They say that the sum of the whole is larger than its parts and I find this especially rings true when I receive a carefully curated box (of goodies.). I’ve gotten a lot of subscription boxes but this one from POPSUGAR is especially meaningful because it’s their 5th-anniversary box, and in a few months from now it would mark 5 years since I started TheAmbitionista.com.
(PS: And as a side note – POPSUGAR Must-Have boxes have been voted the best women’s Lifestyle box by My Subscription Addiction readers.
Aside from the fact that it’s their 5th anniversary – August’s Must-Have box is especially special also because it’s CEO Lisa Sugar’s 5th year curating her most favorite items. And the box contains some of her favorite items like the one below:
I especially like the First Aid 5 in 1 Bouncy Mask. I love how this mask enables me to feel like I’m pampering myself in 10 minutes or less. Which brings me to back to the title of this blog post – Taking care of oneself.
Over the last 5 years of building TheAmbitionista.com as well as a couple of other companies I have started along the way, I realize that one of the things that we must do in order to thrive is to take care of oneself. Self-care is not selfish and definitely, it does not need to be excessive. Even little things like taking the time to put a mask on or enjoying a half hour walk, or even eating ice cream in a park, is important for us to rejuvenate and revive our minds and bodies.
And if it’s not clear – if you like subscription boxes I highly recommend subscribing to POPSUGAR Must-Have lol.
Use the discount code PARTY (expires 8/31) to allow your readers $10 off their FIRST Must Have Box
This blog post is created in partnership with SK-II. However, all thoughts and opinion are my own (as always.)
If you have been following me on my blog and/or on social media – you will know I have been using SK-II Facial Treatment Essence for years. Now that I’ve hit my 30’s and my travel has intensified, I know I have to ramp up my skincare routine and I’m happy to collaborate with SK-II for their #onebottleawayfrom challenge – to go on a journey of getting my skin to its best condition ever – even better than when I was in my 20s, I would say.
I have oily skin and with constant travel across continents as well as heavy makeup use whenever I’m in front of the camera or out at events, I needed amazing skincare that would combat uneven skin tone and help me achieve firm, radiant and smooth skin.
And the thing is even though my skincare routine might change depending on whether I am in Los Angeles, New York or even Kuala Lumpur – the one constant is my SK-II Facial Treatment Essence.
SK-II is a luxury skincare brand but if you’re a person who wants to maintain the health and beauty of your skin, it’s a worthwhile investment.
What I love about SK-II is that it is gentle enough on my skin that I never had any adverse reaction to it but it is effective – in the morning it cleanses, preps and moisturizes my skin; while in the evening it cleanses and rejuvenates my skin so I wake up looking refreshed. With SK-II, I definitely need less makeup in every day life, and my skin looks even better now than it did when I was in my 20s. I remember when I was in my 20s and I had listened to my older friends talk about how their skin changes when they are in their 30s – so I can’t help feeling a bit smug seeing how smooth, even and plump my skin is now. And I know it is because I use SK-II Facial Treatment Essence.
I am in front of the camera often -and with that comes many challenges but I’m happy that having beautiful glowing skin is not one of them. I am one bottle away from achieving my best skin yet.
Currently, they have these promotions going on SK-II.com:
And of course, I’d love to know your feedback after using it. Comment below or follow me on Instagram and let me know about your #OneBottleAwayFrom journey with SK-II.
This blog post is created in partnership with SK-II. However, all thoughts and opinion are my own (as always.)
Sometimes I feel as if women are constantly being pressured to accomplish something before their “expiration date.” Whether it’s getting married, having a child or changing careers, there seems to be a “before it’s too late” tag attached to so many aspects of a woman’s life.
But we are not cartons of milk. We as women – should not worry about getting older or becoming “outdated.” There is no reason to rush into a relationship – instead, enjoying life means being happy just being ourselves. We shouldn’t feel pressured into marrying someone, for example, just because we’re getting older.
Don’t get me wrong – I do believe that we should all seek love, long-term partnerships and have families IF the right partner comes along and IF that is what we want. What I don’t condone is a societal pressure that women are not complete and are will not be happy without something else completing them.
I remember when I was in my early 20’s – my girlfriends and I was at times pressured by well-meaning family members including our mothers – to settle down and find a man (and get married, and start a family, and so on and so forth) – because it’s what expected. I knew they believed that if we don’t have a spouse and children by a certain age, we’re doomed to spend the rest of our lives sad and alone – incomplete. It took me a decade – when I was in my early 30s – a stylish, strong and successful woman at the top of my field – to realize that happiness is something that comes from within – not from being with the right man or being married or not married. It’s about accepting oneself as is.
Because if we sought meaning and completion by having another, there is a chance we will always be dependent on others to make us whole. I don’t know about you – but I do not want to be dependent on anyone. Isn’t seeking happiness from outside the very thing that makes thousands if not millions of people so unhappy in the first place?
In short, I believe we should accept ourselves as we are, irrespective of age. I want to take care of myself for myself, not because I’m hoping someone will come along and sweep me off my feet.
Now that I am in my 30’s – I have stopped comparing myself to others around me and found pleasure (and ultimately peace and happiness) in the fact that I can take my own time in doing what I want for me. I wear clothes that I want, travel where I want and have hobbies that I want – not worrying about expiry dates or pleasing anyone else.
And I am happy that one of my favorite skincare brands – SK-II has been a prominent advocate of women being happy onto themselves – without needing anything (or anyone else) to complete them. I was drawn to its motto #changedestiny that women should always be themselves, which dovetailed with the way I was feeling. This is one of the reasons why you SK-II is one of the brands that I am proud to be an ambassador of.
Often, we’re afraid we’ve run out of time to make a difference and find love, but neither of these is true. We compare our lives so much to those around us when ultimately we should just be comparing our what we have achieved today to what we have yesterday.
You are ultimately the person you have to live for and impress. So go out there and make yourself happy. Take yourself on that dream date, and spend the time taking care of your body. It’s the power of positive being. And trust me; the universe will take note of your efforts, and your entire world will change for the better.
Watch this video from SK II and tell me how do you feel about being a modern woman and not having to care about ‘expiry dates’.
