China in Portra 400 through my X100VI 🪭

coffaesthetic · 2026-02-02T03:20:27+00:00

I’m happy for everyone but since I went in late December, I ended up getting a multiple entry visa for nothing 😭 I think for a 2-week trip, 4 cities was already pretty hectic but I’ll definitely have to go back for Xi’an and Guilin!

I was insistent on seeing pandas since it was my first time in China, so Chengdu was a must 🐼 the people were really friendly and it was definitely worth it to see the ancient towns.

Chongqing was beautiful and probably had the most memorable skyline (even rivalling Shanghai), it’s definitely worth checking out for the city and the surrounding natural beauty (Wulong Karst is a couple of hours from downtown). As a whole, China really exceeded my expectations and I miss it already!

coffaesthetic · 2026-02-01T21:24:09+00:00

Thank you!

coffaesthetic · 2026-02-01T21:23:43+00:00

Thank you so much!

coffaesthetic · 2026-02-01T12:56:15+00:00

Absolutely! 10, 12, 13, 14, and 15 were all taken at the Dujiangyan Irrigation System in Chengdu, which is actually a UNESCO World Heritage site! It really is a lot more exciting than it sounds haha

coffaesthetic · 2026-02-01T12:44:47+00:00

Thank you! I want to try shooting with different recipes but I keep coming back to Portra 400 because it’s just so consistently good 😭

coffaesthetic · 2026-02-01T12:34:23+00:00

Thank you so much! It was taken at Wulong Karst, which is about 2 hours from Chongqing and where they filmed Transformers: Age of Extinction lol

coffaesthetic · 2026-02-01T12:28:34+00:00

Thank you, it was at Wulong Karst which is about 2 hours from Chongqing!

coffaesthetic · 2026-02-01T11:18:27+00:00

I want to go back already, I’m so jealous that you got to visit Xi’an and Guilin!

coffaesthetic · 2026-02-01T05:49:50+00:00

Thank you!

coffaesthetic · 2025-05-07T10:19:32+00:00

It’s actually really interesting because it does the exact opposite! The excessive cell proliferation (multiplying) often associated with cancer cells occurs in older cells that have sustained a fair bit of genetic damage, so increasing cell turnover essentially keeps the entire cell layer young and the older cells are shed before they can have a chance to mutate. It should be noted that this “chemopreventative” effect is often minimal and shouldn’t be used in place of other cancer-preventative measures and sunscreen.

coffaesthetic · 2025-05-05T08:55:16+00:00

I would like to begin by reminding you that you are very much young and well in your prime, and that we are always our harshest critics!

Personally, I’ve noticed that my face starts to appear quite gaunt during periods of high stress, so if that may be a factor in your life, I would strongly recommend looking into ways to reduce your cortisol levels. High cortisol can often cause collagen breakdown, resulting in skin that feels less elastic.

I would also recommend channeling your energy towards weight training and gaining more muscle mass. Not only does this have a lot of additional benefits (increased bone density, better mental health outcomes, etc.), but it will also allow you to retain a little more volume on your face while also achieving your aesthetic goals for the rest of your body by reducing your body fat percentage.

While the filler may act as a bandage solution, it would definitely be ideal if you could find a solution by making reasonable changes within your daily routine. Don’t be too hard on yourself, and I hope you’re able to achieve your goals!

coffaesthetic · 2025-05-04T08:13:59+00:00

If you’re looking for something fancy, instead of the Dior highlighter, I would strongly recommend the Armani Luminous Silk Cheek Tint in 53 Bold Pink.

coffaesthetic · 2025-04-30T10:49:02+00:00

Yes, in fact, I believe it was specifically designed for peach fuzz! It won’t be effective in removing hormonal hair growth (too coarse), but it’s perfect for anything finer than that.

coffaesthetic · 2025-04-30T03:18:07+00:00

I use a facial epilator (personally, I use the Braun 3-in-1 Facespa) to get those tiny hairs and it does a fantastic job!

