Do you have any stretch marks? Yeah, around my stomach area.
How'd you sleep last night? Pretty well; I read for a bit and then passed out about 20 minutes later. Had a solid 7 hours before waking up 'cause I had to pee.
Most used item in your makeup bag right now? My Surratt Beauty Relevée Lash Curler.
If you had to get a tattoo right now, what would you get? Probably a floral design surrounding the saying, "花樣年華." It's a Chinese idiom meaning a time period in which a flower blooms, or the most beautiful time of your life. BTS (of course) used this idiom as the title for their third and fourth EPs, which makes up their HYYH (or Hwa Yang Yeon Hwa in Korean) era, and I've always loved the sentiment of this saying.
If you could get your hair done right now, what would you do? Cut maybe five inches, get some choppy layers.
How do you usually look during Zoom/FaceTime calls? I don't do Zoom or FaceTime calls. We do have Webex meetings occasionally for work, but I don't turn on my camera for them 'cause my hair is in a messy bun, I have no make up on, and I'm usually in a BTS shirt.
Is the weather currently crazy out your way? Yeah, it was quite cool last week, and then it got super humid over the weekend with lightning storms and random spurts of heavy rain.
Can you remember the last time you used a beauty tester? Last December, when I still worked at MAC. On myself, it was probably a Blot Powder to touch up 'cause I forgot mine at home. There were a lot of sanitizing methods and hygiene policies in place at MAC, though. Powders had to be fully wiped down (sometimes I would even scrape off the top layer), cream products had to be wiped with alcohol or scraped out with a sanitized spatula on to a sanitized petri dish, and liquid products had to be poured or squeezed out onto a sanitized petri dish. All store brushes had to be washed with antibacterial detergent every night and then sprayed with hygienic spray before using on a customer. But I could only control what my team and I did. Obviously, there were the customers who would just pick up a tester and apply it on themselves before we could help them sanitize a product to safely use, but I always think those are the same people who would eat food after its fallen on a dirty public floor.
Brush or Beauty Blender? Brushes, always. To be fair, I don't use liquid makeup, so I never had a use for a Beauty Blender. (Applying powder with a Beauty Blender is super cringy to me, for some reason.) But I'm also old-school. I learned makeup with brushes, I studied makeup with brushes, I became a makeup artist with brushes, and it was that way for over a decade. I tried using Beauty Blenders on myself and on others, and I just don't find the application or the look of makeup to be easier or better. So, nothing against Beauty Blenders, but personally, I just like application with brushes. And frankly, paying $26 for a fucking sponge that you'll have to throw out after six months is ridiculous.
Apples or oranges? Apples in pastries and desserts, but oranges clementines to eat on their own. I'll go either way when it comes to juice, though.
An old-school makeup product you've used for-ev-er?MAC Studio Fix Powder Foundation. I mean, granted, I haven't worn makeup in months now (the pandemic look is no-makeup), but prior to this year, I used Studio Fix Powder every single day for well over a decade. Basically, I wanted medium-to-full buildable coverage with a matte finish that also came in my shade... but didn't want the inconvenience and feel of a liquid foundation. And this was the answer.
A fancy beauty product you love?Fresh Sugar Lychee Eau de Parfum. It's been my staple perfume for nearly 15 years. It's $118 CAD for a 100ml bottle, but I can't give it up. Also, more recently, I've fallen in love with Sunstar Ora2 Me Stain Clear Toothpaste in Peach Leaf Mint. It's a Japanese toothpaste that costs nearly $14 CAD a tube, and I totally bought it on a whim, but I've become obsessed with it. The flavour (it's like a minty peach iced tea, which sounds weird, but trust me, it's the most awesome thing ever), the foaming ability, the mouthfeel, and the whitening ability without making your teeth ultra-sensitive... It's A+++, would 100% buy it again. (I may actually just stockpile four tubes next time so it'll last me a year.)
River, lake or ocean? I love the visual grandeur of the ocean, but realistically, the closest I get to a large body of water is a lake 'cause I don't live on a coast.
Do you wear makeup to the pool or beach? Right now, I would say no. Prior to this year, I would probably have said yes. But this is all assuming I go to pools or beaches, which I don't, so this whole answer is moot.
Something on your to-do list today? Watch the last episode of It's Okay to Not Be Okay, which has officially entered my Top 3 K-Dramas of All Time.
