Before I moved to Australia, I collected a Indonesian local cosmetic brands like Wardah, Sariayu and Pixy. Beside those three brands are suitable for my skin, it also will be difficult for me to get one of them once I moved to Australia. Beside looking for Korean cosmetics also a little bit hard in Australia.

Of course those cosmetics only last a couple months, until I become a little bit worried, what if I couldn't find a suitable cosmetics at Australia. So, i tried to browsed some places like Priceline until K-mart, offline and online. Of course they didn't sell Indonesian cosmetics. LOL.

But, what so interesting is, an Australian cosmetics, or cosmetics that sells in Australia, some of them is free animal cruelty and vegan. You could find other famous cosmetics too. Like NYX, Maybelline, Revlon, Rimmel, until Fenti Beauty, Anastasia Beverly Hills, Huda Beauty, etc.

In this post, I would like to tell you some of Australian cosmetics that free animal cruelty and also vegan. Which means all of their cosmetics range is not tested on animals or using animal part for their product. 

Alright, The Body Shop is not Australian cosmetics. But their first shop at Australia opened at 1983. We all know that their product is 100% free animal cruelty and vegan. And they also have Enrich not Exploit as their commitment. Which means, their product not just only free animal cruelty & vegan, but also all their products produce with fair trade, between them, the farmer, and also their supplier.

Their cosmetics ranges also lots. All of us probably known it already.

One of my earliest Australian cosmetics. Australis cosmetics' free animal cruelty and vegan logo is get from Choose Animal Cruelty Organization. A non-profit organization in Australia that doing accreditation for almost all Australian brand products, not just cosmetics.

Their cosmetics range is lots. A couple months ago, they launch their K-Pop range, that based on Korean cosmetics lover. Recently they also launch their new product called Unicorn Collections. This product is really fit for you who really love glittery make up.

Their Unicorn Collections have four colours liquid lips and eyeshadow collection, plus they also have their Unicorn Drops range that could be use for highlighter or foundation, and their Unicorn drops collections have three different colours, white, purple, and bronze.

Their other collections are velourlips lip matte with lots of shades, the original primer, etc. And almost all of their products win the Australian Beauty Awards.

Also Read: My First Australian Cosmetics: Australis Cosmetics

Other Australian cosmetics is ChiChi Cosmetics. Judge by its price, this cosmetics is a little bit more expensive than Australis Cosmetics. If Australis Cosmetics already get their free animal cruelty status from Choose Animal Cruelty Australia, ChiChi Cosmetics get their status from PETA International, same like The Body Shop.

Talking about their product range, ChiChi Cosmetics seldom have new cosmetics range. They main products like their eyeshadow pallet, which they have lots of ranges, and also their liquid foundation. Their perfume also the best offer.

The brand that founded at 2004 is one of the easiest cosmetics product to find. You could find this product at K-Mart, as one of their stockist. And also, this cosmetics brand is cheaper than ChiChi Cosmetics and The Body Shop.

Beside K-Mart, you can find BYS Cosmetics products at Priceline and Chemist Warehouse. And what I like from this brand beside its price and free animal cruelty, this product also have lots of ranges too. So it's all depend on us, what make up trend that we want to do.

Also Read: Where to Buy Cosmetics at Australia

Not just cosmetics, Australia also have a free animal cruelty and vegan skin care products. Free paraben and no sulfates, A'Kin Skin Care said their product is 100% natural. And their product still on their way to get free animal cruelty status from Choose Animal Cruelty Australia. 

For their product range, it's all depend on your skin problem and need. They put it into three different range, Hydrating, Brightening and Rejuvenating. And it come for almost all your skin problems, from skin to hair too.

Like its name, Nude by Nature is a mineral cosmetics, also use natural ingredients for their products. It said this brand is the number one mineral cosmetics brand in Australia. Because their products made from nature without dangerous chemical like parabens or bismuth.

