Achievement Unlock - Celebrating an Instagram Milestone

Wednesday, December 9, 2020

 



A few months back, I was stuck at 4k followers on Instagram. I made it a goal to have 10k followers by the end of the year. And here we are, making that goal a reality! 

But you might be wondering, why is the Instagram follower count so important? As a brand, it shows your brand power and as an influencer like me, it shows my influence and my expertise. Also, it's easier for me to be noticed by brands that I might be able to collaborate with if I have that big 10. But don't get me wrong, as I mentioned before, a lot of brands don't look at follower count but rather than engagement. So smaller accounts can still collaborate with brands. 

Of course, as you may have already known from my previous posts about my influencer journey and how I became one, my Instagram started as a hobby. I love sharing my first-hand experiences with products and found a passion for skincare and beauty. The main reason I set the goal to hit 10k was because of the swipe up feature. Since I just started my blog up again this year,  I find it easier for me to promote a new blog post and direct my followers to the link on my Instagram story instead of telling them to check out my bio. It's unquestionably a game-changer!

The Journey to 10K

It was never easy achieving this goal. It's a series of trial and error - what techniques work and what don't. Plus, Instagram's algorithm has been all over the place lately, so you cannot honestly tell. But you know what's the biggest take away from me? Reaching goals can only happen when you have help and support. So I am forever grateful to all the people who believed in me and supported me all the way. For all the likes, shares, and saved from my family, relatives, friends, acquaintances, and from all the people who genuinely followed my page because of my content. A ten thousand or a million thanks won't ever be enough to show you how grateful I am. 

The Promise

Of course, the journey never stopped here. My mission to inspire, motivate, influence, and make an impact continues. I know that honest and genuine content matters and I will continuously strive to be better. I am still learning my ways of creating captivating video content and still trying to improve the quality of my photos. Believe me, I was never the creative type when I was younger and art is not my favorite subject, so I'm a bit struggling here. But all of you are my inspiration!

So, all that being said, let's take a look at my Top 10 posts!

Top 10 Posts according to Instagram's Insights


Top 10

Posted August 23, 2020

This Sunatoria Black Mask post is surely a hit. It might be the photo? the caption? or the results? I will forever wonder.😂



Top 9

Posted May 8, 2020

Another hit is my post about our humble coffee corner. I might know why this one was an attention-getter, most of my followers must have been coffee-lovers.

Top 8

Posted November 25, 2020

This post was a very recent one. It was Black Friday week and Lookfantastic actually has some pretty great deals so no wonder this post has been on the top 8 spot.

Top 7

Posted October 7, 2020


There's always something about my work corner/home office post that most of them do surprisingly well. I think it was because most of the people are working from home now since the pandemic and looking through WFH office ideas. 

Top 6

Posted August 5, 2020

Aside from my WFH office corner post, my health and wellness posts also do great. I know for a fact that a lot of people resorted to home workouts when the pandemic started, so that might have been the reason behind this.

Top 5

Posted May 25, 2020

My DIYs and home makeover posts were clearly a favorite. During the beginning of the quarantine, I have been the most creative and people love creativity, right?! 


Top 4

Posted August 31, 2020


I think this is by far the most creative video (if not the only one) that I have ever made. Although the screenshot is only showing the reach of 1,085, it's a paid campaign and was promoted hence the reach was actually 3,072. Nevertheless, I think it is safe to say that it deserves to be in the top 4 spot. What do you think?

Top 3

Posted November 22, 2020

This has been a very interesting post! Not everyone knows that LED face masks exist and I am fortunate enough to be able to try one and share about it with my followers. It truly deserves the top 3 spot.

Top 2

Posted May 10, 2020

This was one of my early projects starting the pandemic and it clearly got the attention. Maybe because the kitchen has been our favorite place during quarantine?😂


Top 1

Posted August 13, 2020

Who would have thought that this post will be the top 1? It must have been the living room or my nice tops and leggings maybe?

It was nice to see a variety of top posts in my feed. But I seriously wish I have a way of figuring out how Instagram's algorithm is working. Because when I thought I figured it out, it then changes.😆 But still, I can't help to be thankful for the platform that gives me a way to share my passion.

To you who have read this entire post, thank you. If you have been following me on Instagram, thank you. If you are just passing by, thank you. All of you have been part of my motivation to continue this journey. 