Do you trim your nose hairs? When I actually notice them, yes. It's not often, though.
You've got this! Ah, thanks. I'm moving in less than a month now, and I gotta prep a lot of stuff that I'm totally procrastinating on. LE SIGH.
Claw clip or scrunchie? I use black Goody Ouchless hair ties and small claw clips to keep my bangs up on a daily basis, and a big claw clip to keep my hair up after I wash my hair. I don't think I've used a scrunchie since elementary school.
Speaking of scrunchies, do you actually wash yours? I literally don't own any. With hair ties, I just throw them out once they get too loose.
Benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid? I don't use products with either of these specifically, but I do use some skincare with AHA or BHA, and salicylic acid is a BHA, and is also more gentle and anti-inflammatory than benzoyl peroxide, so I'm gonna go ahead and say salicylic acid.
Should your manicure match your pedicure? No, that's boring. I don't think I've ever had my nail polish match my toe polish.
When was the last time you cleaned your makeup brushes, and what did you use to clean them? Um... I think in March or April? (I haven't worn makeup in a long time.) I use Green Works Dishwashing Liquid. Effective, inexpensive, and doesn't strip brush hair.
What’s harder — growing out your brows or growing out a bad haircut? BROWS. Dear god, brows. I haven't touched my brows in nearly two years. They still haven't grown out.
Something you actually like about your quarantine hair? It's exactly the same as my non-quarantine hair. I'm one of those freaks who washes her hair everyday, so it always looks and feels the same.
Have you done any online shopping lately? I do online shopping all the goddamn time because I'm an ARMY and there is literally new BTS or BTS-related merch released EVERY WEEK. My latest purchase was the BTS The Most Beautiful Moment in Life: The Notes 2 books last week. And as expected, BigHit is releasing the first TinyTAN merch collection in two days, so bye bye, money.
Y'all ready for this? You mean the onslaught of BTS merch that is coming out in the third quarter of the year? (Yes, I did watch the entire BigHit 2020 Corporate Briefing.) I'm ready, but MY BANK ACCOUNT IS NOT.
Frosted Flakes or Rice Krispies? Frosted Flakes. Rice Krispies needs to be mixed with something else — like fruit or marshmallows or other cereals — to taste good. And they get soggy so fast that the "Snap! Crackle! Pop!" lasts approximately two minutes. It's almost false advertising.
Your favourite bag at the moment? I have literally used the same Rebecca Minkoff bag for the last four years and never bothered to buy a new handbag after that, so I suppose it's been my default "favourite" since.
Would you rather have a big ol' monster pimple on your butt, or your back? On my butt, 'cause it's easier to reach.
Did you (or do you now) ever watch soap operas/telenovelas? I did watch The Young and the Restless and The Bold and the Beautiful when I was in middle school and high school. Nowadays, I just watch K-dramas, which are sometimes just as dramatic, unrealistic, or cheesy, but they end after one season (which is usually 16 one-hour episodes or 32 half-hour episodes) so at least there's a conclusion and you don't follow the same stories and characters for a million years. (Seriously, how is Victor Newman still around?)
How's your mental health these days? Could be better. The ennui is settling in as this pandemic continues. I'm sure the feeling will pass once my moving day gets closer and I get busier. As it is, the only thing that's saved me this year is BTS.
What time of day are you the most/least productive? Typically, I am most productive at night, from about 9:00PM to maybe 3:00AM. (I'm nocturnal for a reason.) I'm the least productive in the first two hours of waking up.
Do you still keep in touch with your high school prom date? Dear god, no. I don't even remember his name. (Seriously. I am a terrible person.)
Does anybody actually know what they're doing? Hmm... BTS and BigHit. It's why they're poised for world domination.
Are you currently wearing any makeup, and if you are, whatcha wearing? Oh, god, no. Since working from home, the most makeup I've worn is mascara. And even then, it's only when I've gone out to see my friends. So I've worn mascara (MAC Extended Play Perm Me Up, in case you're wondering) approximately six times since May.
Gimme the deets on your last beauty purchase! I got a new passion pink Wet Brush detangling hair brush 'cause my old one is totally falling apart, and some new Dove body washes 'cause they were on sale and they're staple products. (I decided on the Purifying Detox Green Clay one and the Awakening Pear & Aloe Vera one.)
