Whoops! It's Mid-October

So my hiatus was only supposed to be for a short period, but I forgot after getting out of this habit. Ghana has changed a lot in me, and where I used to stockpile and haul lots of products at once, I realize that I live in such gross abundance and should only buy what I need when I need it. Instead of buying things I don't need at all and let them sit in the closet.

Less of a consumerism mindset and more of use what I have and be over grateful for it.

I am also grateful that I live in a such a place of such abundance and accessibility. What would I do without Amazon? I have no idea, but I hate them at the same time for killing smaller markets in a world where everyone is just trying to make it.

In using what I have and not buying more, I realize I have been a part of this skincare game for many years now (over three, has it really been that long?!) and I know what I like. I really hated the Secret Key dupe for first essence treatment and would not buy that stuff again in a million years. Finally finished that bottle at the beginning of this month and it felt like ages before I went through it (I would use excess as well, but it still lasted FOREVER).

I know what I like and it's this:

1. Cleanser: sum37 MRCS, which is currently out of stock everywhere it seems. I have one stashed away, but am hesitant to start it now, so maybe I'll try the Neogen Green Tea stick to see how it compares. I am not a fan of oil cleansing.
2. Toner: Missha Clear Toner. Every time I am using a bottle of this, I just feel like my skin is so much more ready and willing to soak in other products. Love the wateriness of it, too. Currently I am using a Peach and Lily sample sale of Bitgoa Hue Essence Toner. It is actually lovely and great, but at that price I just kind of miss my $16 Missha Clear Toner bottle. It's more fragranced than I like, but it does work nicely (albeit seems like it's for older ladies and smells like it too). I recommend it, but I think there are cheaper products that work just as well.
3. First Essence: SK-II, which really, I've tried the Missha dupe, which is my favorite dupe of it, but there can't be a dupe when it sells for $150 a bottle (ok, that was duty free pricing, I think Sephora in the States has it for over $200). It feels like I am splashing my face in dollar bills when I use it, but I am always so pleased with the results.
4. Serums, ampoules, etc etc: Actually haven't found THE ONE yet. I've tried face oils, and The Ordinary (which just went through a mass of drama, I mean, the ex-CEO is clearly on some sort of drugs) isn't really as high quality as other products I've used and it's just ok. Never found a vitamin C serum that made me excited to use up the whole bottle. Definitely wasted two amber bottles as they spoiled before I remembered to use it more consistently. On my third bottle of Caudalie serum, but at that price, I just rather invest in my SK-II instead of extra serums that seem to peter out after a while. There hasn't been any wow's in this department.
5. Face Masks: Too Much Fun In the Sun by Leaders is my ABSOLUTE FAV and I got it by accident when it was on sale at a random TJ Maxx in a neighborhood I hardly visit. Great find, I really like them the most. Second would be Lovemore's Pearl Barley and Milk smoothing masks. To be honest, I guess I have a propensity towards smoothing masks; they seem to help my skin and make it feel much better.
6. Moisturizer: Though Mizon Snail line has earned it's place as I have bought it again and again and again (just love the scentlessness of it as well as the way it gets absorbed so quickly). But the true winner here is the chewy and sticky Joseon Beauty of Joseon Dynasty Cream. At 50 ml it goes so quickly, but the texture, the absorption, and even the light, sweet fragrance to it makes all my nerves at ease. It makes my face feel chok chok in the harshest of winters (which Mizon AIO Snail and Black Snail both fail to do).
7. Sunscreen: BAE Biore Watery Essence 50 spf pa plus plus plus plus. As a person of ghostly paleness, sunscreen is my life. Sometimes I don't feel fully protected by BAE Biore because it's chemical and not mineral, but I always go back for that light citrusy scent of sun protection. It goes on so smooth, I forget what my skin feels like underneath. It is BAE for a reason, great product, great results, great price (when you can find it for ~$6) and really, my most repurchased product in all of skincare.

