This is it, blogspace! We've officially hit the half of 2020 although it did feel like the months April and May didn't exist. It just came and went without a sound - literally because it was so quiet outside thanks to the Covid-19 pandemic. But here I am, trying to piece together what I've been up to in the past months, especially since I've had to quit my job for my own safety. This is something I'd love to look back on as I grow older and remember that this too, shall pass.



April marked the first official month of lockdown life, and most of my friends experienced breakdowns because they found it hard to detach themselves from work. It became the month where most people graduated from being instant noodle novices to MasterChef wannabes, and pictures of Dalgona coffee (or whipped coffee) took social media by a storm. If you must know, the trick was a 1:1:1 ratio in instant coffee to sugar and water, paired with a whole lot of patience.



As I've mentioned, everyone became MasterChef wannabes - myself included. In April, I learned to make the burnt cheesecake that miraculously became one of the most popular desserts through the lockdown period. It included a lot of cream cheese, some milk, and a 1-hour step-by-step tutorial via video call with my brother who's a professional chef. Thank God for WhatsApp video calls.

I think the most of my month was spent on beautifying my island before I realized that I didn't have half the artistic mind that all my friends have, so I've resigned to accepting my 3 star island forever. In the words of my other half, my island just looks like a blob of green. I'll take it. This was paired with bits and pieces of Upwork assignments that I'm very thankful to have because with every article I write, I'm reminded that I could still afford groceries. So has it really just been work and play through the month of May? I guess so.

I do think however that the lockdown brought out the best in my other half and I, simply because we had no choice but to be stuck together 24/7. We've learned even more about each other in these 2 months, having to work and make what little of our space work for us. We've officially set up a home office for him now, while I still work off the couch on my makeshift laptop table. It's the lifestyle everyone has been hoping for - to work from home, but I don't think anyone's really wanting it anymore. So when exactly will we all get back out there into the real world and into a new normal? We may never know, but hopefully when things get better...so will it be for my job hunt situation. But until then, I'm just going to pop back into my blob of green.

• The device is really tiny. It stores so easily, I sometimes forget it exists in my bathroom. I also pray my other half won't throw it out by accident.
• It does feel like the device has gotten rid of most whiteheads and bits of blackheads on my skin, though I don't see remarkable changes to my pores. The curved edges also makes it easy to get to hard-to-reach areas of your face, which brings me to the next point.
• It cleans the corners of my nose so well, it's actually amazing. For reals, the corners of my nose has probably never felt THIS clean ever. I feel like I can now throw my pore strips away, because let's be honest, those things are not exactly good for your skin.
• I haven't gotten a pimple in the past month, which is a feat since I've arrived Amsterdam.
• The silicone bristles are really soft, so soft it's almost therapeutic to just run your fingers through them when you're not using it.

• The device is expensive. It retails at €49 (Approximately RM 250) so it's not something everyone could afford off the bat. For those looking to buy it in Malaysia, I believe you could try getting it from the Sephora website.
• The device is not compatible to all types of cleansers, but this is mainly for the care of the silicone bristles. You could find the recommended types of cleansers on the FOREO website, although I remember they've mentioned clay cleansers, exfoliators, and scrubs as the top no-no types.
• My skin feels slightly dry after the first week, so I skipped their recommended twice a day use. I only use the device at night, and this gives me the opportunity to make shower time feel like a short facial session.