Currently in a No-Buy stage

Impulsively ordered two more bottles of Senka sunscreen because it was $7.02 on Amazon. (Gah, it's 6.92 now on May 2nd!)

Need to stop buying, but if I do, I need to stop from Amazon because there's nothing new.

Looking at Stratia's Liquid Gold, which I have seen popping up on the AB reddit a bit. Is it AB? I have no idea, I just know that less AB and more affordable care is all the rage right now. Especially with handpicked ingrediants from low-cost places like The Ordinary. Though I did browse The Ordinary, I didn't see anything that really caught my eye, nor did I hear well about their new popularity with leaves people waiting for weeks. Maybe it's just reddit gossip, but I don't really need to wait weeks for something cheap when I really don't need it or know how good it is.

The other product I am looking at from Stratia is their soft-touch AHA. Always trying to work actives into my routine, this is a gentler acid and can be used with Vit C, I think?

Of course, there's the pricey Biologique Recherche Lotion P50, which is crazy expensive, hard to get, and is a cult classic from people who are and aren't in the skincare world. I mean, there are like, six million reviews.

Do I want to smell weird but have fabulous skin? I guess I can try... But first, get the cheaper basics down before you find yourself an expensive new habit.

Sharing the Skincare LOVE

My friend works for an e-commerce company that focuses on high end fashion and beauty products. Today after brunch we got ice cream and headed back to her house where she asked us to help her take some samples off her hands.

She had a shoes box of samples of high end companies, some which I was less familiar with, but a lot from Sephora as well.

We dove right in and then realized a problem-- none of my friends knew how to use or when to use the majority of these products. They didn't understand the difference between an exfoliating mask versus a hydrating mask. They didn't understand when to use acids, or when to use serums.

Out came the ziplock baggies, and we got down to categorizing all of her samples. Going from last to first, we rearranged her samples box. Moisturizers, serums, eye creams, essences, masks, acids, cleansers. Unfortunately there were little to no samples of toners-- which is what we could all use a little more of! Especially with the Sunday Riley Good Genes sample floating about.

My friend actually took out a notepad and went through all the steps and how to follow. They were amazed, but also very receptive to listening to me prattle on and on about skincare and what routines could look like or how they could vary or be shaped by different products and the amount of time you have for the products to absorb into your face.

Anyway, I guess when I am passionate about something, I do my research and pass on the knowledge. It makes me really happy to be taken seriously for something I am passionate about and to help others formulate, even if it's just the simplest, skincare routine.

So for anyone who has read entries from this blog and greeted an AB or non-AB skincare routine with equal enthusiasm, thank you for also being passionate because I sure don't know how I get any hits on this old thing. Thank you for being a part of this lovely journey.

Skincare Routine Monthly Check-in: April 12, 2017

Mid-month check-in:

1. Water-based Cleanser: sum37's Miracle Rose Cleansing Stick. ForEVAeva.
2. Moisturizing Toner:  Kikumasamune Moist toner is great and I even use it at the gym now. It smells weird when mixed into other scents, like body lotion from when I'm out of the shower at the gym, but otherwise, it is cheap and I am loving the effects!
3. Essence: Innifree's Soybean Energy Essence not done with this first essence yet, and really, can't tell the difference.
4. Serum:  Caudalie's Vinoperfect serum yay! My friend from France is visiting and she presented us all with Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse® which is kind of her, but I am not sure how to incorporate it. I've seen people say to add it to a serum or a moisturizer, but I don't know about this one. 
5. Moisturizer: Snail Solution 70 cream as seen in this set. Finally used up all the Nature Republic's Ginseng Royal Silk Essence at night. Never purchasing that 24k stuff again.
6. Eye stuff: Origin's GinZing on bad days, though I caved and got myself a tube of Purebess Galactomyces 80 EYE Cream 50ml Galactomyces 80% Wrinkles Moisturizing but I am a bit afraid/hestitant to use anything that had the word "wrinkles" in the title because my silly mind think it's going to give me wrinkles if I stop using it.
7. AM Sunscreen: Biore Aqua Rich Waterly Essence Sunscreen 50g Spf50+ Pa+++, is still BAE, but I've been using up what is left when I go to the gym. Daily, especially important now the sun's out, I apply Nivea Sun Protect Super Water Gel SPF 50/PA+++. Only need one pump and it's more than enough. Gives me that fresh dewy chok-chok look that Asian Beauty fanatics crave and that has gotten me several questions of, "did you just come from a facial?" Nope, no facial, just sunscreen. If you like that just-came-out-from-a-facial look, then I highly recommend this. For all other purposes and intents, I just want to stick with my BAE.