They packaging is also elegant. And, beside selling their product in one piece, they also have their set. You could buy their brush collections, and will get it with the elegant and beautiful clutch too. Or, want to buy a season makeup, they have their spring and summer makeup collections too.

Their motto is Always Think in Pink, because their product packaging is PINK. LOL. Like ChiChi Cosmetics, Model Co products already have free animal cruelty from PETA International.

Their product range started from makeup, tanning, until skin care. Their main product is their tanning, because tanning is their first product. Model Co also collaborate with Karl Lagerferd at 2017 (they still on progress). And also with Rosie hatington-Whiteley, an English model and Jason Statham's wife. 

So that's some of the Australian cosmetics which are free from animal testing and also vegan. For me, it makes me easier to get the specific cosmetics like these in Australia, because they have lots of brands here. 

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A couple post ago I made a post about anime and tell you all that I like anime and manga. But there is one thing that I like from Japan and always succeed makes me trying hard not to fangirling event thought I just watch it via Youtube. A J-rock band called L'arc~En~Ciel, or Laruku according to Japanese people spell their name.

L'arc~En~Ciel is a senior Japanese rock band. Formed at 1991 in Osaka, and still. It has been great 26 years for them.

For their history, you could find it everywhere. Lots of website already tell their history. Just ask Google and it will take you to lot of website about them. The most easy one, just come at Wikipedia. you could find their story until their latest project.

But did you know, that before their last formation (Hyde, Tetsuya, Ken, Yukihiro) they already change their formation third time? When they are still at their indie label, their guitarist wasn't Ken, but Hiro, and their drummer wasn't Yuki, but Pero. But not long after Pero and Hiro step down from their position, and Hiro position replaced by Ken and Pero position by Sakura. But not long after their Japan debut, Sakura replaced by Yukihiro because his problem with drug.

And this formation last until now. I am not protest at all with this formation. Since I just saw Sakura at their Blurry Eyes' music video, I never saw him in any Laruku's music video. Maybe you could tell me which. And even their still stick with this formation, it didn't make them stop exploring their music. Each of the band member also have their own project, or another project with the same member but different formation (Punk~En~Ciel). Want to know about that? Just google it, they are everywhere.

So? What do I want to tell, if I let reader google everything about them?
So, I just want to tell you what makes me really really like this Japanese Band.

Hyde's Charismatic and Handsome and Cute and Sexy Appearance 

Hyde's Voice

Hyde's Fashion

Crazy Fun

Tetsuya and his banana

Ken bought gift for Hyde when the held their concert at Indonesia

Easy Listening Rock Music

Actually, almost all J-rock band is easy listening music. But, the easy listening music plus all in one vocalist and humble band member, that's a plus.

Their song like Blurry Eyes and C'est La Vie, I think really easy to listen. And their Drivers High or Seventh Heaven are two of their heavy song. Or you want to hear something romantic from them? try to listen Anata or Hitomi no Jyuunin, those two songs are my favorite romantic song from them.

Famous Anime Soundtrack

If you remember the time when we still enjoying watch anime, maybe you will familiar with their songs.

Majestic and Neat Concert

Every time I watched Japanese artist concert I have been amazed with their neat concert. This band too, the audience really neat, even sometimes you could see there is a chair at their festival class. Even thought they having their concert at the stadium.

For them, it took 20 years to have their world tour. But I wouldn't regret it if I come at their concert and serve such as good music, persons, and place.

That is my explanation why I like this band. Good song, good performance, good band member, good stage, everything is good for me. Next time they hold their concert, I will come. I promise.

One day lots of pimple appear at my face, really small, red, an lots. In the matter of fact, it wasn't there for a long time. Once I had allergic with one of the moisturizer that I bought a couple weeks ago, and caused my face had a small, really small pimple, but not red. So I stopped using that moisturizer and avoid using makeup for a moment. After a couple day all those tiny pimple gone, suddenly my face had the big and red ones, and it's also appear alot around my cheek and chin.