When you're eating bite-sized foods like bacon-wrapped shrimp hors d’oeuvres or mini brownies, do you take dainty nibbles, or do you shove the whole thing into your mouth? One hit that thing. If you take dainty nibbles, the whole thing falls apart. But if you eat the whole thing in one bite — as you're supposed to — you get the optimal flavour and texture harmonies of the food as it was intended.
Have you had "maskne" before (it’s when you break out because of your mask, by the way!)? No, but I also don't stay out for very long periods of time.
When's the last time you went to an office building? May 22, which is the last day I worked at the bank's office building before working from home.
How did you (or how do you) plan to celebrate your birthday this year? Hopefully, I'll be able to go to a nice restaurant for my birthday in November, which has been my tradition for the last 7 or 8 years. If the pandemic persists, I'll pre-order some Korean-style macarons from The Social Blend (in lieu of a birthday cake), hang out at home with BTS, and order delivery from Uber Eats.
Coral or brown lipstick? I really don't wear lipstick anymore these days, so I'd say a sheer coral tinted lip balm. (My, how the mighty have fallen.)
Lip liner or eyeliner? Eyeliner, forever and always. Lip liner is so damn tedious because you have to re-apply it every time you eat or if it gets smudged. Eyeliner is on there until you decide to take it off.
This week's Monday Poll: The Drugstore Beauty Edition!
What drugstore makeup (or makeup products) did you love and wear all the time back in the day? To be honest, when I started wearing makeup, I went straight into prestige brands. I tried a handful of drugstore items, but even when I worked at Shoppers Drug Mart, I wore mostly prestige brands (Shoppers has an entire department dedicated to prestige cosmetics and we got quite a lot of gratis, anyway). Items that stood out to me, or that I actually re-purchased, were L'Oreal Voluminous Mascara (I went through tons of this when I was in makeup school, and it's still one of the best drugstore mascaras of all time) and Revlon Lip Butters.
Your current favourite drugstore makeup brands? I really don't buy any makeup these days, but now that drugstores carry way more brands now, I'd say theBalm (I was buying theBalm for years and paying an arm and a leg for it because it was only available online, and of course, now that I don't buy makeup, it's widely available in stores) and NYX.
Drugstore skin care items you've purchased over and over again? Nowadays, I pretty much only buy Korean skincare, but I have actually found Innisfree, COSRX, and Mediheal being carried at Walmart and Asian supermarkets here. I just started using COSRX (which I have been loving), but I'd say that the things I buy most consistently are Innisfree foaming cleansers and Mediheal sheet masks. When I was in makeup school, I bought a ton of Bioderma Sensibio Micellar Water because we had to take off makeup all the time (like 5-8 times a day). I also used Vichy's Aqua Thermal and Biotherm's Aquasource lines for years. And I've bought a lot of sensitive skin baby wipes to use for face. (The Kirkland Signature ones from Costco are the best quality and cheapest per sheet.)
Last piece of makeup you bought from a drugstore? I can't remember the last time I bought makeup, let alone makeup from a drugstore. If nail products count, then the last thing I bought was Essie's Gel Setter Top Coat.
Something from the drugstore beauty world that just doesn't work for you? Pretty much any of the acne products from drugstore brands (e.g. Clean & Clear), and overly mild skincare like Cetaphil (it literally doesn't do anything, and it just feels slimy).
Have you ever bought perfume from a drugstore? When I was in elementary school, I bought my fair share of Calgon body sprays (obviously). When I got to high school, I remember wearing a lot of Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue and Ralph by Ralph Lauren, both of which were available at Shoppers Drug Mart.
Best drugstore essentials in the following categories: body wash (or soap), shampoo/conditioner and body lotion? Dove for body wash, Herbal Essences for hair, and Eucerin or Aveeno for body lotion.
Who's your drugstore shopping buddy? My friend Chelsea.
Which beauty item would you rather buy today from a drugstore — nail polish, foundation, mascara or eyeliner? Nail polish.
Matte or glitter finish? Glitter. I actually hate matte nail polish. Every time I look at matte nails, I think, "Yikes, needs some top coat."
Cream or shimmer? I used to be obsessed with shimmer, but I like the clean look of cream.
