Hello, I’m back!

How are you?

I don’t know what I’m going to post next in this blog after taking a month++ break, but I have decided what kind of topics I want to bring either for this blog, twitter, as well as instagram.

I still remember one quote I put on my new year vision board : set a dream, others will follow. If you set a dream, work toward it, everything will rearrange itself to match with you. Whether it comes as help or obstacles, it’s the prove that everything responds to you. Oh, okay, just a random thing that popped into my mind. Haha.

So last week, I joined a zoom webinar by GIRLS BEYOND (actually they held it for 3 days, since I had to work during Friday and Saturday, I was only able to join in on Sunday) : BEAUTY & BEYOND VOL. 1. For Sunday, we had Anugrah Pakerti (Avoskin), Lizzie Parra & Monica Christa (BLP) and Hanifa Ambadar (Female Daily Network) who shared many valuable and new things especially from their experiences in beauty industry.

The first session was "BEAUTY ENTREPRENEURSHIP 101 : 10 THINGS TO PREPARE" by Anugrah Pakerti (Avoskin Beauty). Many didn’t expect that Avoskin CEO is a male. Yet it proves that everyone can be anything in any field they love, since most of our people in East Asia or even Asia will associate certain occupation with certain gender. 

What I got from this first session :

1. You can be anything in any field you want, don’t limit yourself just because of your age, gender, background, major, or anything else.

2. You can work in beauty industry even though you didn’t take any major related to it. Avoskin CEO was first a Informatic Engineering major

3. Just do it. When you do it, everything will follow according to your action. When you don’t do anything, nothing will happen.

4. Building a business is not only about you and your brand, but the people around you and the society. You need to give positive impact to the society through your business.

5. Investing on people

6. Building strong team

7. Differences will enrich your team

8. Write your dream, make it your everyday fuel

Another thing that I got from this session is that I got new insight and view that there are still good people in the world that never give up working on their dreams for the better world, that local beauty industry has promising future since there are people who work hard and support each other.

The second session was "THE TRUTH ABOUT BEING AN ENTREPRENEUR - ESPECIALLY WITH YOUR SISTER" by Lizzie Parra and Monica Christa (BLP). It’s another insight about how if you build a business with your family (and/or your best friend). This session was more casual and fun since they share their experiences from 2 perspectives. They also shared about how to choose a business partner, important things in partnership and many more.

What I got from this session :

1. Whether you are connected by blood or anything else, in a business everything should be executed professionally.

2. Delegation can be a game changer! (the thing that I’m still resisting about – since I like doing everything all alone – asking for help is the last on my to do list lol)

3. Open communication!

4. Everything should be documented no matter with whom you work (family, friend, or new people)

5. Trust and boundaries

6. Everything will make sense in the end

7. We step into another level by facing challenges

8. The limit is only yourself, creativity is limitless

What I like from Lizzie Parra and Monica Christa is that they are such cute sisters. They talked openly about their business in fun way and I laughed a lot during this session. Starting from their childhood story, Lizzie Parra as MUA, she appointed her sister as CEO while she focuses on creative field, and then some advice to build solid team.

The last session was "SO YOU HAVE A VISION, NOW WHAT?" by Hanifa Ambadar (Female Daily Network). The schedule should be 90 mins long but it got super fun so when we realized we had spent almost 2 hours. Here we had Hanifa Ambadar shared her own journey building Female Daily Network, what she did to realize her dreams from nothing to something as big as FD now. She even shared her methods (and her favorite quotes) to build her business.

What I got from this session :

1. Don’t underestimate your dream, sereceh apapun itu (I’m sorry I don’t know the suitable translation for receh XDD)

2. God created us, human, with a purpose. Everyone has their own purpose in this world.

3. Dream – Vision – Goal

4. Saying no is important to minimalize distractions

5. Surround yourself with anything related to your dreams, so that you are reminded of it everyday

6. You know what’s best for you, people around you or your mentor will help you on a bigger view, the decision is still on you.

7. Show yourself, let other people know you and your business

8. Everyday you make progress even though you can’t see it

9. Don’t dwell on failure for too long

10. Dreams should scare you and you can’t see where the finish line is

It was a super fun Sunday with 3 valuable webinar sessions. I’m excited for the next BEAUTY&BEYOND event. This event is how life showing me that I’m not alone. I put something related to beauty industry on my 2020 vision board, then universe sent this event for me. It shows me that there are more good people in this world that are willing to help each other to build a strong local industry, to empower and to lift each other. We never know what happened behind a brand until they share their experiences, we then feel that we are all human. We have fears, doubt, and challenges. We are all the same, we start from nothing with anything we have, we can’t know what lies ahead, what opportunities available, what it all will be like in the end. We never know it until we jump into it. Someone said “you can’t go backward, you can only go forward” this morning. Yeah. Another positive message I got early today. 