Of course I am confuse, especially it happened after a couple days I detox my face. Apparently the cause of it was my make up brushes. Why? Since I move to Australia, I am indeed always using more heavy make up. And that caused my makeup brush heavy. I was so shocked, because it didn't mean I didn't wash my makeup brushes, but I did that once every month. Apparently, because I often use my makeup brushes, cleaning it once every month is not a good schedule.

By too often using our makeup brushes, the more the cosmetics particles stayed at our brushes. These particles can cause lots of things. Beside makes our makeup not flawless, it also make the brush look really dirty, and also stiff when we swipe it.

Beside the cosmetics particles, the natural oil at our face also one of the factor. Because the oil at our face indirectly also stayed at our brushes when we swipe our brushes.

Also, keep the brushes at the open air makes it dirt too. Because the dust particles at the air can stay also at our brushes. The longer we let it the more the dirt at our brushes. Plus we always use it all day.

If our cosmetics brushes are dirty, of course our face will have lots of pimple. And, the cosmetics particles that stay in our brushes, could also been swipe again to our face. So the cosmetics will not be perfect in our face. It makes our makeup not flawless.

Beside the un-prefect makeup result, the dirty brushes also makes our skin aging faster. Because the dirty particles in it, can caused our face get the free radical attack, and also can break the collagen and skin elasticity.

Plus, can caused our pore blocked. So, beside makes our pore bigger, also can caused pimple and blackhead. 

Nowadays, there are lots of things to help you wash your cosmetics brush. Beside the shampoo just for your brush, there is also a machine to clean it. All we going to do just put the brush at the stick and let the machine do the rest. 

My method is simple. I used a baby soap only. You can use either liquid or bar. Beside it is way more cheaper, baby soap have a soft formula, and smell. Baby soap also can minimize the allergies because all the ingredients inside the baby soap really different.

All you going to do just makes your brushes wet. Then if you use the bar soap, just put the wet brush on to the soap, and clean it by make a circle movement until the foam appear. Usually, the first foam will have colour like the colour of the cosmetics from the brushes we used. Do this step two until three times until all the foam have a clear colour.

When you use the liquid soap, the method is more less the same. Instead putting the brush to the soap, you can pour the liquid soap onto the brush, and start do the circle movement.

I used two different method to dry my brushes. First, is by hanging my brushes upside down. The brush face the floor. It will makes all the water will go down directly to the floor instead to the stick.

The second one, by putting your brushes to the towel and pat it gentle. Beside with the towel, you can also use the paper towel. Then use the towel/ paper towel as the base, then put it at the dry place and not immediately touch the sunlight, in order to make your brush not stiff.

Biasanya sehari langsung kering sih. Setelah kering, baru bisa dipakai lagi deh. Pastinya aman dan nggak bikin was-was karena kuasnya kotor.

I think, the more we used our brushes, the more time we need to clean our brushes. For example, if we use it everyday, it means all the dirt and particles will be faster stacked at our brushes, so once every week to clean your brushes could be the good idea.

My suggestion is, if you able you could have two same brushes for same use. So if you clean one brush, you still have another one for the same use. If you don't have it, it also okay. I also don't have two. But if you want to wear a cosmetics, don't ever use the wet brush for apply your makeup. Because it will make the result very bad, and makes your brushes easily get dirty too. 

Here you go, my tips for cleaning the makeup brushes. I think, beside it is easy, it is also cheap. LOL. You can use the saving money for buy another makeup.

Finally! It's been two years between my boyfriend and me. What I could tell you, our relations is not always face the happy stories. Moreover, if we are faced something from my visa. This made our mood up and down. But, since visa is the most important thing for now, we should face it, no matter what.