Would you rather... skip your base coat or skip your top coat? Base coat. But these days, I don't bother painting my nails anymore 'cause I work from home, so I just do a coat of base coat just to help strengthen my nails.
Nail polish colour(s) you wear the most? Darks and cool tones, like blues and purples.
Nail polish colour(s) you wear the least? Nudes, light colours, and warm tones.
When was the last time you had a manicure or a pedicure? I've never had a pedicure. The last time I had a manicure was maybe a decade ago, and it chipped about two minutes after I left the salon. After that, I vowed never to get a manicure again because it is a complete waste of money for me. Some people like to pamper themselves by getting their nails done, but I'd rather spend the time and money doing it myself. I can get a really bougie bottle of nail polish for the price of a cheap manicure.
Which fingernails do you usually paint first — the ones on your left or right hand? My left, because it's my non-dominant hand.
Accent nails — yea or nay? Nay.
Have you ever worn press-on/stick-on fake nails? Absolutely not. They freak me out.
When did you have the best skin of your life? Before puberty.
What skin care products have you been using the longest? Philosophy Purity Made Simple Foaming 3-in-1 Cleansing Gel. It's been my holy grail makeup removing cleanser for over a decade. Although now that I'm working from home and never wear makeup, I haven't needed to use it...
What's your skin tone? Light-medium, warm with golden undertones.
What brings out the worst in your skin? Silicone-based products, skincare that is too heavy or oily, and PMS.
What things bring out the best in your skin? A good essence or serum, and Mediheal sheet masks.
An expensive skin care procedure you'd be willing to try if you didn’t have to pay for it? Maybe microdermabrasion or a chemical peel? Something to get rid of my intense amount of freckles/discolouration and evens out skin tone. Basically, I want skin like BTS. (Any member, I'm not picky.)
Have you served or do you currently serve in the armed forces? No. I don't personally know anyone who has or currently does. It's not as big in Canada to serve in the armed forces.
Who taught you how to ride a bike? Myself. I was about 5 or 6. I was so jealous that my brother could ride a bike, so I would practice balancing on my brother's bike in our driveway and slowly try to pedal while balancing until one day, I could just ride.
What are you allergic to? Penicillin, sulphur, nickel, fragrance mix (includes geraniol, cinnamal, citronellal, and oak moss), Bronopol (antimicrobial agent commonly used as a preservative in cosmetics, personal care products, and topical medications), and some types of pollen. I'm not deathly allergic to penicillin and sulphur, but I get rashes and swelling. Nickel causes extreme skin rashes and eczema, and it's almost instantaneous (it's why I don't bother wearing jewelry). Fragrance mix and Bronopol causes varying severities of hand eczema (commonly found in detergents, cleaners, and soaps; a component of fragrance mix — typically citronellal — is found in almost all Bath & Body Works products, for example). And pollen will make me sneeze and have nasal congestion and make my eyes burn and water like crazy. It's a real sexy time.
What did you have for breakfast this morning? I had to fast for my blood test this morning, but when I got home, I had an iced coffee and a whole wheat bagel with low-fat cream cheese, avocado, and lots of black pepper and dill.
Your thoughts on the super-shiny highlighting trend? I was obsessed with it and wore copious amounts of highlighter until last year, actually. But I've since gotten into more naturally glowy skin rather than blindingly blingy cheekbones. To be honest, this started when I went on a sick leave last year — I didn't wear makeup for over a month and when I went back to work and had to start wearing makeup again, everything seemed a little too much (not gonna lie, I also just got lazy). And now that I work for a bank, I don't need to wear nearly as much. I still wore some just to look polished (it's still a professional environment and I didn't want to outright look like shit, which I undoubtedly did since I had to get up at 5:00AM everyday), but now that I'm starting work from home tomorrow, I won't wear makeup at all. Maybe lip balm. That's it.
80s or 90s? Oh, the 90s, hands down. I was born in the 80s, so the 90s is what I remember the most.
Sandals or flip flops? Sandals, without the bit that goes in between the toes. I actually hate wearing flip flops 'cause I find them so uncomfortable. I really only wear them when I'm traveling. I get two pairs — one pair from the dollar store to wear as shower shoes, and one slightly "fancier" pair from Old Navy to wear as slippers in the hotel room (or at the cottage, whenever I make it up there). I throw out the shower flip flops before I get home, which is why I get them on the cheap. Anyway, the conclusion here is that I should just get a pair of slides, like these.
