Skincare Routine Mondays: October 31, 2016

Manage to use a small Sephora sampler spatula to get the most out of my MRCS and now it's just a wad of soap in the cap.

1. AM Eyelid Cleanser: Ocusoft Every other day. My eyes have been pretty crusty. The left one hurt last week, so thankful that's gone.
2. Water-based Cleanser: sum37's Miracle Rose Cleansing Stick, down to a wad of soap. Good thing I had my Aunt buy another stick in Incheon's Duty Free last time she was Asia-bound.
3. Wash-off Mask: Used the Sephora Play!'s Skin Inc, Pure Revival Peel (seen on the right). It says leave on for 10 seconds and then massage gently. Honestly, I don't know what I was doing wrong, but it smelled like rubbing alcohol and therefore after ten seconds it seemed to be absorbed by my dry skin (yeah, instructions say to use on dry skin). This made massaging the product around my face near impossible, and for the parts that I globbed it on (I'm a firm believer of less is more with products) it was hardly anything. Perhaps I am just too spoiled because the Japanese brand "The Cure" is a similar sort of experience, and yet it was so much better. None of this alcoholic smell, none of this drying and not being able to massage the product around, none of that nonsense. Tell me a product is going to do something within ten seconds and I will should you a sucker. Sephora Play! you are the sucker.
4. Moisturizing Toner: The Face Shop's Chia Seed Line, which I think I'm nearing the end of the bottle. The pumps don't come out as strong now. Actually have to say that I've grown to like this product a lot. Though the moisturizer of this series reminds me a liquidy hand lotion, the toner itself it quite viscous and does the trick.
5. Essence: The Nature Republic Snail Essence sample and I bought the Snail Solition 70 cream, which came with a 1 oz sample of this essence, awesome. Love bigger sized samples.
6. Moisturizer: Mizon's AIO Snail Cream, which I am using fingers to scoop out the poor stuck to the side of the jar remnants. I truly like this product and need to buy another.... after I use up the three jars of Nature Republic creams hanging out about my house.
7. AM Sunscreen: Biore Aqua Rich Waterly Essence Sunscreen 50g Spf50+ Pa+++  

There's one pimple that I can feel trying to edge it's way out of my skin diagonally from the right corner of my mouth on my jawline. My classmate pointed out a red mark on the left side of my forehead, so maybe that's another pimple too. It's weird, but according to my own timing, I should be over pimples and just be getting my period instead. Maybe it's going to skip this month, which isn't unusual, but mildly annoying. Screws up my planning, and if I have to get ready to combat jawline hormonal acne.

(Just Over) ONE YEAR!!!!

My first post was on October 17, 2015. IT'S BEEN A YEAR!!

Whoops! I totally forgot to commemorate this sort of event. I would have a giveaway, but I don't actually have any readers, so bah humbug! I get to keep this awesome Nature Republic Snail Set to myself!!

Actually, Nature Republic has a sale and I got this set as an impulse buy for me and a friend. Snial Solution 70 (cream), 1 oz Snail Solution Skin Booster 90, and 1 oz Snail Solution Emulsion 80. The number represent the percentage of snail goo in these products. (Even though Mizon is a fraction of the cost and is always over 90%).

Cost me less than $22 USD for one of these boxes, which considering YESAsia is selling it for $87.31 is a steal. The store sells this set for $49, if I recall. Also talked my way into some Argan oil hair mask freebies. Yay. Actually also got an Super Aqua Watery Max (wow, redundant) toner sample that I can't wait to try out on my travels. Honestly hate that there is so much waste in cute little sample bottles, and LOVE the cute little sample bottles because they are precisely just that. CUTE. LITTLE. SAMPLE. BOTTLES.

I'd like to say that if you have been looking at my Monday check-up on my skincare routine (which, if you haven't I don't blame you, they're super boring and mainly for me), I've gone from simple, to really too long, to too many masks, to simple yet again.

When I started it was mainly out of dry skin conditions and an interesting in moisturizing toners and donkey milk.

Now, I went through almost five little jars of moisturizers (Freeset Donkey Milk, Nature Republic Super Aqua Watery Combo, Mizon AIO Snail, Mizon AIO Snaill gel cream, Mizon AIO Black Snail, and my second jar of Mizon AIO Snail), have a substantial sheet mask collection, a lot of little sample jars from Sephora, other more significant sample sized products from Sephora Play!