Anyway, last October was our second anniversary (yaay!!). Maybe for some people anniversary doesn't mean anything. But for us it's so important. Really, this is so important. Because one of the conditions for me to apply partner visa in Australia is we have minimum 12 months relationship. The longer you have the faster they provide the visa for you. Waiting time? Two years.

Also read: Things You Have to Aware if You Have Multiple Entry Visitor Visa Australia

Beside, Australian imigration also have lots of conditions that based on your relations. My boyfriend said, they do that to avoid people who just want to have permanent visa without having serious relations with their partner. Because, once you are grant for permanent visa in Australia, you will have the same right with Australian citizen.

Since one month before was my boyfriend's birthday, and I also made a birthday card for him, so at the same time I bought some things to made him our anniversary card too. Just like the other, the more often you do craft, the more you want the difficult level rise. That's what I did. Since last year I also made the birthday and anniversary cards and it is easy, and the month before I made a little bit difficult card, so for this anniversary card, my level also a little bit difficult than before.

Also Read: DIY Birthday Card for the Second Time 

For this card you don't need lots of materials. I made it as simple as I can, because I still didn't have a lots of fund too:

• If you have A4 carton paper, you can use that, minimum two colours, you will made two different colours inside and outside. If you don't have the carton paper, you can use a normal one, and use the colours paper, which often used by kindergarten for making a folding things from paper.
• Pencil, ruler, glue and scissor.

• Any kinds of pictures and word art, you can find it at internet, or made by your self. Or you can find it at craft store.

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Because last December I stayed in Australia, and my Australian family celebrated Christmas, so I automatically also follow all the Christmas busy time to. The Christmas feel actually already felt since November. All the commercial at televisions already put their Christmas discounts. Of course I could saw lots of toys commercials, not to mention a special package for Christmas holiday.

In Australia, we didn't celebrate Christmas with snow, because winter in Australia is at the middle of the year. So, how we celebrate Christmas in Australia? WITH SUMMER!!! Yes, Christmas time in Australia mean summer time. So, don't be shock if you saw an Australian commercial at Christmas full of beach and beach and beach.

Also read: First Time Playing Snow at Lake Mountain, Australia

Not like in my country, Indonesia, which have lots of red calendar dates (means lots of holidays). In Australia they don't have as much as Indonesia. But for Christmas, they have two red calendar dates, 25 and 26 of December. Christmas celebration at 25 of December, and Boxing Day at 26 of December, which in Indonesia they don't have a special day for boxing day.

My boyfriend and his ex-wife, after their divorce, had their old tradition, that all of their children will having feast in both house at the same day. So if they have Christmas lunch at their mother's house, they will have Christmas dinner at their father's, vice versa.

For this Christmas, they change the tradition. Since the children still full after Christmas lunch, they made two days family feast, at Christmas day and Boxing day, and they make all feasts are for lunch. Because the kids always eat lots of meal when they have their lunch feast, so sometimes they feel still full when they also have to attend the dinner feast.

Since this Christmas they had their lunch at their mother's house, so we just prepared our lunch feast at boxing day. Next Christmas, it will be our turn to have lunch feast at Christmas. 

My boyfriend still have his own tradition for giving a Christmas present to all of his children and grandchild (even thought all of his children already an adult). He used to bought more than one present for each of them. But since we already busy (and he still had me not working) because my visa applications, even thought he tried to bought a present, but not as much as before. But I am a little sad and guilty because of me his children didn't have a Christmas present.

Luckily his daughter understand it, and all she wants just his father fixing her bikes. Which she already requested since two years ago. So, two weeks before Christmas, after working, my boyfriend spend one until two hours at the garage to fixed his daughter's bike.

But, he still able to bought presents for his grandchild. Since both of his grandchild still a young kids. His granddaughter is three years old and his grandson is 6 months old. So, we took our time to search the presents at shopping malls.

His granddaughter once been asked what she want for Christmas, and she said she wants a butterfly. Alright, how could you find something "butterfly" for a three years old kids????? For this only, we had to came into two different big shopping malls. 