When it comes to everything else that I've tried, whether it be exfoliating toners followed by AHA/BHA serums or clay masks for detoxing, or sleeping masks for the harsher winter months, none of them really wow me into keeping them, and often they sit in the medicine cabinet open and half used, forgotten because they didn't really bring anything to the table. Some products I just use to try to finish using, and got "creative" by putting it elsewhere (I've got the smoothest legs and tummy skin, I swear, I wipe my hands on my tummy after application way more frequently than I like to admit).

This is to say, that though my Skincare Journey is not over, it is slowing down. I am reusing products that are tested tried and true (oh dear lord I have over $300 of SK-II in my closet that is waiting on the queue to be used because other products are expiring first). My posts will be less about what is in my routine, but more on products I've been trying to use up so I can maintain the usage of my favorite products that are listed above. 

Ghanian Hiatus - June/July/August

Due to the fact that I have been abroad and there are so many factors that change this skincare routine, and everything is a possible element of change, we will be on Hiatus until the first week of September when all that traveling is done and there's been a month of settling.

The food, the water that you aren't supposed to use to brush your teeth, the change in diet, the change in sleep, the change in daily life, your skin wears it all.

Skincare Routine Monthly Check-in: May 1, 2018

Currently in PANIC mode as my COMPLETE forehead has broken out into small tiny clumps of acne. It is terrible, it is horrendous, and I have no idea what brought it on. I was thinking it was something new I introduced, but then my whole face would be reacting, not just my forehead. Then I thought it would be from the boyfriend kissing my forehead too much, but nah, I have a minimalist, but still cleanse, tone, moisturize there at his place. So I don't know, stress? I am stressing out even more, this is a poor way of staying within the stress pimple cycle.

1. Oil Cleanser: None! Got Kose Speedy in the mail, but more for my sister who actually wears make-up. Tried it twice. It's ok, I guess?
2. Water-based Cleanser:  Cosrx Low Ph Good Morning Gel cleanser, finished up Lagom's Gellup Gel to Water Cleanser, seeing if I want to try another one that's in my closet. Maybe from the Club Clio close-out.
3. Hydrating Toner:  Mizon's AHA/BHA toner, not really digging it at all. Miss Missha's Clear Toner instead.
4. Active: Mizon's 8% Peeling Gel AHA/BHA, hardly used it this month, just didn't have time to squeeze it in. Have been doing it nightly since PANIC mode started two days ago.
5. First Essence -  Secret Key's Starting Treatment Essence smells like nail polish remover to me. Not really seeing any results, but rather, feel like I'm patting in nail polish remover smell each even. Miss my SK-II. Have the special year of the dog edition I should start soon.
6. Serum: The Ordinary's Squalane doesn't sink in the same. Just feels greasy. Maybe I'll try rosehip next, but I don't care for squalane as much as I used to with the other brand.
7. Eye Creams: Algenist white in the evening, sometimes. The lines under my eyes feel like permanence and I try to not smile as hard as I usually do, out of fear that I'll make them stronger, deeper, permanent. 
8. Moisturizer: AM: Shangpree's Bitgoa Hue Rich Cream, it's ok. Unremarkable, would not purchase again. PM: Body Merry's Retinol Surge Moisturizer which I got on a lightning deal via Amazon. It makes my face tingle more then the 8% AHA/BHA that I occasionally use.
9. Sleeping Pack: Not really these days.
10. Sunscreen: Peripera Oil Capture Peach Sun Finisher with SPF 50/PA+++, is still hanging out, haven't used it in a while. Lately been using and trying to use up the Neogen Dermalogy Day-Light Protection Sun Screen, never really got used to the Neogen sunscreen. Sure, it applies ok, but it just wasn't for me with that citronella smell. Used it a lot on vacation. STILL LOVE BAE BIORE and have been using that in the morning.

We're transitioning straight from winter into summer. Where is my spring, gosh darnit! I want my spring.

ODE TO BAE BIORE

Honest to GOD, life, and all things good. BAE Biore is really BAE for a reason. No, not a reason, but many reasons.

Every single time I use another sunscreen, or try something new, it is not the same as the love I feel for Biore UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence Sunscreen.

