bath and body products (oops), but half of them are gifts, people! I also picked up a mini home fragrance, and because I purchased (easily) over 40 euros worth of products, I was gifted with two travel sized skincare products for men and a Rituals cosmetics bag (all of which my dad swiftly claimed - rude).

Disclaimer - I am terrible at describing scents (they're all either fresh, fruity, or musky) so I'm just going to leave it to the pros aka Rituals' website. 

The Ritual of Karma Shower Foam | The Ritual of Karma Shower Oil | The Ritual of Tao Shower Oil 

The Ritual of Karma Shower Foam | €8.50 | 200ml | Limited Edition 

"A limited edition foaming shower gel, specially created for the Ritual of Karma. The gentlest shower foam your skin has ever experienced. Combines the sweet floral aroma of White Lotus with the refreshing power of Bergamot for a special summer feeling." 

This was the first product I tested in store because I was told it was limited edition, and you know us girls - limited edition = MUST BUY. But this turned out to be my favorite scent out of all the shower products they carried. It's sweet and girly but also has a hint of musk, and the foam really lathers up and feels nice and soft on the skin. I loved it so much I picked up this one for my sister, and the shower oil version for myself. Unfortunately, my sister didn't love it as much as I did - she found the scent a bit too overpowering, but enjoyed the lather. So try it for yourself in stores! Also, this makes shaving so darn easy, and dare I say, slightly enjoyable?

The Ritual of Karma Shower Oil | €8.50 | 200ml | Limited Edition

"A limited edition of our shower oil, specially created for the Ritual of Karma. This soothing shower oil changes into a silky foam that leaves your skin wonderfully soft. Combines the sweet floral aroma of White Lotus with the refreshing power of Bergamot for a special summer feeling. This shower oil helps to prolong your tan by nourishing and hydrating your skin while you shower, ensuring your skin loses less pigment." 

I was told by the sales associate that the shower oil is a tad more nourishing and hydrating than the foam, and therefore would be more suitable for dryer skin. The oil lathers up (not nearly as much as the other version) into a silky foam in the shower, and does feel more hydrating on the skin and would probably feel the best during the colder months. Ditto on the shaving.

The Ritual of Tao Shower Oil | €8.50 | 200ml
"This relaxing shower oil transforms into a silky foam on contact with water, leaving your skin feeling wonderfully soft. The oil nurtures and hydrates your skin while showering. Combines the relaxing fragrance of White Lotus with the nourishing properties of Yi Yi Ren, an ingredient traditionally used in Chinese medicine."

I picked this one up specifically for my mom because the scent smells less sweet and a tad more luxurious, and the oil would be so much better for her dry skin. My mom is super picky about scents and beauty products in general, but to my surprise she loves it! She said it makes her skin feel super soft and she's scared to use to up too fast. Ah.. music to my ears.

Samurai Ice Shower Cooling Shower Gel | Brilliant Bliss Nourishing Ultra-Shine Shampoo | Miracle Scrub Ultra Softening Hand Scrub

Samurai Ice Shower Cooling Shower Gel | €8.00 | 200ml

"Cooling shower gel with organic bamboo and Japanese mint. Enjoy a long-lasting cooling effect. Organic bamboo and Japanese mint nourish and cool the skin. Specially designed to use after sports and in warm weather."

I wanted to pick something up for my boyfriend that he would like and actually use, and this product was perfect. It is seriously cooling - I almost picked one up for myself when testing it out in the store - and makes your skin feel really minty and refreshed. The sales associate even recommended applying it before getting into the shower for the "ultimate" cooling experience. Apparently, the longer you wait before you wash it off, the cooler you get. This is perfect to use in humid and sticky Hong Kong weather, and so far it's a two thumbs up from the boyfriend!

Brilliant Bliss Nourishing Ultra-Shine Shampoo | €4.00 | 70ml (Mini)
"Nourishing ultra-shine shampoo containing Indian Rose and Shikakai, which is also known as 'fruit for hair'. Brilliant Bliss intensely moisturizes the hair, leaving it beautifully shiny and feeling silky soft. Combines Shikakai, a natural Ayurvedic conditioner that promotes healthy shine, with the relaxing properties of Indian Rose. Brilliant Bliss protects the colour of your hair, is ideal for daily use, and makes blow drying easy." 

This was the last product I picked up from Rituals while roaming the alleys in Amsterdam, and it's probably my least favorite product out of the bunch. Heartbreaking, I know. Don't get me wrong, the scent is lovely, as per usual, but I found the "shine" aspect of the product translating to "super oily" for my scalp. If you have dry, brittle hair, this might be good to try out.

Miracle Scrub Ultra Softening Hand Scrub | €11.50 | 75ml

"A hand scrub containing oils which are easily absorbed, restoring the skin's elasticity and moisture balance. Enriched with nourishing oils that are easily absorbed by the skin to restore suppleness and moisture balance. Enriched with Ginseng, the symbol of immorality. In Japan, Ginkgo Biloba stands for life and strength."

This might seem like my most useless purchase (just use your body scrub on your hands, Shirley), but I was so impressed when I tried it in the store. My dad (I had dragged him to the store two times) noticed it too, but he purposely picked the wrong hand when I asked him which was softer! He just didn't understand why I needed to spend almost 12 euros on a hand scrub. What do men know about beauty, right?! But he eventually agreed (very reluctantly) that this made a big difference.

Under A Fig Tree Mini Home Fragrance Sticks | Skincare Exclusives For Men Gift

Under A Fig Tree Mini Home Fragrance Sticks | €12.50 | 50ml (Mini)
"A natural and stylish way to make your home smell wonderful. Enjoy the sweet and warming aroma of Fresh Figs and the refreshing undertone of Copaiba. Will last for 2-3 weeks."

I haven't opened this yet, but in store this scent smelled the most appealing to me - quite sweet and refreshing but not too overpowering, which I find other fragrance sticks tend to be. And because of my puppy Riley, my apartment constantly needs help in the scent department. 

Skincare Exclusives For Men | Free Gift over €40 purchase
The free gift included the Samurai Shave Luxury Foaming Shaving Gel, Samurai Energize Energizing Face Balm, and a Rituals Cosmetics Bag. I didn't get a chance to take pictures of the products because my dad has them and tried them right away when we got back to the hotel in Rotterdam, but I'm happy to report that he is really enjoying it, and has actually requested I get him the full sized versions if I ever get the chance. That's huge! 

So that's it! I am really impressed with the brand (as are the people who got my gifts, except my sister, ugh) despite only having the products for about two weeks. I can't recommend it enough for those of you who want to try out new, luxurious bath and body products, or if you want to get gifts for your family and friends. They have so many different products and gift sets, so you'll definitely find something suitable. They also have a makeup line that I didn't get a chance to check out (unacceptable, I know), but rest assured I will be paying their stores another visit next time I get the chance.

Let me know if you've tried Rituals Cosmetics, and which products are your favorite!

TRAVEL | April 2016 Part II | Kinderdijk

During our last day in Rotterdam, we took a half hour boat ride out just 15km east to the quaint village of Kinderdijk, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with 19 pristinely preserved windmills that were built in 1740 as part of an innovative water management system to drain excess water and prevent flooding of the land.

Since its addition into the UNESCO World Heritage list in 1997, the windmills have been one of the most popular Dutch tourist sites. Lucky for us, it was possibly the most ideal, picturesque day for such an outing - birds were singing, the skies were clear, and the sun blindingly bright. If you ever find yourself in the Netherlands, this is a must-visit in my books! I'm just going to let the pictures do the talking...

Next up, Part 3 will be my adventures in the beautiful Dutch capital, Amsterdam! Until then..