The Spa at The Shelbourne Experience

by Lani

10 out of 10 recommend visiting the Spa at The Shelbourne! I had a magical experience there as a birthday treat. Happy Birthday fellow Geminis. ❤

Customers of the spa are allowed to arrive an hour earlier than their appointment, no time more prior, to use the facilities like the steam room, sauna, and pool. In the locker room, each customer has a locker set up with their name on a charming little handwritten name card.

I used the steam room and sauna before my appointment. I did the anti-aging collagen facial. My esthetician was super warm and kind and massaged my neck, shoulder, arms, and scalp about three times during the hour-long facial. Afterward, I was given a platter with delicious honeycomb ice cream, mixed berries, and cranberry juice.

I loved the kind customer service and cleanliness of the facilities. The lounge room is grand and vintage but due to its age a little downtrodden. The lounge overlooks St. Stephan’s Green.

Still, I’ve been to several spas within the United States in different states and a few internationality, I know sometimes spending more does not guarantee a relaxing or pleasant spa experience, unfortunately. But this spa is legit, worth every cent.

My facial amounted to around 173 USD (no tip asked, included), and I personally think that is a modest fee given the facilities, length of facial, and post-facial snack.

I took a picture of the lobby and have also added some google searched pictures of the lounge areas (I left my phone in my locker). ❤

Cheap Eats in Dublin – Brother’s Dosirak

by Lani

Brother’s Dosirak is an inexpensive Korean fusion hole-in-the-wall restaurant. It’s inside of a Chinese supermarket. Food cost ranges from about 6 euros to 15 euros. There are actual Korean men making the food right in front of customers. Fair warning, there’s no restroom here and the nearest place to use the restroom for free is McDonalds or the mall in the neighboring shopping area.

I ordered Dakganjong chicken wings and Korean BBQ beef. The wings were fantastic, perfect flavor and crispness. The taste reminded me of the quality I’m used to eating in Koreatown, Los Angeles. The Korean BBQ beef tasted bland, chewy, and nothing like Korean bbq — I don’t recommend it. My friend ordered bibimbap and loved it. I highly recommend getting wings, especially the ‘special spicy’ or Dakganjong, maybe with a side dish. They have complimentary self-service water for customers and a 10% discount for students with ID. ❤

Study Tips 📚📚📚

by Lani

I’m a music lover and for years I tried to listen to music as I study. I get bored easily and wanted to make studying feel like a party with music ranging from hip-hop to piano instrumentals. 🥳🥳🥳But I’ve discovered loud music may help me begin my study session but it often distracts me from staying focused.

1.) My first tip is if you struggle like me to focus in complete silence but also struggle to focus while listening to music like ‘study piano instrumentals’ is to try out nature sounds. In my case, my favorite of all time (listening now actually) is the sound of a campfire from the Youtube channel Relaxing White Noise https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qsOUv9EzKsg

2.) Set a timer to twenty-five minutes – This is a tried and true method to push for productivity. I have a short attention span and the loop of twenty-five minutes of study followed by a 5-8 minute break is really helpful; especially if I feel extremely unmotivated.

3.) Study with Me Youtube videos – This genre of youtube videos is another way to kickstart study motivation. Bonus points if the studier uses the 25-minute framework, then you can just follow along without setting a timer yourself.

4.) Find the perfect study environment – I study best in my room. I really dislike libraries and coffee shops because I’m easily distracted by movement. Everyone is different, find the environment that works best for you. I personally prefer bare closed off study spaces or my own desk.

5.) Confidence – I think confidence is an important key to a successful study session. Believe you can accomplish something each day, even if it’s small because studying requires grit and practice, not brilliance. Any educational goal you have is doable if you put in the work and tailor your studies to fit your needs.

c25 Cream Review

by Lani

I purchased Dermaceutic C25 face cream a month ago from Elmes Skincare Clinic after an extraction facial. This face cream is very silky and light, perfect for summer. The best part is that it has 25% Vitamin C! I think using either this regularly, or Amazon bought Vitamin C serums on days I don’t wear it, have cleared up the small marks on my forehead. The combination of this day cream and La Creme Beaute Venom at night has left my skin more consistently clear than it’s ever been. (Plus, I’ve been more attentive to my skin in general lately.)

My esthetician at Elmes told me the key to maintaining clear skin (skincare wise) is Vitamin C and regular use of acids (like glycolic, salicylic, etc.) to exfoliate and dry down pimples. He advised that I avoid popping whitehead pimples because the white fluid I see is actually white blood cells and popping them can lead to acne scarring, or spread bacteria and create more pimples. Instead, he recommended that I use an acid daily and start out with a lower percentage. I’ve been researching products, and I’ll purchase Pixi Glow Tonic toner because it has 5% Glycolic Acid. In the future, I’d like to blog on a Pixi skincare haul. There are several Pixi products, specifically the Vitamin C line, that I have my eye on. ❤

ForLoveandLemons and Réalisation Par Reviews

by Lani

I think the clothing store ForLoveandLemons has beautiful and unique clothing. I adore how feminine most of the dresses and blouses are. I recently purchased The Pierre Bustier Top. I love the detail of the little blue drawings on it. The quality is amazing as well, it’s very soft to the touch and supportive. https://forloveandlemons.com/products/pierre-bustier-top

ForLoveandLemons ‘The Pierre Bustier’ Top

From Réalisation Par I purchased The Ana – Red Squiggle top. They mailed me my purchase with a cute poster, card game, small storage bag, tote, and fan — very endearing packaging! The quality is also standout. I know I’ll wear this top for many years to come. https://realisationpar.com/the-ana-red-squiggle/

❤

Réalisation Par ‘The Ana’ Top – I now realize I tied the top incorrectly the last time I wore it lol, I’ll wear it correctly next time.

Photo Journal of Trip to Guatemala

by Lani

Three years ago I traveled to Guatemala for service learning during my undergraduate studies. I’ve realized it was a disservice to not have posted these pictures on any of my social media. My next post will overview some of my favorite places to go to in Panama. My family is from Panama, and I know a few hidden gem spots / must-try foods. More travel posts coming soon, I’ll begin solo travels during the late Spring and summer once classes end. ❤

Peppermint Oil on Underarms + Shea Butter

by Lani

One of my favorite hygiene practices is using peppermint oil on my underarms followed by deodorant after showering. It works wonders for underarm odor and seems the lengthen the longevity of deodorant effectiveness. I’d recommend testing the oil to make sure you don’t have an adverse reaction before applying it or even diluting it with water. I typically use one to two drops on both underarms while they’re still semi-wet from the shower.

Secondly, African Shea Butter is a must have body care product to lighten pigmentation/pimple marks. I use it on my shoulders, chest, elbows, and knees at night and I’ve seen results. I’m super happy I made this decision because I used to struggle with body acne and worried if I’d ever get rid of the marks on my shoulder blades. But the shea butter does the trick. I also use this on my underarms after epilating. I recommend purchasing it from Amazon or your local beauty supply store.