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. 

Skincare Routine as of January 11, 2016

NEW YEAR, NEW HAUL

It's been a CRAZY month, with Christmas, going to Taiwan, and, sadly, coming back home. Taiwan is really the home I chose and there's nothing that can compare.

That being said, my skin routine has been tweaked and partially neglected these past two weeks. Taiwan weather doesn't call for the use of a moisturizer as thick as Aveeno, and I ended up using some new products I bought instead.

1. Water Wash
2. Missha Clear Toner
3. Missha First Essence
4. Nature Republic Super Aqua Max Combination Watery Cream
5. Biore Watery Essence PA 50+++

It's been a rough two weeks of fun, food, and exercise. However, my poor skin has been breaking out around the edges that it was time to use some of the masks I bought upon my return. Changes in atmosphere, humidity, temperature, and jet lag all have taken their toll on my skin. My poor ever-pale skin.

So right now I am adjusting to this less humid weather and going back to a routine more similar.

1. Wash Rinse
2. Missha Clear Toner
3. Missha First Essence
4. SKII Repair C (aka liquid gold I sample from Sephora)
5. AM: Aveeno SPF 30 Moisturizer
5. PM: Nature Republic Super Aqua Max Combination Watery Cream

Last night I used My Beauty Diary's Black Pearl Mask and I have to say, I am happy with it. My skin has broken out, but it doesn't feel that way right now. It feels smooth, dewy, and irritation free! Yay.

First Impressions Fridays: Missha Time Revolution's Clear Toner and FTE

There is one thing that I just don't really get, what is the difference between dewy and greasy?

Dewy means your skin is plump, but is there a hint of sheen to it? Greasy is synonymous with bad things like pimples and smelly hair, but when is sheen too much sheen and just greasy looking?

My first impressions after using the toner and FTE is that it does make a difference. Even though I feel like I am splashing my face with a yeasty smelling water, and then splashing it with some more water (FTE's consistency), I do feel like my skin is lighter and more supple than when I had no used it prior.

This morning though, when I put on the Nature Republic sunscreen I felt like my skin was not taking it as well. It was TOO supple, TOO moisturized. Is that when it becomes greasy? Maybe I never noticed it before, but I felt like after putting on my moisturizer, my face had had enough. Like it didn't want any more layers to it.

Anyway, this is day one, second use, and at night it's fine (though I do still wake up with an oily-ish T-zone, my U-zone is properly hydrated). We will see what happens as the two weeks wear on.

Add a Product Thursday! Missha FTE

It's late, and I really shouldn't but I am going to. Today marks the second week of using Freeset's Donkey Milk 3D Moisture Cream. More detailed review later.

My friend got me a sample of Nude's face oil, which is in a small dispenser that I will check out later.

The last two or three days I have been using the Nature Republic Sunscreen, more on that later as well.

Today I am excited because I am not introducing one, but TWO new products. Usually I would be hesitant, but they came in a set and I want to use both the toner and first essence.

Day one of using Missha's Time Revolution Starter Set's Clear Toner and First Treatment Essence "Intensive." Let's see how it goes.

New Product Excitement!! - MISSHA Thanksgiving Haul

Can it really be called a haul when I only purchased two things?

My Missha Haul came: a Time Revolution Starter Set and SUPER AQUA Cell Renew Snail Sleeping Mask. The samples were stingy, I guess I came to expect much more than just two little night repair ampoule samples. No complaints though, I will use these and check how they work with my skin.

So excited!!! Though my trial period with Freeset's Donkey Milk 3D Moisture Cream is only in the sixth of fourteen days, I have used a mask (ugh, more on that bad choice later) and this is a sleeping pack, so it's an additional to whatever is usual. In twelve days though, I will introduce the Time Revolution Set which will incorporate a toner and a first essence prior to any additional serums and creams.

However, I really do NOT like the Clinique City Block SPF 40 that I have been using. This is probably because I am not used to wearing make-up and it reminds me of wearing make-up. It has this tint to it that I can see pools in the fine lines around my eyes (I am very expressive, so I am not surprised). My biggest turn off to this product would have to be the fact that this color comes off when I blot my face with a wet paper towel, which I often do after I was my hands in the restroom.

Perhaps this is odd, but I do not like to touch the bathroom door handle, or any other door handles really. It is gross and covered in germs. So usually, I go to the bathroom, wash my hands, dry my hands on a paper towel, and with this damp paper towel I blot my face (it's very refreshing) and use that same towel to cover the door handle as I exit.

Today I blotted at my face and it felt like I was just blotting all the SPF away. It made the paper towel so... brown, and I did not like that ONE BIT. Nope! I do not like at all and will probably just stick to my Aveeno SPF 30 instead. Seriously, that's one item I have not lived without. In college I started with their other line of moisturizer with was a cream bottle with a pastel green top dispenser. It only had 15 SPF and that was not enough as I would still suffer from slight bouts of sunburn, even on the least sunny of days. Lots of the reviews complain about it's smell-- I think it's a nice fragrance though I admit it is heavily fragranced.

Anyway! My excitement has carried on long enough. Tomorrow I will divulge my snail sleeping mask experience!! Yay!!