I know it has been a tough year, but what has been your greatest achievement this 2020? Your comments are welcome, appreciated and who knows, will be rewarded! Extra is when you sign up and subscribe to my email list. 😉 I always love giving back to my supporters. 😚









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Skin Update and Current skincare products

Wednesday, December 2, 2020

 



Hello! So today, we are not doing any gift guide post. Instead, I just wanted to share some skin update and the current products I am using on my skincare routine. Maybe, you can find something that you'd like to try!

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My Influencer Wish List (Can be your next gift guide idea)

Wednesday, November 11, 2020

 

For today's gift guide idea, I would like to share my very own wish list!

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Holiday Gift Guide – Skincare Edition

Tuesday, October 13, 2020

 

Holidays are just around the corner, and many people are starting to get their gifts list done. Although I don’t really celebrate any of the upcoming holidays, I love gifting in general!

I made up a list of some of my favorite things that would be great for gifting and in today’s post, I will be sharing skincare products.



PIXI BEAUTY GLOW TONIC


First on the list would be my all-time favorite PixiBeauty Tonic.



The Pixi Glow Tonic is a highly concentrated, invigorating facial toner that deeply cleans pores by sweeping away excess oil and impurities. I personally love this toner because it's gentle enough to exfoliate the skin but tough enough to remove dirt and impurities, leaving the skin soothed, refreshed, and radiant. It comes in 3 sizes - 15 ml, 100 ml, and 250 ml. It's perfect for gifting on its own, but if you want a more sophisticated one, you can get the Best of Bright Kit, which includes the Glow Mud Cleanser,  Glow Tonic, and Glow Mud Mask.


Photo from Pixi Beauty Website


GOOD MOLECULES - THE HERO REGIMEN


If you follow me on Instagram, you know that I often rave about this brand - Good Molecules. This brand has become one of my all-time favorite skincare brands. It's not only effective but super affordable too! I also love their initiative of listing all the ingredients and how much percent they put in the product written on each box. They mostly use glass bottles and avoid the use of plastics to save the environment. Plus, who doesn't love products that were never tested on animals?

For a perfect gift, why not buy a mix of everything? The Hero Regimen Collection would be the perfect one! This bundle includes seven of their best selling products to prep your skin from morning to night - Instant Cleansing Balm, Niacinamide Brightening Toner, Hyaluronic Acid Serum, Overnight Exfoliating Serum, Squalane Oil, Silicone-Free Priming Moisturizer,  and Caffeine Energizing Hydrogel Eye Patches. Check out my previous post about Good Molecules and some favorite products from them here.




MARIO BADESCU - DEW IT FOR THE GLOW


Who doesn't want that "glow," especially this holiday season? Why not gift a friend (or yourself) this Mario Badescu Dew it for the Glow Bundle?



Photo from Macy's Website


This set includes the Enzyme Cleansing Gel, Witch Hazel & Rosewater Toner, Facial Spray with Aloe, Herbs, and Rosewater, Hyaluronic Dew Cream, and Hyaluronic Dew Drops. These products are ideal for all skin types and will certainly give you (or anyone you are gifting this) a dewy skin that glows.

FIRST AID BEAUTY ULTRA REPAIR CREAM


Super dry skin? No problem! This First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream Intense Hydration is perfect for your friends or relatives that suffer from dry skin, especially this colder season. This multi-function cream provides head-to-toe moisture and instant relief for dry, distressed skin and even eczema. It's lightweight and fast absorbent with no greasy after-feel.



If you want to make it a fancier gift, try getting the All that Fab Kit, which includes Pure Skin Face Cleanser, Facial Radiance Pads, Ultra Repair Cream, Eye Duty Niacinamide Brightening Cream, and Ultra Repair Lip Therapy. This 5-piece limited edition set of FAB skincare essentials will help promote a smooth, radiant, and hydrated complexion. Anyone will be delighted upon receiving this!


Photo from First Aid Beauty Website

INNISFREE JEJU CHERRY BLOSSOM JELLY CREAM SET


This is definitely a cute set any skincare-loving youngster will love! This set includes Dewy Glow Jelly Cream, Dewy Glow Toner, and Dewy  Glow Emulsion. This trio is all you need for a simple yet effective skincare routine that can boost your skin's radiance while delivering soothing hydration the skin needs.



