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. 

Sephora Sample Wonderland: Clay Masks Part Deux - DERMADOCTOR Kakadu CAmethyst Clay Detox Mask vs Caudalie Instant Detox Mask

First things first: read the directions. So I headed over to find the directions. One sad thing about the Sephora Sample Wonderland is that though they print out a little "receipt" of sorts about the product, they never actually tell you how to use it. Yay for the Internet to provide such simple things. 

DERMADOCTOR Kakadu C Amethyst Clay Detox Mask:

Apply a generous layer to clean, dry skin. Leave on for 15 minutes. Rinse thoroughly with warm water, and pat dry. Use three times a week.

Caudalie Instant Detox:

Smear a thin coat over clean skin twice a week. Leave for 10 minutes then rinse, following with your favorite serum or moisturizer.

As you can see, both of these masks suggest being used multiple times a week. Would I really suggest that? Cannot say for sure right now, but they're definitely no super power that Glamglow has. I do say that I like how the Caudalie directions tell you to follow with what ought to be common sense, but is something I highly doubt people take into consideration. I actually used my normal toner and first essence regieme post-mask since I already did a sheet mask yesterday. Following with Missha's snail cell new sleeping pack (which I think of more as a nicely fragranced, kind of stickier moisturizer) which I have yet to really see any results from, but wanted a protective barrier.

The Kakadu C was thicker and smelled like blueberries, or maybe it just looked like blueberry colored, but definitely had a grape or sweet very like smell. It was thick and not very easy to spread, however I do wonder if that was because this was the bottom of the jar that I received the sample from. It smelled nice, but was very tacky and reminded me of the Peter Thomas Roth Irish Moor Mud. This mask also did not change colors when it dries, or if it did it was very subtle.

The Caudalie mask was pink and had a light refreshing and almost kind of minty smell. The texture was smoother and more like Glamglow, but without the grains. It went on smoothly and very nicely, I have to say that part really felt nice. Akin to Glamglow, when it dries it changed colors and had this air pocket all over where my sebum probably is the most. The instant gratification kind of fell knowing that your trouble spots are being properly targeted. It's a pink clay, so maybe the bubble or circles in the mask when it dries are really a property of clay masks. This needs more research.

However, the Sephora lady this time was stingy, and I hardly had enough to put in my entire face, especially the Kaladu C, that ran out on half of my face and I wasn't even that generous. It was difficult to spread and I didn't have enough to do a whole face, what a bad sample. The Caudalie spread so nicely and even generously spread it was not tough and there is enough for another go. Best make it to Sephora again for another sample, hopefully out of a fresher jar this time.

Sorry for the yellowish lighting, but it's really more of a blue/purple than gray. Kakadu C is made from a sort of plum, though the color seems artificial to me. The Caudalie is a light pink that almost looks like a nude when on, which is how I missed a small spot. However, it's dries very obviously and turns a white-ish pink.

On the lower right you can see the instant gratification spots I mentioned earlier.

Bottom line: Needs a part deux, but I am definitely leaning towards the Caudalie. Finally, something Caudalie that I like! Their other products usually have a smell that I just can't stand.