The smell is lovely, a light citrus.
It goes on easy, and dries even lovelier.
It makes my skin feel so, so, so smooth and soft, I can't even deal with how I was this was also a moisturizer.

My face feels so fine that I can't stop touching it. It feels as photoshop looks.

YOU ARE MY BAE, because, even with the way that I like SK-II, that price tag just isn't half as affordable are you.

BAE BIORE, stay with me forever. I miss the 2015 formula, but I will just have to deal. This 2015 light blue tube is the best thing that's happened to me in this entire skincare journey.

Skincare Routine Monthly Check-in: April 4, 2018

I'm off the Whole 30 and gained back five pounds and my face feels bloated and chunky, JOY. Here's an updated list of products, there are a fair amount of new ones since a couple of products just happened to run out at the same time.

1. Oil Cleanser: None!
2. Water-based Cleanser:  I realize that I really do like my Cosrx Low Ph Good Morning Gel cleanser.over Lagom's Gellup Gel to Water Cleanser, and hardly use the Lagom Cleanser even though I have an extra tube in the closet from the Peach and Lily Sample sale.
3. Hydrating Toner:  Mizon's AHA/BHA toner, I feel meh about this, similar to how I felt with Park and Son's Beauty Water as a toner
4. Active: Mizon's 8% Peeling Gel AHA/BHA, sometimes I get that tingle, most time I forget this step because I am tired and just want to go to bed and not wait for anything to dry.
5. First Essence - The little SK-II bottle I got in a set from Sephora ran out, and I wanted to cry. My little 3 oz, $76 dollared glass bottle. I keep it in the cabinet next to the current dupe I'm using that I just don't like enough at all.  Secret Key's Starting Treatment Essence is/was supposed to be a really good dupe. So when the price dropped on Amazon, I took it and held it captive in my closet. This was before my break-through with using SK-II and I wasn't settled on SK-II.
6. Serum: The Ordinary's Squalane! The dropper drips WAY TOO EASY and I get product everywhere. I miss the other dropper, which was more consistent and contained. 
7. Eye Creams: Algenist white in the evening. I slop the stuff on, don't mind it, but don't know if it does much.
8. Moisturizer: A Peach and Lily Sample Sale find: Shangpree's Bitgoa Hue Rich Cream, which I think I got for $20? It retails for $85, and right now I cannot understand why. It's pretty thick, goes on well, reminds me a bit of a cream geared towards an older generation.
9. Sleeping Pack: Often find myself trying to use up my old Missha Snail Sleeping pack. It's just a sealant of a moisturizer, too heavily fragranced, I think.
10. Sunscreen: Peripera Oil Capture Peach Sun Finisher with SPF 50/PA+++, and I opened my Amazon bought Neogen Dermalogy Day-Light Protection Sun Screen, which smells like Citronella candle and makes me think if I bought another bad product off Amazon. It only cost me $15, which is like half price from Sephora (but that's normal), but this smell? I don't know how I feel about that.... 

THREE NEW PRODUCTS! Will my face go crazy?!

The Secret Key SK-II dupe... well, it's not doing well with me. Not that the product has made me break out or anything, it just.... isn't SK-II. Also, it smells like nail polish remover and then it makes me think... did I buy a bad product or an imitation product off of Amazon? I haven't had any negative experiences yet. However, this nail polish remover smell is TERRIBLE. Honestly, even if it did work (which I'm skeptical) I am not into the smell.

Then there's The Ordinary's Squalane, and well, the dropper is a problem, it feels greasier than the last one...takes a little longer to "soak in" and I guess I just miss my Peach and Lily Sample Sale find.

Shangpree's Bitgoa Hue Rich Cream is cream.... for older people. It's this murky peach that reminds me of a grandma's hosiery or cold cream. It's nothing special, and doesn't make my skin feel like anything more than what it's supposed to. Biore BAE has more of an affect on me than anything.

And don't get me started on the citronella candle sunscreen again. This is not bug repellent, so I don't get what's going on....Wonder how much longer I can tolerate this smell. I almost miss the greasiness of the Peripera Oil Capture Peach Sun Finisher better.