I can't remember which session this was from. But I really like it : When we have faced several challenges, we can then connect the dots and we are able to understand what they all mean for our growth.

I hope this post will help anyone who visits this blog. Even though it’s only a word or sentence, sometimes a simple thing can be a life changer. See you on the next blog post. Keep living, keep loving, everything will be gucci in the end.

Sunlight is electromagnetic wave emitted by the sun which are infrared (IR), visible light, and ultraviolet (UV). UV is invisible light which brings strong energy, it has 3 different types that are UVA (the weakest yet the longest wavelength), UVB, and UVC (the strongest yet the shortest wavelength). UVC has the strongest energy and the most damaging for the Earth, but it has been absorbed by ozone in the stratosphere before reaching the Earth surface. While most of UVB gets absorbed by ozone, the rest can reach the Earth which is less than 1%, yet this has stronger energy than UVA.

UVA

Even though UVA and UVB have different wavelength, they both have damaging effect on human skin. UVA can go through skin dermis layer, causing tanning, DNA damage (lead to skin cancer) and photoaging. UVA which is 95% of overall UV radiation that reaches Earth surface is not as strong as UVB to directly damage DNA, yet it can trigger the oxygen radical forming and cause the DNA oxidation. Based on study by NYU School of Medicine, UVA can damage melanocytes, causing DNA mutation and forming melanoma. Melanocytes produce melanine to protect skin from UV radiation by producing dark pigment on skin. In severe condition, melanocytes can be easily damaged since they can’t repair themselves (compared to other cells in human body).

UVB

UVB only reaches epidermis (the outer layer of skin) causing burning and DNA damage. Even though it doesn’t reach the dermis, UVB which is 1% of overall UV radiation that reaches Earth can change DNA chain structure. UVB forms dimer that can change DNA structure from its original form, so the cells can’t work normally as it is. Each cell exposed by UVB can form up to 100 dimers. When there are too many dimers in a cell, then a cell will either die (because of dimer accumulation) or turn into a cancerous cell that grows uncontrollably.

Both UVA and UVB has the ability to form Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC) and Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC) which are the two most commonly found skin cancers on human.

UV Index

Based on FDA (Food and Drug Administration), the amount of UV radiation expose to human can vary depending on : geography, altitude, weather, time and reflection. The highest UV radiation is equator and places with snow, pavement, sand and water. We are suggested to wear sunscreen when UV Index reaches 3 (for easily burned skin or sensitive skin, it’s important to wear sunscreen even though UV Index points at 1) around 10 AM – 4 PM whether sunny or cloudy, since UVA can go through the mirror and cloud.

UV Index (Ultraviolet Index) first was introduced in Canada on 1992, then developed on 1994 by National Weather Service (NWS) and US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for outdoor activities planning and reducing excess amount of UV radiation related to health.

Categories :

1-2          : LOW

3-5          : MODERATE

6-7          : HIGH

8-10       : VERY HIGH

11+         : EXTREME

How can we protect skin from UVA and UVB?

By wearing broadspectrum sunscreen or sunscreen that mentions SPF and PPD/UVAPF/PA on its packaging. Sunscreen is substance applied on skin to shield it from UV radiation that causes skin aging (wrinkle and dark spots) and DNA damage (lead to skin cancer). Beside, sunscreen is the best skincare we can use to prevent any other existed skin problems from being worse, such as acne and acne scars.

SPF (Sun Protection Factor)

SPF (Sun Protection Factor) is the ability of a sunscreen to protect skin from UVB (burning). If our skin normally will get burnt after 15 minutes under the sunlight, then SPF 50 (with the proper amount usage) means 15 x 50 = 750 minutes. It can “delay the burning” up to 750 minutes. So, can we stay under the sun for 750 minutes? Nope. SPF only protects you from UVB. You have to still deal with UVA, baby.

UVB protection percentage :

SPF 15 gives 93% protection, means there are still 7% foton going through our skin.

SPF 30 gives 97% protection, means there are still 3% foton going through our skin.

Based on Cosmetic Chemistry, a book by Ayaz Mahmood Dar, sunscreen with higher SPF such as SPF 75 can’t give you 100% protection, meaning there are still some percentage of foton going through your skin. So, it can be said, SPF prevents or delays the sunburn and minimalizes UVB that goes through our skin.

PA (Protection Grade of UVA)

PA firstly introduced in Japan, adapted from PPD (Persistent Pigment Darkening) where in this method UVA that causes darkening or tanning is used. In this test, sunscreen with PPD 10 can protect the skin from UVA 10x stronger than without sunscreen.