Oversized tee or a crop top? Obviously an oversized tee. Frankly, I won't wear a crop top unless I have abs. Or at least, no muffin top. Which isn't gonna happen 'cause that would require me to work out. And sometimes I have the urge to eat four slices of pizza. So, yeah. Oversized tee.
The last big public gathering or event you went to before the pandemic hit? The birthday cafe events for Yoongi at Higher and Bloom Cafe in March. LE SIGH. At least it was for a BTS event, so I made it count.
When do you usually eat dinner? Currently, from Monday to Friday (when I have work), I eat around 5:30PM. On the weekends, usually around 7:30PM.
Denim overalls or a denim dress? Um... I guess I'll go with overalls, but frankly, I don't wear either.
Stick foundation or powder foundation? Powder foundation.
What's keeping you going these days? BTS, coffee, and cigarettes.
How would you fare if you had to watch a llama at your place for two weeks? Terribly because I don't have a fenced in yard but also because I work 40 hours a week and wouldn't be able to take care of him/her for most of the day. It's the same reason I don't have a dog even though I really want one.
What does your perfect brow look like? Naturally full and somewhat fluffy, with a slight arch. Not thin, not too blocky, not too carved out, not too dense. SIGH. I can only dream.
Vintage or modern? Depends on what it is, but I'd typically go for modern.
Contacts or glasses? Contacts. I don't find glasses particularly comfortable. Plus, my eyesight is just bad enough that the peripherals are distorted when I wear them. Quite frankly, the only reason I take out my contacts is that they start to get dry after 14 hours.
Oatmeal or waffles? Waffles, always and forever. Oatmeal is gross. Unless it's in cookies.
Spring or summer? Spring. The only real bad thing about spring is allergies. I otherwise quite like it. The temperature is nice, the scenery is nice, everything starts blooming, you can still layer clothes and feel comfortable. It's my second favourite season.
Olives or ice cream? Ice cream. I really only like olives on pizza.
Hair spray or hair gel? Hair spray.
Creamy or crunchy peanut butter? Creamy. But I won't say no to crunchy. I just love peanut butter.
Cream or powder products? Powder.
Handwritten or typed out? Handwritten for notes and personal greetings like letters or cards (which is rare, granted, but handwriting is still charming). I also still keep an agenda rather than use the Calendar app on my phone, so I obviously handwrite for that. But typed out for everything else because it's way more efficient.
Frizzy or fine? I suppose my hair would lean more towards frizzy than fine, but it's kinda neither.
Chaos or quiet? Quiet. The only time I like chaos is at a concert. And then it's expected to be chaotic. (Is there even such a thing as a quiet concert?)
Manicure or pedicure? Manicure, I guess. I don't get either done, to be honest, but I'm not big on strangers touching my feet. Plus, I rarely ever show my toes outside of my house, anyway.
Pudding or Jello? Hmm... I guess pudding. Although I don't really eat either on a regular basis, nor are they my go-tos when it comes to desserts.
Culottes or capris? YIKES. NEITHER.
A bicycle built for two or a unicycle? I guess a bicycle for two 'cause I'd be totally useless on a unicycle.
Daisies or tulips? Tulips. Unless they're gerbera daisies.
Bacon or pizza? Pizza. God, I love pizza. (If you couldn't tell.) Plus, pizza can have bacon on it.
Sandwiches cut into rectangles or triangles? Aesthetically, I'd say triangles. Though at the end of the day, I don't care as long as I get to eat them.
Hula hoop or jump rope? Hula hoop, I guess? I don't do either, really, but jump rope is torture.
Let me put on some pants. Sweatpants or jammy jams. Unless I'm taking a shower, I pretty much have to be wearing pants at all times. I'm weird about that.
Let me take off these pants.
What the heck are pants?
I am more likely to survive...
Going to Target Walmart. I mean, I haven't actually tried, but it's a mental game. The trick is to make a list and get in and out. No dilly-dallying. And to wear a mask and gloves. And quite frankly, if they don't have something, I'll just go to Shoppers Drug Mart. Or order online.
Going to battle in Thunderdome.
Honestly, neither.
During a global pandemic, I will most likely be baking...
Lemon bars. 'Cause I love myself a good lemon bar.
