Skincare Routine Mondays: November 21, 2016

WHOOPS, it's actually WEDNESDAY. Too much crazy this past weekend, and then yesterday I just plum forgot.

1. AM Eyelid Cleanser: Ocusoft NOPE. Should have though, my left eye has been a-hurtin'
2. Water-based Cleanser: sum37's Miracle Rose Cleansing Stick, it's always so good. Was away this weekend, so used the Cao Lion's Pore Blackhead O2 Sparkling Soap, which I refer to back in my Workout Wednesday post. My weekender bag is usually my gym bag, when it comes down to it. Makes like easier than to reassemble and forget.
3. Moisturizing Toner: So far so good with Enprani’s Dear by Enprani Moistfull Booskin hydrating toner. Sometimes I use way too much though, it just comes out too fast. Dries very quickly though, so it's not gross, no complaints here. Smells like light rose, and makes it seem like an extension of the MRCS. However, my gym weekend bag's toner is running lower, so I kind of skimped on that during the weekend.
4. Moisturizer: Nixed the Ginseng Royal Silk Essence as it left a weird feeling on my face and hands, and I feel like it was almost making my pores larger. I don't know if it actually did, but it wasn't making me comfortable so I went back to my Nature Republic Super Aqua Max Combination Watery Cream. Usually on the weekend I use Sephora sample of Ole Henriksen's Sheer Transformation, which absorbs much better than any Nature Republic cream. However, I brought over the Combo Watery Cream and used it, and I'm adjusting to the extreme scent of the product. My Mizon replacement came in the mail on Friday, but I've decided to use up these creams first, with the cold weather hitting us in the face (literally), this thicker cream might be a better option.
5. AM Sunscreen: Biore Aqua Rich Waterly Essence Sunscreen 50g Spf50+ Pa+++  Never giving you up. Though I have a pump bottle of Nivea that's supposed to rival it one day soon. 

Nothing much to note other than that I've stopped using the Ginseng Royal Silk Essence. One of the more expensive products I've bought. Just proves price isn't everything, it really isn't.

Skincare Routine Mondays: November 14, 2016

Full of anxieties today. 

1. AM Eyelid Cleanser: Ocusoft Used it this morning, but that was the first time this week.
2. Water-based Cleanser: sum37's Miracle Rose Cleansing Stick, started a new stick last Monday, what good timing.
3. Wash-off Mask: I need to use one, but haven't the time this past week.
4. Moisturizing Toner: The Face Shop's Chia Seed Line, also good timing as it's sputtered it's last drops last night. Started Enprani’s Dear by Enprani Moistfull Booskin hydrating toner this morning. Similar consistency to the Chia Seed Line, so I think I might be reusing the nice glass Chia Seed bottle that has a pump instead of keeping it in the plastic drip top bottle it came in. The pump really does make things easier and less dribbly.
5. Moisturizer: Keeping it up with Ginseng Royal Silk Essence this entire time. Not the biggest fan, but it's growing on me. However, I will note that I was away this weekened and therefore using my Sephora sample of Ole Henriksen's Sheer Transformation, which absorbs much better than that Nature Republic cream. It is closer to how Mizon would feel, but at a much higher price tag.
6. AM Sunscreen: Biore Aqua Rich Waterly Essence Sunscreen 50g Spf50+ Pa+++  Pairs well with all my moisturizers. It's great.

Though last week I blamed the cream, my period came in the middle so really, it was hormones and probably the "adjusting" phase.

My oily t-zone is back, but not in full force. I hate how there can be "periods of adjustment" when it comes to using new products. Not the biggest fan, but we will see how things turn out. Introduced a new hydrating toner today, so we will see how things work out.

Skincare Routine Mondays: November 7, 2016

HOW IS IT ALREADY NOVEMBER?!?! And the birthday of my of my besties still living in Taiwan.