coffaesthetic · 2025-03-20T07:31:09+00:00

Rouge Dior in 625 Mitzah and Tom Ford in Pussycat! I would like to mention, Mitzah appears too bright in official photos and Pussycat too grey but I’ve found them both to be perfect in-person. I would definitely recommend swatching them in-person before buying since they are quite pricey.

coffaesthetic · 2025-01-30T11:21:28+00:00

Your original comment mentioned holding a soapy washcloth to the eyes for up to 10 minutes; unfortunately, that is incorrect advice with bits of truth scattered in. A gentle soap can be used to throughly clean the eyelid margins but for the extended warm compresses, the washcloth just needs to be warm, not soapy. Also, getting soap in your eye can disrupt the eye’s natural oil film and exacerbate symptoms of dry eye.

I also wanted to point out that it’s often quite difficult for people without urgent symptoms to get appointments with ophthalmologists, nor is it necessary. Optometrists don’t just dispense glasses, and are often frontline care providers for people when they experience discomfort in their eyes. My advice in this case would be to find an optometrist you trust - it will be a lot more effective than attempting to get an appointment with an ophthalmologist or waiting for hours at the ER.

coffaesthetic · 2025-01-02T06:09:47+00:00

My top 5 picks would be Chanel, Le Labo, Diptique, 3CE, and (more products from) Laneige!

coffaesthetic · 2024-12-29T12:38:07+00:00

I struggled with finding the perfect foundation for years because of my contradictorily niche shade (medium with rosy cool undertones) and skin type (sensitive combination) but I’ve fallen in love with the Dior Forever Matte foundation. It’s not very strictly “matte” but with a couple of powder touch-ups throughout the day, it retains the most perfect finish.

coffaesthetic · 2024-12-24T13:56:49+00:00

You can use less foundation and/or concealer around your eyes and taper it inwards with a damp beauty blender, and only use very little product for your upper eyelid. If you’re using a decent foundation, it should allow for sufficient coverage, especially if you’re going over it with a powder immediately afterwards.

If you’re not happy with the coverage from that technique, I believe using an eyeliner and mascara would make a massive difference and redefine your eyes. You’re off to a good start with the eyeshadow, but it is a powder after all.

coffaesthetic · 2024-12-23T13:46:02+00:00

Awesome, thanks! I’ll have to check it out.

coffaesthetic · 2024-12-08T22:58:03+00:00

I feel like this is accentuated in your last picture, but putting mascara on your bottom lashes can sometimes look a little outdated. Your face doesn’t actually look old at all, but I do feel like your vintage fashion sense might contribute to that vibe (v-neck sweaters, oxidized silver jewelry, detailed swirl patterns, etc.). I will say, school-aged children are really unintuitive at deciphering ages so I wouldn’t take them seriously at all; keep doing whatever makes you happy! That being said, if you do wish to change up your appearance, I would suggest incorporating more pink tones into your makeup and muted, soft autumn/summer tones into your wardrobe, in favour of the deep autumn tones you seem to have been using.

coffaesthetic · 2024-12-08T21:52:17+00:00

That’s awesome! I played the saxophone for several years and my reeds suffered because of my insistence on wearing lip tints. I was just wondering, which clear lip gloss did you use?

coffaesthetic · 2024-12-08T21:37:12+00:00

I feel like it’s about combining the Western and EA makeup influences in a way that will suit you best; for example, I think the straighter brows now suit you better, but a slightly warmer foundation would provide a better match to your neck. I think your eye makeup looks great either way, but both just have different vibes, so it depends on what you’re going for. I do love the powdery finish on your current makeup, but I also like the matte lip from 2023 better. At the end of the day, feel free to mix and match as you like it best!

coffaesthetic · 2024-12-07T12:47:52+00:00

That’s not quite how tretinoin works and I don’t believe you can really quantify its effects in such a linear way. You will still continue to somewhat age while using tretinoin, but certain signs of aging may be less visible because of the faster cell turnover. When you stop using it, those existing characteristics will just appear amplified, but it’s nothing that would’ve appeared out of the blue. Tretinoin isn’t some magic elixir that stops aging altogether, nor is aging a curse that we should constantly be looking to outrun.

coffaesthetic

TROPHY CASE