ELIZABETH ARDEN VITAMIN C CERAMIDE SKINCARE GIFT SET


Vitamin C and Ceramides can be holy grail ingredients. It can be a wonderful gift for moms and grandmoms or just someone that needs extra love and care for their aging skin! This Elizabeth Arden Vitamin C Ceramide Skincare Gift Set includes Vitamin C Ceramide Capsules Radiance Renewal Serum, Ceramide Lift and Firm Day Cream Broad Spectrum Sunscreen SPF 30, and Advanced Ceramide Capsules Daily Youth Restoring Serum.


Photo from Macy's Website


These are just some of my favorite skincare products that you can consider gifting to your loved ones.

Stay tuned for more holiday gift guide series!


*Some links are affiliates, and I may earn a small commission when you purchase through these links.

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Home Office on a Budget - A glimpse of my home office corner

Wednesday, October 7, 2020



As I transitioned back to working from home, I started working on building my home office. I want to be as comfortable as I can, because the more comfortable I am, the more enthusiastic I will be to work, won't you agree?

I always wanted to work from home, and I truly believed that this is the time for me. I started looking at home office ideas on Instagram and Pinterest. These are some favorites so far.


theunstitchd.com - Pinterest


Casinha Organizada - Intagram

worldmarket.com - Pinterest


Of course, I had to consider my budget, so I window shop  (well screen shop, really 😅) around for a few weeks to see the best offer. I am mainly looking for a desk and a comfortable office chair with good quality but won't break the bank.

I found my office chair in Walmart.com. 

Walmart - Yoyomax

This office chair was originally $169.99  but was on sale at Walmart for $91.99. I was drawn to it because of its ergonomic design with an adjustable headrest and lumbar support that looks so comfortable. It has a breathable mesh material that promotes air circulation and keeps my back and legs relaxed.  The headrest and the seat is adjustable up and down while the backrest can be adjusted forward and back. The installation is also a breeze - no additional tools or fittings are needed. It took me less than 3o minutes to install everything.

On the other hand, I found my office desk from Amazon.com:

Mr. Ironstone L-Shaped Desk - Amazon

I could have bought my chair in Amazon if the prize is on sale like in Walmart, but unfortunately, it was not. Anyway, I really fell in love with this Mr. Ironstone 50.8." L-shaped desk, perfect for the corner that I planned to build my home office. The original price was $129.99 but was on sale for $99.99. It has a white marble top and gold frame legs, so it was a perfect design. It also has excellent reviews and looks really good based on verified purchasers' photos. I also love that it arrived within two days! (I am a Prime Member, by the way😃)

The assembly is pretty easy too. It took me less than an hour to assemble everything all by myself, and I am impressed. 

So here's the overall look and feel of my humble home office:


I am really going towards the rose gold theme here, but I am still working on that. ðŸ˜‚  You can check my home office rose gold list essentials in my Amazon Store Front. You might find something that you would like too!

My Starburst Wallpaper Sticker is from Wallmonkeys that I was sent complimentary for review. The little frame below was from Dollar Tree; you will be surprised how much cute stuff you can find in there! You can also do DIYs from Dollar Tree products if you are the creative type on a tight budget. I like to do that, but sometimes my creativity runs dry along with my motivation. I am usually just too lazy. 😂

I also love the idea of having a brick wall. Am I the only one? I found out that one of the easiest ways to achieve brick wall design without spending too much time and money is by using faux bricks. I came across Faux Brickwork, which has some good selections of Faux Brick Wall panels.

Here's how chic they look:

I think this would really look great in my home office! 


Flemish Bond-Raw

If you are looking to step-up your brick wall-looking home or business, you may want to check Faux Brickwork. They are located in Clearwater, FL, and can serve the US market with exceptionally sturdy, beautiful, and realistic faux brick panels. They also offer samples to make sure you are 100% before committing to a large order.

Their panels range from $49.99 to $89.99 each with Dimensions of Width 39", Height 36 ½", Depth ¼" or 40", Height 35", Depth ¼".  They have a friendly design team that can assist and advises you on your design, and if you can't find the faux brickwork that speaks to you from their extensive line, they can provide you comprehensive design service for the more bespoke ideas.

What do you think? Is faux brick a good idea or no? Let me know in the comments below!

*Some links in this post are affiliates, and I earn commissions on qualifying orders.*





















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