Over the course of a year I have learned to use an eyelid cleanser, which helps a lot since I am prone to stys. I learned that sheet masking if overrated and I currently think it's too much of a hassle, though I love buying them and giving them away. Less is more in my skincare regime, as I think the Vitamin C waiting game is also not for me. I did not feel any real difference, and buying pH lowering toner really hasn't done anything for me.

Simply cleanse, (hydrating) tone, moisturize, and wear sunscreen. My skin is really great right now, even if I know the fine lines are still there. This is not about turning back the clock, but delaying the clock from moving too fast.

Being half Caucasian and half Chinese there's this whole concept of getting a mixed bag of genes. Will my skin stay young and healthy effortlessly like my Chinese genes would have it? Or will I start losing my hair and getting wrinkles in places I thought not possible because of my Caucasian genes? I'd like to side on taking precautions in case I am more Caucasian-ly inclined.

My skin has never been better since I have started documenting my skincare journey. It's only been a year, but what a world of a difference it has made. My skin always feel soft, and so does my neck, hands, and chest. It's absolutely wonderful and many of my friends (and acquaintances) have skin envy.


Thank you for being there, blog. I don't know why I started you in the first place, but I am glad to have stuck it out for this long. Cheers to many more years to come, more advancements in skincare regimes, and finding products that you truly like.

Skincare Routine Mondays: October 24, 2016

Oh no!! My first MRCS is almost done!!

1. AM Eyelid Cleanser: Ocusoft My eyes still feel weird, so I've been doing this practically every morning. My outer left eye hurts, and I don't know why. I hope nothing is stuck on my eyeball-- that's an issue that has happened before.
2. Water-based Cleanser: sum37's Miracle Rose Cleansing Stick, I AM DOWN TO THE END. It is just the plastic ring, but really there's a lot of soap left there, so I've been digging out little bits with my fingernail to apply on my face. A little goes a long way, and this soap is rather malleable. 
3. Wash-off Mask: Used the Queen Helene Mint mask once this week, which I followed up with a Tony Moly Egg pack, (some sort of steam mask). Oh, how I like doing masks back to back. Exfoliate and cleanse and then cleanse and moisturize. It's great to counteract the mask's effects with a balancing mask afterwards.
4. Moisturizing Toner: The Face Shop's Chia Seed Line, which seems to actually be doing an okay job. Hasn't broken me out, and my skin does feel softer. Nice. Will switch to Booskin once this one is done. Though I have to say I like the pump bottle, so I might clean it out and just put the next toner in the same glass bottle. It's easier to pump twice than to have liquid dribble out of a tiny hole.
5. Essence: The Nature Republic Snail Essence sample about three times this week. It's nice, but I know that I probably won't love it because of the price. Mizon all the way!
6. Moisturizer: Mizon's AIO Snail Cream, which I am running out of already. Why don't these jars last longer?! I am probably going to move on to one of the moisturizers I have in stock, a Nature Republic Watery Combo moisturizer. I have used it before, and quite like it. However, it is strongly fragranced. 
7. AM Sunscreen: Biore Aqua Rich Waterly Essence Sunscreen 50g Spf50+ Pa+++  

Still not getting enough or proper sleep, but my skin is still doing ok. A couple of bumps on the jawline that I thought were hormone induced (though now I'm second guessing that) went away within a day or two. My skin is smooth and nice, and I haven't been doing anything crazy. However, I am anticipating dryer weather, and I am so ready to glob on the night packs. I still haven't opened or tried my Too Cool For School Pumpkin sleep pack. My Laneige is still in the fridge, and I have a few samples that I would like to use up. Sleeping packs are great for winter, but right now I think it's overkill.

Skincare Routine Mondays: October 17, 2016

Been taking it back to basics... also been sleeping a lot less. Wonder how this will affect my skin in the next few weeks.