Skincare Routine Monthly Check-in: March 16, 2018

I accidentally overwrote this entry. It's a blah entry. I was on a Whole30 and my skin was amazing and I forgot to update until halfway through the month.

1. Oil Cleanser: None!
2. Water-based Cleanser:  Cosrx Low Ph Good Morning Gel cleanser Lagom's Gellup Gel to Water Cleanser, 
3. Hydrating Toner:  Mizon's AHA/BHA toner, I feel meh about this, similar to how I felt with Park and Son's Beauty Water as a toner
4. Active: Mizon's 8% Peeling Gel AHA/BHA, it tingles
5. First Essence - SK-II
6. Serum: Olivarrier's Fluid Oil Squalane is almost done. I like it, but I am ready to try The Ordinary's version. 
7. Eye Creams: Algenist white in the evening. I slop the stuff on, don't mind it, but don't know if it does much.
8. Moisturizer: Beauty of Joseon Dynasty cream is on it's last day(s). Really, maybe one use left, I'll miss you!! Totally going to repurchase. It's on Amazon for $18 right now, should I snag another jar?
9. Sleeping Pack: Whoops, haven't been using one.... But I use a coconut moisturizer that is really thick at night instead.
10. Sunscreen: Peripera Oil Capture Peach Sun Finisher with SPF 50/PA+++, it's nice, but I am hoping to finish it soon.

Skincare Routine Monthly Check-in: February 5, 2018

Second month of the new year and what's this? I love my skin? Oh wow, wait, what is going on?!

1. Oil Cleanser: None!
2. Water-based Cleanser:  Switch between Cosrx Low Ph Good Morning Gel cleanser.and Lagom's Gellup Gel to Water Cleanser. Depending on how I feel. Usually use Cosrx when I wear some make-up.
3. Hydrating Toner:  Missha Clear Toner, which I have been using since September 25, 2017, is on it's very last legs. Mizon's AHA/BHA toner is next, and I wonder if it's going to hydrating enough to use alone.
4. SK-II - LOVING IT, even though I still imagine myself pasting a dollar bill to my face each time I slap some on. Maybe two dollars if I go back for another shake. It's just that expensive, and cost over 1/3 of my overall trip. If I splurge on anything, I think this will be it.
5. Serum: Still using Olivarrier's Fluid Oil Squalane and I have praised it for when it was the only one that didn't hurt my skin when I chemically burned myself. My The Ordinary order is at my FRONT DOOR. I am super excited and I am going have to hold myself back from opening it because I am trying to get used to all these new products. (Moisturizer, and soon, toner!)
6. Eye Creams: Algenist white in the morning, Algenist slate in the evening. Using them because I have samples, so why not? Actually have a full tube of something eye cream that I'm not going to use until my other eye cream are gone. I have until 4/19 when the tube expires.
7. Moisturizer: Beauty of Joseon Dynasty cream which is only 50 ml, but feels like so much less. I used a dab and it goes so quickly. But smells so good and absorbs so much. It's great, but it's going too fast.
8. Sleeping Pack: Too Cool for School's Pumpkin Sleeping Pack, forever!! It's pratically done, but I haven't been using it as much.
9. Sunscreen: BAE Biore is ready to be cut up, but while I'm lazy I stick to Peripera Oil Capture Peach Sun Finisher with SPF 50/PA+++. 

Haven't been late to work, latest I've been is 9:02 or 9:03, I forget. But this is besides the point. The point is sometimes I still mess with my strawberry dotted nose and I pick and pick and squeeze out sebum, watching the little tubers come out of my already enlarged pores.

HOWEVER, my strawberry dots... they're not as dark as they used to be. In fact, even the ones that start to spread to my cheeks that reminds me more of little dirty peach fuzz than sebum... are clearer. My pores and their enlarged size are still there.... but it just looks cleaner! I am not sure what is going on, but I like it.

Let my strawberry nose be something of the past.... pore minimizing is impossibly, but I really need to stop picking at my skin.