PPD 2-4                : PA+                     (some protection)

PPD 4-8                : PA++                   (moderate protection)

PPD 8-16              : PA+++                 (high protection)

PPD >16               : PA++++               (extremely high protection)

Unfortunately, PA only uses + for its symbol, so PPD 17 or 20 will be both labeled as PA++++ as the highest level of this method.

UVAPF (Ultraviolet A Protection Factor)

UVAPF (Ultraviolet A Protection Factor) is actually another form of SPF that is used for UVA protection. It’s previously used in Europe. Colipa UVA Method is used by counting the amount of UVA energy that can go through sunscreen layer applied on plastic, not human skin.

Broad Spectrum

US or Canada products usually are labelled as “Broad Spectrum” that point out a product for its ability to protect our skin from UVA and UVB. 90% of total UV absorbed by a sunscreen product should be less than 370 nanometer, then a product can get this label. But, this method is said to be ineffective since all the sunscreen products that has weaker UVA protection can be sorted into this category.

Which sunscreen should we choose?

Anything. Product that is comfortable to use everyday. Please remember that, you can’t only see for how much SPF of a product has (that is actually UVB protection) but also the PPD/UVAPF/PA that protects our skin from UVA.

Inorganic Sunscreen

Inorganic sunscreen or physical sunscreen or mineral sunscreen is a type of sunscreen which doesn’t have carbon compound in its UV filters, which are Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide.

Organic Sunscreen

Organic sunscreen or chemical sunscreen is a type of sunscreen which has carbon compound in its UV filters, such as Avobenzone, Homosalate, Octinoxate, Tinosorb S, Tinosorb M, Uvinul A, etc. Or anything that is not Zinc Oxide nor Titanium Dioxide.

Chemical and physical sunscreen namings are actually inappropriate, since physical sunscreen is also consist of the chemicals (anything in this world is chemical), and chemical sunscreen is actually forming a physical layer to protect the skin. Since they have been named like that, you can call them with any names you like.

Both inorganic and organic sunscreen works by absorbing UV. Inorganic filters absorb some and reflect the rest. While the organic filters absorb and turn the UV into heat and inactivate it. The newer organic filters like Tinosorb M has the ability to reflect some of UV like inorganic filters do.

Sunscreen categories based on its consistency :

1. Cream

2. Lotion / milk

3. Gel

4. Stick

5. Spray

6. Powder

Choosing sunscreen based on skin types :

Sensitive skin :

1. Avoid products with PABA (p-Aminobenzoic Acid), Benzophenone, fragrance and oil

2. Find the label : hypoallergenic, for sensitive skin, soothing, mild, etc

3. the safest choice will be inorganic or mineral sunscreen with only Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide in it.

4. Choose a product with soothing ingredient such as Aloe Vera

Oily Skin :

1. Choose : gel or water based products

2. Avoid products with oils and fragrance

3. Find the label : for oily skin, non-comedogenic

Dry Skin :

1. Choose : cream consistency or products with moisturizing feature

2. It usually has : glycerin, hyaluronic acid, etc

3. Find the label : for dry skin, moisturizing, etc

Usage Suggestion :

1. Wear 15-20 before going out whether it’s sunny or cloudy

2. Re-apply after every 2-3 hours for general activities / outdoor, or every 40 minutes for activities with includes water contact, such as swimming. Read the labels for maximum protection.

3. If you need to, apply your acne spot treatment 20 minutes before wearing sunscreen.

4. Proper amount for sunscreen usage (to get maximum protection as its label) is 1 mg/cm2 or around ¼ teaspoon for the whole face. If you wear the sunscreen below the proper amount, you ca’t get the maximum protection as mentioned in the label. For example, when you apply sunscreen with SPF 30 in half of suggested amount, you may only get SPF 5.5 protection.

My Favorite Sunscreen Products :

Skin type : oily skin

Skin condition : dehydrated skin

Disclaimer : not sponsored

 Note : This is the English version of my last year sunscreen guide post. For Bahasa Indonesia version, click here >> Basic Skincare : Sunscreen

It’s not the end yet.

That’s the first sentence I put on my 2020 vision board. Just because I know, it is not the end yet even though everything seems stagnant. But then I realized that life is about ending and beginning. There are many endings and beginnings provided for us in order to grow. I used to fear the ending,  as much as the beginning, because it’s unknown. I used to hold everything that makes my comfortable life around me. That’s the natural tendency of living being, to preserve their existence and maintain what’s considered as balance. I might associate endings with painful things, so I don’t want to get it. I want to continue my current life without any problems. But the familiar and the known only make you fear the changes, you then remain the same, you don’t want to learn anything new, because you are too scared to dip your fingers into the unknown pool.

