Skintelligence + Skinthusiasm

When the year began, I mentioned that I am resolved to take care of my health better than I did before. That included applying sunscreens everyday even when I usually stay indoors. The OR lights also cause photo aging. 😓

I used to think that using moisturizers with SPF is enough. Plus, I have really oily skin so I did not want to use additional sunscreen because they make my face shiny. Five years ago, tiny sun spots started to appear on my face and I was only in my 20's. I tried various BB creams and lightening creams, but I was not really satisfied. The sun spots remained and even started to multiply. So last month, as part of my resolution, I started to use VMV Hypoallergenics Illuminants+ Skin Regimen followed by Armada Face & Body Shield 60 which also protects against skin darkening and melasma. Just what I needed. It's only been 3 weeks, but I can already see a lightening of my old acne scars and my skin tone's more evened out. I no longer use foundation to even out my skin tone. 😉

I wasn't paid to say these things. I'm just really happy with the results I'm having. I believe it's worth sharing. 😊

I Don't Know - Med School Parody of "Let It Go" from Frozen (University ...

This is so hilarious! Reminded me of clerkship. :)

App Appreciation: Litely

I've been putting off updating this blog for a while since I was reviewing for my written diplomate examination for General Surgery. I had it last Saturday. Thank you for the prayers and support. :) So now, while waiting for the results, I'd like to finally write something about an app I've been using for a month now. Let me just clarify, this is not a review. It's been out for a month now that there are a lot of beautifully written reviews out there already (complete with an interview with the maker himself). This is more of an appreciation post. :)

This app is Litely. It's a set of presets for editing photos. "Subtle tones. Made-well." It's designed by photographer Cole Rise. At present it's only available for iOS, I don't know if a version for Android is in the works, maybe? (Before the app version, Litely's been around for Lightroom, Aperture,  Photoshop and Camera Raw. It's similar with VSCO.) 

I love how beautifully made this app is. The design and interface looks so clean. I adore the minimal design.

Here are some of my own photos edited with Litely. :)

Subtlety is longevity. ~Cole Rise

Gone Too Soon

She was a very brave, dedicated and talented young woman, only 26, gone too soon. Repose en paix, Camille. My deepest condolences for her family and friends.

Camille Lepage was a French photojournalist doing a project in Central African Republic. Her body was discovered by French peacekeepers patrolling in the Bouar Region in the west of the country driven by militia from the anti-balaka group. An investigation is ongoing to shine light on the circumstaces of this murder.

In an interview with the photographic blog PetaPixel last October, Lepage spoke about her ongoing projects, You Will Forget Me and Vanishing Youth, that capture the violence of South Sudan.

"Since I was very little, I've always wanted to go and live in a place where no one else wants to go, and cover in-depth conflict related stories … I can't accept that people's tragedies are silenced simply because no one can make money out of them."

Of her life in South Sudan, she said: "The fact that I live in South Sudan for a while really helps. I live in a local house in a local neighbourhood, with no electricity and little comfort, so I don't see myself as being very different from them [local people]."

She ends the interview: "I'm currently in the Central African Republic, working on a new photography project there for a few months before heading back to South Sudan and Sudan." ~ The Guardian

Mary Had A Little Lamb

Because they are so cute. Just look at that smile!

Farm Life

Last Sunday my family and I went to our grandparents' for a visit and to celebrate Easter with them. I'll be posting photos of my grandparents later, first I want to show you what I saw on the farm. I live in a city and these got me all excited. :)

I missed this calf. He's only a couple of months old. Last time I saw him he was half his size. He's really friendly and playful, and loves to eat vegetables so they have to keep him away from the vegetable garden. Haha!

Here's a hen with her chicks. She laid and hatched her eggs in the neighbor's property. They locked her up and claimed her as her own. My grandmother fought for her and eventually got her back. My abuela is one tough cookie. :)

A crown fit for a queen.

/

Can you now guess what this is?

A baby pineapple. :)

Whom Do You Seek?

Text: John 20:11-18, Jeremiah 29:13

Mary.

She looked for Jesus even after she saw that the tomb was empty. I could only imagine what she felt at the time. Maybe she was afraid that her Teacher's body was stolen. I could imagine that she was confused. I could imagine that she had little understanding of what was happening. Peter and John reached and inspected the empty tomb, they believed and went back home. Mary Magdalene stayed and looked for Jesus. She did not know what was happening at the time, she did not know that the Son of Man must die but will rise again on the third day after his death. She looked for Him and found Him.

God does not hide from us. If we seek Him we shall find Him.

I love the prophet Jeremiah's letter to the captives in Babylon. Hebrews that were taken from their homes, their families, their country. They might have felt terribly alone, fearful, and sorrowful. But here is what the Lord told them through Jeremiah:

I say this because I know the plans that I have for you.” This message is from the Lord. “I have good plans for you. I don’t plan to hurt you. I plan to give you hope and a good future. Then you will call my name. You will come to me and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will search for me, and when you search for me with all your heart, you will find me. I will let you find me.” This message is from the Lord. “And I will bring you back from your captivity. I forced you to leave this place. But I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have sent you,” says the Lord, “and I will bring you back to this place.” (Jeremiah 29:11-14 ERV)

  Not everything or everyone we seek will give us hope. He is our hope. We can trust Him for He has plans for us, plans that will prosper us and not hurt us. When we don't understand let us seek our Lord with all our hearts, and we shall find Him.