1. AM Eyelid Cleanser: Ocusoft But to be honest, I think I used it maybe ONCE this past week. My eyes have been ok, not really as crusty. My false lashes are persevering to the point where people ask me if I had them redone. Nope, just waiting for them to fall out. This last place really did a good job, it's been four weeks!
2. Water-based Cleanser: sum37's Miracle Rose Cleansing Stick, is literally just a wad of booger. It's only going to be good for one or two more uses and then BAM! out comes the new stick. And this time my sister won't be using it as well, so it should last a wee bit longer, right?
3. Wash-off Mask: From Sephora Sample Wonderland I got a bit of the Peter Thomas Roth Peeling Gel. Honestly, felt weird because again, it wasn't really as effective as I think the Japanese product Natural Aqua Gel Cure. The PTR sample just smelt yeasty, and I felt like the product was just rolling up on itself, not actually taking off dead skin? I don't know, maybe peeling gels are not for me, but this one really didn't do anything and I would not think of sampling it again.
4. Moisturizing Toner: The Face Shop's Chia Seed Line, still trying to use it up.
5. Moisturizer: Mizon's AIO Snail Cream ran out the day I wrote last week, so I've actually be using another cream that I bought from duty free, which is older than the other cream I originally planned on using. This cream is also from Nature Republic and is their top of the line, Ginseng Royal Silk Watery Cream. I definitely did not pay that much for it, more like, it was less than $40 USD and it came with a full sized Ginseng Royal Silk Essence (which I have not started using yet.) Introducing one new thing at a time in my routine is important to me, so I am trying my patience in doing one at a time. This cream also does not seem to absorb so well, and the first time I used it, I think I used way too much product and felt like I was washing a sleep pack off in the morning. Mizon really got me spoiled with the instant absorb and scent-free thing it's got going on. (Yes, I gave in and order another jar via Amazon.)
6. AM Sunscreen: Biore Aqua Rich Waterly Essence Sunscreen 50g Spf50+ Pa+++  Always leaves my skin so matte and smooth

My skin has not been as nice lately, and I BLAME THE CREAM. Honestly, I have more jawline pimples (can't tell if they're hormonal or not), and now I have more around my chin/nostril area, and some small white heads that pop-up on the tip of my nose.

This cream might be top of the line, but it really gives me the same oily t-zone that I've manage to avoid completely when using my Mizon AIO Snail creams. I am using the minimal amount of cream, and it actually has real gold flakes in it, so who knows where that's ending up! It's also for older and more mature skin, maybe I will try to convince my mom in using it instead.

MY OILY T-ZONE IS BACK, and I am so, so, so, so sad. One more week of this cream because I try to pawn it off on my mom. Then Moistful BOOskin is coming in as my toner and I can go back to MIZON, because I hope it has arrived by then.

Ugh, I really don't like thick creams. They bring back the oil in full force.

Snow White and the Asian Pear

She's a great skincare (k-beauty oriented) blogger. She hasn't updated in a while, but I can see why. Why would you want to write about more products when you have a handful you already love and trust?

Except for reformulations, those are evil.

The following image is a lifesaver, so I really just want to share it with you. My products, mostly, come from Amazon (especially repurchases), so this actually looks eerily similar to what I have in my stash.

Workout Wednesdays: Skincare Routine

It's been a while, but I thought it might be enough where I should actually start recording what I'm doing since it's different.

Mornings I have to be at the gym before 8 am, so I am up and out of the house as soon as possible.

1. MRCS
2. Sometimes I tone?
3. Sometimes I moisturize?
4. Usually I put on sunscreen and then pop the same tube into my backpack.

Then I sweat and sweat and sweat. Wipe, sweat, repeat. So glad for the gym showers, really.

In the shower I:

1. Use the generic All-in-One soap in the shower stall's soap dispenser. All over this sweaty body.
2. Use Ma Cherie's travel size shampoo of "Air Feel" whatever that's supposed to mean. It smells lovely. You can see the travel kit I use all the way on the right. To be honest, I like it, but I like only using once a week.
3. Wash my body with the travel size that Sephora sells of L’Occitane Cleansing And Softening Shower Oil With Almond Oil. It's weird because, yes, it's an oil, and like cleansing oil that I use for my face, it turns white the second it touches wet skin. Which, obviously I am soaked head to toe. It is softening, but I am also glad I only part take in this luxury about once a week.
4. Put "Air Feel" conditioner on the tips of my hair.
5. Wash my face with Caolion's Pore Blackhead O2 Sparkling Soap, as seen on the left. It is literally just a round piece of bar soap. It foams up very well, but actually has got me on the edge because it gives me a "squeaky clean" feel that I associate with high pH levels (an obvious no-no because high pH disturbs the acid mantle of the face). However, it smells great!! I want to say it's a warm smell, a bit nutty and sweet, shea butter perhaps. It goes on nicely, foams up, then leaves you squeaky, but by the time you have patted dry your face, it feels soft and smooth. It's $5 for the travel size at Sephora and I liked the smell of it so much that I bought one for my sister too. Probably wouldn't use it every day because of the "squeaky clean" factor, but definitely don't mind using it once a week. It's better than the alternative-- trying to pack my MRCS and totally forgetting it because I always put it back in the medicine cabinet on auto-pilot at that time in the morning. Best having something to clean my sweat, grime-layered face than nothing at all. This is surely not the worst and is quite nice.
6. Rinse my face, my body one more time, and then the conditioner out of my hair.
7. Today I brought a toner sample I got with my recent Nature Republic purchase. It's the matching Super Aqua Watery line to that cream I recently revisited and disliked. Usually I just go straight to the moisturizer-- I use the small sample size pot of Ole Henrikson's Sheer Transformation. This is the second sample pot I have since it came with a Sephora Play! box. It's ok, for that price it's not doing any miracles. It sometimes makes my skin tingle, but I am guessing that is a part of the fruit acids that "gently exfoliate," which I see as a red flag to use in the mornings because acids make your skin weaker and more prone to sun damage. But I digress.
8. Take out my little tube of Biore Waterly Essence sunscreen and spread it across my face like melted citrus buttah.


Anyway, that's a look into my Workout Wednesday Skincare Routine. This should probably be more than just Wednesday, but right now, that is what works best into my work/life/school balance.

Rethinking a Product: Nature Republic Super Aqua Max Combination Watery Cream

About a year ago, when I last went to Taiwan and got myself some impulse facial cream at the duty free store, I found myself purchasing Nature Republic's Super Aqua Max Combination Watery Cream. I had tried it out in the store once back at home, and the price was right. I used up the entire jar, and even opted to buy it again when my Aunt went through duty free.

BOY, what a difference time does make.

New complaints:

1. Too overtly fragranced. It feels like I am literally putting perfume on my face. The smell is so strong I almost find it pungent. It's a fresh, slightly floral smell, so not a bad smell, just too much smell.
2. Too thick/gel-ly. This cream reminds me of my Laneige Watery Sleeping Pack. This morning when I went to wash my face, it had a layer on top of the skin which I am not used to. Mizon get absorbed and feels so good on my skin, absorbs well and quickly. It doesn't make me oily, and really, though I know my nose is shiny, I feel like I have balanced out the combination dry/oily with the AIO Snail Cream. However, due to the heavy consistency, I feel like this Super Aqua Max Combination Watery Cream is just a holding layer creating another layer on stop of my skin, not penetrating into my skin, even as I slept with it on. Does not feel good to literally be washing my face of product nearly 7 hours after application.

Now I know and even if the price is right, no thank you, I would not repurchase this. What I would repurchase and am having a hard time refraining from repurchasing? My Mizon AIO Snail creams (original and in Black, but not the gel cream). 

Perhaps, I am thinking that as a skincare n00b that wasn't in tune with what her skin wants, I thought that this cream was ok. However, now that I have found products that work and feel so much better, I regret having repurchased this as I don't want to use it anymore and yet I have a whole new jar to finish. >.<

Then I have two more Nature Republic creams, and it makes me nervous because that's a lot of creams and a lot of messing up my face before I get back to what I know works for me.

If it ain't broke, don't fix it. Really should learn my lesson and stick with what I know works instead of getting tempted by duty free and sales. Honestly not a fan of overly perfumed skin care products. 

Love my sum 37 MRCS so much that I haven't even purchased another cleaner. The samples I get from Sephora Play! can't even measure up. Nope, just don't like any other cleanser at all. Can't even think twice.

Toners-- haven't found one that I am in love with, though The Chia Seed one from TFS is really growing on me.

LOVE the Mizon AIO snail creams-- I really shouldn't be cheating on them by buying other creams that don't even get me excited anymore.

I used to love the Missha FTE, but recently, I realized that I didn't see a difference even with two bottles. I'm not into short terms fixes, I'm into long haul changes. Maybe I'll incorporate it once I get "used to" the layering feel of this watery cream product.

Bottomline: Don't be afraid to leave what is mediocre behind. WOULD NOT repurchase ever again.