He had a bad mood because we can't get the trolley

Not to mention for boxing day's lunch feast, we had to buy three different meats. He always had his signature dish at Christmas, which is Lechon pork, a Philipino's recipe, don't ask me how he get it. Then he planned to make roasted chicken and also slow cooker lamb.

And, at Christmas, since we didn't had anyone to come, so we plan to go to beach. Then, we also need some drinks, snacks, and things to bring at the beach.

Took us a good an hour before we can find a trolley for ouselves

We started our shopping two days before Christmas day. Which if you did that, you will find lots of people have the same thought, SHOPPING FOR DISCOUNT. Yes, at the last minute time like this, most of the stores start to throw lots of discounts. It is really cheap, but it also have lots of people. In the time like this, the shopping mall which packed of people.

Because it's summer here, means beach time, LOL. Especially, in this Christmas holiday, we are planning to go to the beach, because the kids will come at boxing day. Perfect weather, and all the things we need to supply our beach holiday and also for feast at boxing day already set.

Since lots of people will think the same way like us, going to the beach (especially those whom not celebrate Christmas), we decided to find calmer and far from tourist beach. Even we decided to drove to Mornington, I was a little bit worried because when we passed Mornington Park, I could see lots of tourist fill that park. I worried that the beach will be packed like Bondi in NSW.

Luckily, our beach is really quite, and not having lots of tourist in it. The beach is at Mt. Martha, beside not much tourist, the beach also have the bathing box like Brighton Beach.

Also read: Hello Straya: Brighton Beach

Beach at Mt. Martha, only four groups visitors, and I like it

We brought our tent, for keeping all of our things, and also icebox (or eski in Strayan language) that fill with lots of cold drink, and also lots and lots of snacks. Because, once you out from the water, you will be really hungry.

Tips: After having your meal, take 10 until 15 minutes rest before you come back to the water.

After coming back from the beach, we have no time for resting, we should start to prepare all the meals for lunch at Boxing day. We started to clean all the meats. My boyfriend started to put all the spices at the pork, and also put the lamb at the slow cooker (we left it a night for cook). We also have to wake up early at boxing day for preparing the other meal and cleaning the house, plus decorate the table.

Looks like it's simple, no it's not T_T. Plus, at the boxing day, we woke up at 9am, while the feast scheduled at 12.30pm. Not really in hurry too, but since we have to do lots of things, and I didn't know what to do with all those meal, I give all those meal things to my boyfriend.

Our Christmas Lunch at Boxing day

Since my boyfriend taking care the meal at the kitchen, I decorated the table, and also help him at the kitchen, doing something that I understand, like frying the meal that have to fried, etc. Since this is my first time being busy for celebration, so I a little bit confuse and lost.

The kids gathered around 1pm, then we started our lunch. It was delicious lunch. All those meats are perfect. Juicy and tender, LOL.

After lunch, it's time for unboxing the present. Since only the little granddaughter that came, so yes, after two different big shopping malls, finally we reveal the "butterfly" things that we bought for her. It's two fairy wings, LOL.

Our lovely granddaughter with her butterfly wing

She keep saying those wings are for Halloween, not for Christmas, but we keep told her that it is a butterfly wings, and she can wear it anytime. Actually we don't want her to reject the present anyway, it hard to find something butterfly-ie.

Second present was the fishing toy. Since I am too concern about age restriction, I always re-check again that the toys is fit for her age or not. Luckily at Aussie, it is easy to find out that the toy is the right toy for her age or not. Like this fishing toy, we bought it because it said it fit for 3 years+ age.

Actually, I knew that she really like playing pretending, pretending to be a mother or pretending to be a teacher. Maybe because she stay with her grandmother (my boyfriend ex-wife), and spent lots of time at her kinder. But I really can't find the exact toy for her and her imagination. Dolls? Don't mention me, she already have lots of dolls.