Chocolate chip cookies.
Shit pies to serve to all my enemies.
When I put false lashes on myself it looks...
Pretty darn great.
Like a mutant spider is about to bite my face.
I'm gonna say somewhere in the middle, 'cause I've only ever put false lashes on myself like, twice. I struggled a bit, but it turned out okay. I'm excellent at putting lashes on other people, though, and have the dexterity and know-how to apply them on myself. So I'd say with a bit of practice, I'd be excellent.
I left the house today...
Without wearing a real bra.
Without my purse.
Without my mind.
With a cat in a baby stroller.
Uh, none of the above because I didn't leave the house today. I woke up with a stuffy nose, scratchy throat, sinus headache, and itchy/burning eyes. It is officially allergy season, y'all. I called in sick to work because we're not allowed to go in if we have any symptoms of cold or flu. Just got an e-mail back from my manager saying to stay home until I am symptom-free, so... I could be in quarantine for the rest of the week. But I've taken some allergy medication and my symptoms seem to be less severe right now. CROSS FINGERS.
Item most likely to be found in my bra...
Popcorn.
M&M's.
Cookie crumbs.
Um, none of the above because I don't drop things into my bra... Although if I were the type of person to accidentally drop food into my bra, I'd say popcorn because I eat it more often than the other two options.
Are you an essential worker? Yes, I work at a major bank and help people with their day-to-day banking. I still go into work (thankfully, not a branch) but they're trying to get us to work from home by the end of May.
How many drinks have you had since the quarantine started? None, I don't drink. On the bright side, this saves me a lot of money for BTS merch.
If you have pets/children/other dependents, are they driving you bonkers? No, therefore no.
Have you picked up any new hobbies? No. Even when I was in quarantine for two weeks, I didn't pick up any new hobbies 'cause I knew I'd be back at work. I have to be off for a more significant amount of time to think of picking up a new hobby. Like when I was unemployed from December to February, I picked up origami and spent hours folding paper. But two weeks just allowed me to do a ton of online shopping and watch a lot of K-dramas.
Any special occasions you've missed (or will miss) during the quarantine? Well, during this pandemic, I will be missing my friend Viv's wedding (which has been postponed to next year) and the BTS Map of the Soul Tour (which is postponed but not rescheduled yet). I'm still crying on the inside.
What's your quarantine meal? I've been eating a plethora of sandwiches and fruit.
Four places you've visited? Tokyo, Hong Kong, Paris, and Amsterdam.
Four things you love to eat? ONLY FOUR? Goddamn. Okay. Um, pizza, Korean fried chicken, ramen, and macarons. (I'm so healthy, aren't I?)
Four names you go by? Denise, Dee, Mui (it means "little sister" in Cantonese)... and that's it.
Four places you can see yourself living? Toronto, New York City, and Vancouver. I don't have a fourth.
Four random things you love to watch on TV? I don't watch TV or have Netflix anymore, so... anything that features BTS. (Which is the only time I turn on the TV these days.) Although, if we're talking about old shows, then Gilmore Girls, Veronica Mars, Sex and the City, and Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
Four of your favourite makeup items at the moment? Anastasia Beverly Hills Liquid Eyeliner, Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz in Taupe, MAC Mineralize Blush in Warm Soul, and MAC Extended Play Perm Me Up Mascara.
Four pieces of clothing you wear all the time? Black Uniqlo Leggings Pants, black Zara high-waisted leggings, my black BT21 x Anti Social Social Club hoodie, and my black BTS Love Yourself Tour tee.
Favourite pair of shoes?These black faux-lace-up "vegan leather" ankle boots from Call It Spring. Sadly, they're breaking apart now, so I had to buy a replacement pair recently.
Favourite candy? Coffee Crisp and Kit Kat. If we're talking non-chocolate-bar candy, then it's a toss-up between Hi-Chew and Kasugai Gummy Candy (especially Grape and Pineapple).
Favourite ice cream? It's a tie between Häagen-Dazs Coffee, pistachio gelato, and hazelnut gelato.
Your car? A dark grey Volkswagen Golf.
Favourite holiday? Chinese New Year. I get food and money. What's not to love?
Night owl or early bird? Night owl. If I didn't have work, I'd be perpetually nocturnal.
Favourite day of the week? Currently, it's Saturday, since I now get weekends off.