Also noticed that it looks like I'm going to get pimples, but instead they just turn into dark spots that are flat and unnoticeable when I brush over my mouth/jawline area. It's like my hormonal acne wanted to come out, but all they got was a shadow and then POOF they're gone.

I don't know what combination of products this is, but I'm loving it!! Imagine if I started eating right and doing the Whole 30 again and now much more perfect my skin would be.

My The Ordinary Order

The Ordinary 100% Plant-Derived Squalane - 30ml	7.90	x 1	7.90
The Ordinary “Buffet” - 30ml	14.80	x 1	14.80
The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% - 30ml	5.90	x 1	5.90

This simple order makes me smile. Though I originally wanted the Rosehip Seed Oil, it was sold out, so I opted for Niacinamide instead. (Free shipping starts at $25, so might as well try something else!)

Ever since my lovely time healing from when I chemically burned my face (that's really must have been what I had done, there's no other explanation for it), I have been very thankful for Squalane. The ONLY item in my routine that did not leave my face stinging upon application.

However, it is important to not discount the fact that I had also incorporated two newer items into my routine: SK-II and Beauty of Joseon Dynasty cream. SK-II stung my skin when I was going through my reaction, and the Beauty of Joseon Dynasty was applied at the tail end, so I cannot actually assess if it was helpful or not.

Squalane, precious plant-derived squalane. Though the one I am using now was bought for $10 during the Peach and Lily, the original price is $42 and I am not willing to pay that much for 1 ounce of facial oil. The price that The Ordinary offers is cheaper than what I originally paid and I am going to compare it when I get the chance. DECIEM notes that they can take up to ten business days to process and order, nevermind actual shipment and deliver of these products.

There is no rush, I have an abundance of skincare products that I need to get through before they expire.

Maybe this is the time where I should introduce an eyecream... after using SK-II for a month to see how my skin stabilizes. (Ah, but sometimes I just get so excited about products that I want to use them all at once!)

Allergic Reaction Non-Action

So, where I might have tried to up my game and fix my allergic reaction that I felt two Sundays ago (January 21), I realized that maybe less is more and time will heal it in itself.

So I did mask a couple time at first, but my face was still really sensitive. Even my Missha Clear Toner and my SK-II essence felt like it burned when I slapped it (figuratively) on my face. Especially around the upper lip and mouth area. Oh boy, it stung and stung and stung, morning and night, both routines. Then, on January 24th, on Wednesday I ran out of my usual moisturizer, and started using the Beauty of Joseon Dynasty cream which I purchased on a whim when I saw it went down to $15 USD on Amazon.

This is one of those sticky creams, and I AM LOVING IT. Whereas I did not have a good experience with Donkey Milk cream, I am having a good one with Beauty of Joseon Dynasty.

However, I think it's only fair that I mention the importance of 100% Fluid Squalene, the ONLY part of my skin routine that did not sting my skin on contact.

Thank for face oil, for treating my skin right when everything else brought me pain.

ALLERGIC REACTION ACTION

Masking is great, I LOVE sheeting masking.

However, it does not always love me. I found this out the hard way when I tried a Freeset Donkey Milk Aqua Skin Gel Mask Pack and found that my mouth area felt like it was burning... well I knew I had to take it off and wash my face again immediately.

Of course, I did this mask and had this sort of discomfort right before a Friday night date. Wonderful :/

I quickly applied a Lovemore Milk and Barley smoothing mask over it to counteract whatever issue I had just felt and thought I evaded all problems. I thought wrong. Though Friday night it was fine, and all Saturday I felt normal, when I woke up Sunday morning, it looked like I was wearing a red muzzle. It was dry, it was tight, and it felt swollen and uncomfortable.

This morning, Monday morning, it felt the same, and worse, if that's possible. It feels like my skin is dried but still stung by bees. I brought moisturizer to work, but I am worried that by over lotioning my skin, not only will I look oily and greasy, but that it will exacerbate the problem.

Ugh, what a reaction for the first day of classes. Not fun.