At first I want to buy her a toy stroller, but my boyfriend said he want to give her something that making her not move a lot inside the house. Because our house is not too big, and easily to get messy when the kids come. At the end we bought that fishing toy. You can guess it, not until 10 minutes she already bored, because she finds it's so difficult to catch the fish with the fishing rod, she prefer do it with her hand. LOL.

Don't tell me about Christmas present, I even never get a birthday present back in my country, Indonesia. No, it's not about the Indonesian culture, but nobody around me celebrate it. The first present I had is one birthday present from all my high school's friend at my farewell party before move to Australia. LOL.

So, I was so overwhelming when I also get the Christmas present. My boyfriend gave me a box of Lindt chocolate, and a paint-your-own-mug thing. LOL. Still, I am happy to have that.

Beside him, his daughter also gave me a set of Harry Potter's Marauder Map's Puzzle and 9 3/4 Hogwart Express plate. She know me well, LOL. Love the present so much.  

I have a Christmas present too from our daughter :)

I am really happy, not because get the present only, but I feel that I already accepted into his family, sharing the holiday together. I also have a great relations with his ex-wife too. She is really nice and bubbly person, so lovely, and we put her as our witness for my visa application too. 

Since this was my first time celebrating something with family, I really, really overwhelming. Because I never celebrate something with my Indonesian family, and we never celebrate something special, so this was my first experience celebrating something, and I really really love it.

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One day I was bored ate Indomie Goreng and my boyfriend didn't really like Indomie Ramen. He thought the Indomie ramen taste not really kicking in. Well, he just tried Indomie ramen with chicken broth and chicken curry flavours. Because of that we never had Indomie ramen at our home. Usually for ramen we bought Korean ramen noodle. No, not that samyang, because we couldn't find any in Aussie.

 Also Read: This is My Indomie Creations, How About You?

Since we haven't any ramen at our home, so I tried to make my own ramen with the ingredients we have. Before, I browsed the real ramen recipes, especially for the soup. After read some recipes, I then prepared all the ingredients that needed for making ramen soup.

For ramen soup, I mix 1/2 tea spoon of minced garlic, ginger powder, sesame oil, salt, pepper, vinegar and paprika powder, and I also added a block of chicken stock. 

All of those ingredients mix and stir at the boiling water. If you want to be spicy you can add chili powder or crushed chili at the soup mixture.How much the chili is depend on your flavor.

After all the ingredients mixed at the boiling water, simmer it for 5 minutes, while I prepared the ramen.

Actually, the Japanese have their own ramen noodle. But since I didn't prepare any noodle at home, so another alternative is pasta noodle. Since we just only had fettuccine, so I used that. Not just only fettuccine, you can use any kind of pasta noodle. Like cooking the normal pasta, I boiled the fettuccine first for 3-5 minutes.

Since this is my own ramen soup version, so it's all up to me what kind of noodle I would to use. And same with you, you can use any kind of noodle you can have at your home. And how much the noodle to be prepare is depend on your flavor too.

Also Read: Trying Samyang Hot Spicy Noodle, in Australia

And the last one, topping. Once again all the toppings are depend on your favorite one. But for me, boiled egg is a must at ramen. In my own version, beside the boiled egg, I also add mushroom, sausage, and mini spring roll. My suggestion, if you want to add meat but don't know how to, you could buy a frozen meat like nugget, or flavoured chicken, or mini things, like mini dimsum, mini spring roll, etc.

Once the noodle and the topping ready, then prepare all of that inside the ramen bowl. After put the noodle and all the topping, then you pour the ramen soup that still simmering. Spread the spring onion and serve while it hot.

Since this was my first time, I couldn't believe that the taste is so great, plus the soup really taste great, and have a chicken taste. Even tough this is far from the authentic ramen noodle, but as an alternative ramen noodle I could say it is not failed. Yumm.


Did you have made your own version ramen noodle?
Share it to me too, please... :)

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