Recent;y I’ve been thinking more than usual. It might have turned into overthinking, but I know I will be okay. I try to understand who I am, what I want, and why I was born. Yes,  I always write positive things here, that everything is meant to shine because they have a purpose to be born in this world. But then, I came into a situation where I question myself : is this my purpose? Am I doing it right? Am I deceiving myself? Am I crazy? Why am I doing different things from majority of people around me? Are differences unacceptable? Can I live peacefully with my own self?

Yeah. I’m scared sometimes, of the unknown, of the possibility that I won’t be no longer doing what I love to do. What really important for me is freedom. The freedom expressing myself in any form I enjoy. That has been the blockage I face since my childhood. I’m now working with it, to heal the wounded part of me. That I can’t think of anything else.

I’m not questioning what other people decisions are. I’m not interested in judging other people’s life. That’s their rights to decide the best for them.

I appreciate everyone who shows their care to me, but I have set my own boundaries, that I’m the one who decides for my life, nobody else can. If my surrounding get hurt of my decision, I will move on to another place, so we will no longer hurting each other. That’s another ending in order to let another beginning to happen. I used to be scared of being alone, but as I grow up, being alone is the thing that I need to understand myself as much as the need of some endings in my life. There is so much unfinished business from the past that are needed to sit with, to end the old cycles that are no longer serving me for the better. I can’t do that while being with other people. I only am able to do that when I’m only with myself.

I’m questioning so many things to myself. It feels so overwhelming sometimes, but then I get to know myself more. “What are feelings? Why do they exist? Why do people argue? Why do people stay in the same toxic cycle? Is marriage a life goal? Was you born to only meet your significant other in this lifetime? What is the point of staying in a toxic relationship? Why can’t people move on?” and so many other questions. Again, I’m not questioning to judge other people, yet I want to know what path I need to take. The best path that is created only for me.

For now, I don’t want to think anything other than healing myself. I don’t  want to be asked whether or not I want to get married or something like that. I might change my mind, but it’s only me who decides to change it. Nobody else can change my mind, because they have their own mind to change.

As I tweeted before, this will be my last blog post before taking a (short) break. I need this break period in order to lessen the amount of things to do in my life. When I feel I have learned life-changing stuff, I will comeback to this blog to share it with you. I’m sorry I ended up typing anything that comes right into my mind when I open my text editor to write something in this blog. 

It should be a special day for everyone whose birthday today. I always like May, as much as I like February. Yet I have to decide to take a break in this month for the better. I really like this month. I might not post about May Highlight too if I need more time to be in this break period. Happy birthday to anyone who was born on May 16. You are so special that you were born in this day, because I recently see numbers 516, like everywhere. I wish you have a wonderful days filled by love and happiness, surrounded by those you love and who love you. If you accidentally come across this blog post, thank you for stopping by. I hope, at least one thing I have written here, can be the help you need whenever you find this.

In this case, I would say that it’s not the end yet. Not because I’m afraid of It, but because I don’t think I will end this blog. I will comeback surely, I have renewed this blog subscription too, so I won’t waste the money lol. Another message for anyone who needs it : please take a break when you feel you need it, or when your body signals something wrong happening. Listen to your body, pause for awhile to give it more love, then comeback with 1000% power.

Well. Take care. See you on the next post.

7 THINGS YOU CAN DO TO HELP FROM HOME

1. Use Yahoo! JAPAN

2. Browse using Ecosia

3. Choose online shopping

4. Buy products that join 1% for the planet

5. Don’t share anything unless it’s official

6. Consume and share good contents

7. Pay your bills and be grateful

1. Blog : weekly message new format, April Entries, domain renewal

2. #LearnWithMe Playlist

3. Book : Wherever You Go, There You Are by Jon Kabbat-Zin

4. Skincare empty : PURITO Green Level Buffet Serum

Another skincare that I emptied was PURITO Green Level Buffet Serum which is my favorite, since it works well and smells so good (contains lavender oils - if you have sensitive skin, I recommend the unscented one in white bottle). This serum contains my favorite niacinamide and centella asiatica extract that calm my skin (especially when a new acne is about to pop out). It works really well with my combination skin, my skin absorbs the serum quickly and it leaves my skin hydrated. Not sticky at all. It came with a pump bottle and it can be disassembled easily for the recycling process. PURITO is also a brand that supports environment and animals, you can see the label cruelty free on its packaging and how they choose the packaging material like this. I will definitely buy another bottle. Haha. 

5. Private Project : SNOW

6. Playlist : CLEAR, Princess, Who I Am, Again

8 Thing You Can Do to Glow Yourself Up

1. #DefineYourself

2. Shed that dead skin cells

3. Set boundaries

4. Express yourself

5. #FocusOnTheGood

6. Be gentle 

7. Try new things

8. Know that it’s not competition