Need to take action without exacerbation. We will see how this works. Used sheet mask good and still felt it. I wonder if using The Boy's Neutrogena Deep Clean face wash to wash my make-up off on Friday night excaerbated the issue... but it didn't show until a day later? That's kind of weird, but now that I think of it, totally plausible.

Skincare Routine Monthly Check-in: January 14, 2018

Not only am I fourteen days late of my personal deadline, but I am also all over the place because I have been traveling for the last two/three weeks.

The end of december went well, but it was full of final papers and things to take care of, and then before I knew it, it was December 26 and I was in the air on my way back to my beloved Taiwan. Taiwan was great, but I had my travel skincare routine, which consisted of Kiehl's facewash, leftover Moistfull Booskin toner, Maycoop Raw, and goodal's boost moisturizer. Sunscreen, of course, BAE Biore, new formula. Broke out a little, but that makes sense with the change of atmospheres between Taiwan, Bali, and back home. Bali was even hotter and more humid and Taiwan, which was already hot and humid enough.

However, I did do one thing while at Duty Free on my way home... I spent over $300 USD on SK-II. Pouring that liquid money all over my face as of January 12, 2018. My fine lines, especially the ones around my eyes, feel more apparent, in an exponentially fast pace. Therefore, when I saw the bottle that retails for $229, for $146 USD, I jumped on it, got the two bottle special edition Year of the Dog set, bought another started set that brought me up to over $10,000 Taiwanese dollars and gave me a travel set (which was probably worth $50 USD on its own).

In 2018 I vow to take the best care of my skin, and I have started with the expensive SK-II habit. Oh, feel that lifestyle creep? It says you're graduating and won't have to pay school bills for much longer.

Well, let's get on with it, my 2018 Skincare routine!

1. Oil Cleanser: None!
2. Water-based Cleanser:  Mornings still get Cosrx Low Ph Good Morning Gel cleanser. Been going back to usng Lagom's Gellup Gel to Water Cleanser, but it doesn't feel like it does anything much.
3. Hydrating Toner:  Missha Clear Toner, SK-II dupe of their $76 clear toner. It does the trick, but I have so many toners that once this bottle is done, it's time to use something else. It will be a product I miss using, I think that's an indicator that it's gaining HG status.
4. SK-II - Essence slapped onto my face here. It is lightweight and much sweeter smelling than I imagined. Reminds me of one of my favorite Taiwanese breakfast drinks, yi ren jian, or Job's Tears Barley drink. At over $60 for the little 75 ml bottle I'm using right now (Sephora sells it as a part of a $99 starter kit), I remind myself that each shake of the bottle is practically like pasting a dollar bill to my face. It's just that expensive.
5. Serum: Still using Olivarrier's Fluid Oil Squalane and it's odd, but I do like it. I make to pat extra around my eyes, I am so scared for those fine lines right now. Still using Derma Dr.Lab Hydromoist Night Rich Serum can't tell if it works, but I am going to finish using it all the same.
6. Moisturizer: Dr. G's Hydra Volume Cream tube, which has been on it's last legs (and if I didn't go on vacation, would have probably been gone already). Going to transition into another day cream, but I am not sure yet. Using the Coconut Souffle moisturizer at night since it's so thick.
7. Sleeping Pack: Too Cool for School's Pumpkin Sleeping Pack, forever!! But it has started to run out and I squeeze out compressed air half the time now. Once it's done, it's time to start and finish the other Holika Holika sleeping pack I have, though I know it won't live up to the Holy Grail status of TCFS's Pumpkin.
8. Sunscreen: Haven't been using the Peripera Oil Capture Peach Sun Finisher with SPF 50/PA+++. Instead I had opened up a new formula tube of BAE Biore. I still like it, even though its different. Interestingly enough, I got four more tubes in Taiwan.... and they're still only selling the old formula. Got to use that up first then, I usually run out every month and a half, so that's not going to be too bad, no matter how old the formula is, I think.

Really need to make amends to my sleeping patterns, as I vowed never to be late to this job again. Also, I need my beauty sleep, but I keep finding myself in long naps each evening. Tired from vacation, need a vacation from vacation. Totally missing the daily massages we would get in Bali.