Tattoos? A small dove on my forearm.
Do you like vegetables? Yes.
Do you wear glasses? Yep, since I was nine. I'm -5.25 in my left eye and -5.00 in my right eye. Basically, I have to squint to see anything that is about 30cm or further from my face.
Favourite season? Fall. I love every thing about it: the weather, the clothing, the makeup, the scenery.
Lipstick or lipgloss? These days, I've been wearing either lip balm or MAC Cremesheen Glass because I just want hydration with sheer to no colour. (Never thought I'd see the day when I'd pick gloss over lipstick.)
Mascara or brow pencil? Mascara. Honestly, if I could only wear one makeup product for the rest of my life, it would be mascara.
Blush or bronzer? Blush.
Foundation or BB cream? Powder foundation or tinted moisturizer, but I still tend to wear powder foundation more because it's a lot faster, and when you gotta wake up at 5:30AM every day, efficiency is all that matters.
Matte or dewy? I like a matte T-zone and dewier cheeks, but frankly, by mid-day, I look like an oil slick regardless of what I wear on my face.
A bright colour palette or a neutral palette? Neutral. Goes with everything and is appropriate for all occasions.
Glam or natural? Depends on the occasion, but these days, I go for natural all the time. When I feel like putting a bit more effort, I'll wear winged liner. That's pretty much as glam as I get these days. (Funny how I wore glam makeup almost everyday when I worked at MAC — for nine years! — and now I'm the complete opposite.)
How comfortable are you eating by yourself in a restaurant? Not comfortable at all. In fact, that might be the one situation that gives me the most anxiety. It's weird because I do everything else by myself, but eating at a restaurant alone is a hard pass for me. I think it's because dining out is the only social activity I really do. I'm very much a loner who really appreciates my independence and space, so it's like, why am I going to a restaurant to eat surrounded by strangers when I can order the food and eat it in the comfort of my own home where it's clean and quiet and I can wear my jam jams?
Have you ever ridden in a police car? No... knock on wood...
How late did you stay up last night? About 6:30AM. I am in full-on nocturnal mode, which I have to adjust ASAP, because I return to work on Wednesday, and I have to start waking up at 5:30AM again.
What does your makeup bag look like? It's the Chimmy Large Canvas Pouch from the BT21 x Studio8 collab. It's beige canvas with a marigold synthetic leather base and Chimmy on the front.
How many blankets are on your bed? Just one duvet.
Ocean or mountain? Ocean, because I appreciate it more visually. Although I'm not sure what I'd be doing near an ocean or a mountain to begin with.
Pepsi or Coke? Coke. If I want cola and Coke/Diet Coke isn't available, I'll get anything else. Dr. Pepper, Barq's, whatever. Pepsi is gross.
Have you ever hit a deer? No, but knock on wood. I think that would be pretty traumatizing.
Would you ever get your brows microbladed? Yes, because I have realized how futile it is to let my eyebrows grow. I haven't touched them in like, a year, and they're still pathetic. However, microblading is expensive and semi-permanent, so I haven't been actively looking to get them done. Finding someone who is good at it (e.g. making brows look naturally full) is another story as well.
How many layers of mascara do you typically wear? Usually three, but it depends on the look I'm going for. If I'm going for a natural look with no eyeliner, then I just curl my lashes and put on two coats of MAC Extended Play Perm Me Up Lash Mascara. I have never used a mascara that actually lifts and keeps lashes curled all day long. (No, seriously, it looks like I just had my lashes permed. The name is no lie.) But its focus is definitely more on curl and separation, so the overall look is quite natural. If I'm wearing eyeliner (which is always liquid and winged), then I wear three coats of mascara: two coats of Urban Decay Perversion Mascara and one coat of MAC Haute & Naughty Too Black Lash Mascara because I want VOLUME.
Cupcakes, cookies, or brownies? Cupcakes, especially lemon with buttercream frosting or carrot with cream cheese frosting. I think it's because I rarely have them, so they seem like more of a luxury treat.
Can you do a chin-up (underhand grip) or pull-up (overhand grip)? I have never tried, but I think I can say with confidence that the answer is no.
Tell me about your favourite pants. Right now, it's my Roots Boyfriend Sweatpants. But in the summer, it's Uniqlo's Drape Jogger Pants. They're both comfy, loose, and feel like clouds. But the sweatpants are super-warm and the jogger pants are super lightweight, so I change them out of my wardrobe according to season.