1. AM Eyelid Cleanser: Ocusoft My eyes have been feeling a bit clouded. So I did it once or twice. Felt better afterwards, but really felt like I messed up the eyelash extensions.
2. Water-based Cleanser: sum37's Miracle Rose Cleansing Stick, this stick is wonderful. I already got my Auntie to duty free repurchase it a while back.
3. Wash-off Mask: Caudalie's Glycolic, which is a Sephora Sample Wonderland that I need to restock. Used that once this week. Also used my Origins retexturizing mask with rose clay once this week. 
4. Moisturizing Toner: The Face Shop's Chia Seed Line, which is hydrating, especially now that I've taken FTE out of the mix.
5. Essence: Found this Nature Republic Snail Essence sample and I've been using that once a day, usually in the mornings. It has a strong fragrance that I can get used to, but I've found that I prefer lighter or scentless products better. 
6. Moisturizer: Mizon's AIO Snail Cream, a perfect example of a scentless product that I love. Second jar already!!! I have to start using other creams when this runs out, but I will miss it and definitely get another jar when my fragranced moisturizers eventually run out. 
7. AM Sunscreen: Biore Aqua Rich Waterly Essence Sunscreen 50g Spf50+ Pa+++  

Though I've not been getting enough or proper sleep, my skin is still doing ok so far. However, it is the week or so before my period comes, and usually hormones wreck havoc on this jawline. Tie that in with sleep debt? I can only imagine how much skin can be by the end of this week.

Skincare Routine Mondays: October 10, 2016

Skin so far so good. Couple of pimply bumps that go away in a few days time. An unremarkable week.

1. AM Eyelid Cleanser: Ocusoft Haven't yet :( But my eyes feel crusty, so I should start doing it again soon.
2. Water-based Cleanser: sum37's Miracle Rose Cleansing Stick, <3 especially since I travelled half of this week
3. Moisturizing Toner: The Face Shop's Chia Seed Line, which is neverending now that I want to end it!
4. Random PM Serums: Used up the last from Sephora Sample Wonderland: Drunk Elephant T.L.C. Framboos™ Glycolic Night Serum, Using up also the last to the Vinoperfect Radium Serum from Caudalie. SO SAD THAT I USED UP MY 500 PT SAMPLE :( Sephora please have more Caudalie out soon.
5. Moisturizer: Mizon's AIO Snail Cream, per usual. Ole Henrikson's Sheer Transformation when I was out of the country.
6. AM Sunscreen: Biore Aqua Rich Waterly Essence Sunscreen 50g Spf50+ Pa+++  

Nothing really to note except my eyelashes keep feeling like they're tangled up with my bottom lashes and are sticking. Sad my serums are all running out. Time to visit the magical land of Sephora Samples again.

Skincare Routine Mondays: October 3, 2016

The wedding HAPPENED. My lashes got redone to "GLAMOUROUS" on Thursday and THEY ARE GREAT. Totally much better than my last experience, and now I'm more comfortable with them I am so glad I got the most dramatic look. Hardly shows in the pictures, but shows up just enough. I am very happy with them for now. Lost at least four or five lashes when I was taking off my make-up from the day, but overall I would call my wedding day make-up a success!!

Skin still a soft and smooth as anything, even with the first bumps that pop up here and there.

1. AM Eyelid Cleanser: Ocusoft Haven't since I got my lashes redone, but I don't have as much sleep or grit in my eyes, so maybe I will do it a few time this week rather than every day.
2. Water-based Cleanser: sum37's Miracle Rose Cleansing Stick, LOVE YOU.
3. Moisturizing Toner: The Face Shop's Chia Seed Line, which I'm using up. However, I did purchase Dear Enprani's Moistfull Booskin from Amazon on a whim. That's totally hydrating and even with the seal on it smells like roses. Kind of love that. However, I am not sure how it goes into play with S&P's Beauty Water
4. Random PM Serums: From my Sephora Play! sub: Lancôme Énergie de Vie The Smoothing & Glow Boosting Liquid Moisturizer and Algenist Complete Eye Renewal Balm ; from Sephora Sample Wonderland: Drunk Elephant T.L.C. Framboos™ Glycolic Night Serum
5. Moisturizer: Mizon's AIO Snail Cream, per usual.
6. AM Sunscreen: Biore Aqua Rich Waterly Essence Sunscreen 50g Spf50+ Pa+++