When you're reading a really a good book, do you read it as fast as you can (GOTTA GET TO THE END!), or do you prefer to savour the chapters slowly? When I was younger, I would binge-read books. But now I have less time to read for leisure, so I tend to prefer to savour chapters.
What are you wearing on your nails? Cirque Colors' Sapphire.
Do you put ketchup on a hot dog? No, I'm not a huge ketchup fan. I mean, I'll use it if there's nothing better, but it's never been my go-to condiment for anything, even fries. For hot dogs, I like mustard, relish, mayo, hot peppers, and pickles. On that note, it has just now occurred to me that I haven't had a hot dog in over a year.
Can you touch your toes? Yes. Until my early 20s, I actually thought everyone could touch their toes. And then my friends were like, "Oh, no, no, no, you have to be flexible to do that shit." (I think I was picking something off the ground and I wasn't bending my knees to do it and my friend commented on it. We don't just randomly talk about touching our toes.)
How many shampoo bottles are in your bathroom? One. Since switching to Function of Beauty a couple years ago, I haven't felt the need to try a multitude of haircare products.
Are your parents still around? Yes. Knock on wood.
Three favourite eyeshadows at the moment? I hadn't worn eyeshadow for over two months, but since starting work again, I like to wear just one or two really soft colours on my eyes for a bit of depth. My go-to has been the MAC x Pony Park Hocus Pocus Eyeshadow Palette (I've been mixing Lie Low and Blanche Cloud Nine).
Denise, '86 liner. Chinese-Canadian, born, raised, and still based in the Greater Toronto Area. Professional make-up artist turned office manager. Introvert with brilliant extrovert skills. BTS ARMY since 2016, OT7, Jungkook and Jimin biased. BTS and BT21 merch collector, amateur foodie, skincare fiend, mascara connoisseur, shopaholic, teetotaler, Scorpio, avid The Sims 4 player, K-drama addict, and Potterhead since 1997. Penchant for live concerts, collecting figures, dining out, building LEGO, and food photography.
About the Site
Circuits of Fever is a personal blog and a hobby only. It mainly features my interests in BTS, food, beauty, music, photography, travel, lifestyle, and culture. The name "Circuits of Fever" is a song by Thursday from their 2009 album, Common Existence. The title of this blog has no relevance to the actual purpose of or topics discussed within the blog.
All photos since November 2023 have been taken with an Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max. All photos are taken by me, unless otherwise noted. Please do not use my photos or blog content without permission. Photos are edited by me using Adobe Photoshop CC 2019. This blog is written and edited by me using Blogger through Google Chrome, on an Apple MacBook Pro.
Note: None of these posts are sponsored. All products reviewed or shown on this blog are purchased by me for personal use only.
Playlist (July 2024)
Bishop Briggs - The Way I Do
Etiquette - Attention Seeker
Foxes - Feet Don't Fail Me Now
J-Hope - Killin' It Girl (Solo Version)
Jin - Don't Say You Love Me
Jin (feat. Yena) - Loser
Jin - Nothing Without Your Love
Jin - With the Clouds
Kero Kero Bonito - The Princess and the Clock
Lexi Jayde - Newbury Park
Lucy Dacus - Hot & Heavy
May-a - Apricots
Naomi August - Next to You
Nothing, Nowhere - Dead2me
Nothing, Nowhere - Electric Heartbreak
Nothing, Nowhere - The Heart Mechanic
Nothing, Nowhere - You
NewDad - Change My Mind
Nine One One - Who
Osei the Seventh - Cafe Deluxe
Paramore - Sanity (Demo)
Samia - Fit N Full
Santigold (feat. Trouble Andrew) - I'm a Lady
Sara Kays - Remember That Night?
Sara Kays (feat. Cavetown) - Struck by Lightning
Small Black - Despicable Dogs (Washed Out Remix)
Stalking Gia (feat. Blackbear) - Miracles
Tablo x RM - Stop the Rain
The Beaches - Takes One to Know One
The Girls - Schools for Fools
Tomorrow x Together - Surfing in the Moonlight
Troye Sivan - Lucky Strike
Voka Gentle - Peculiar Form of Sleep
Yumi Zouma - Astral Projection
