Skincare Routine Mondays: March 21, 2016

Back from my allergy attack!!! The adverse reaction happened on Sunday, and I actually went back to normal (kind of) around Thursday.

First Impressions, basically a short NPE!!! for the Lovemore mask (#6) and a further impression on the Mizon AIO Snail Repair Cream (now that I've phased out the Nature Republic Combination Watery Cream).

1. Oil Cleanser: None. Still none. Whatever. I don't wear make-up.
2. Water-based Cleanser: Fresh Soy Face Cleanser.
3. Toner: Missha's Clear Toner (in the Time Revolution Starter Set). Actually made my irritated skin tingle a bit, but such a slight reaction. I think using this and the First Essence really helped to rejuvenate my skin.
4. Serum or essence: Not quite an essence/serum, but a "First" Essence-- Missha's The First Treatment Essence (in the Time Revolution Starter Set).
5. Moisturizer:
    AM: Aveeno Smart Essentials Daily Nourishing Moisturizer SPF 30. But sometimes I just use NR's Combo Watery Cream with Biore's Watery Essence PA 50+++. Depends on how greasy I  feel.  
   PM :Mizon - All in One Snail Repair Cream (75ml)
6. Treatment Sheet Mask: Lovemore's Pearl Barley and Milk sheet mask

First Impressions, basically a short NPE!!! for the Lovemore mask.

Think about this name... Lovemore and hell yes! I'd lovemore of this mask, because it really is, simply put, that fabulous!

As you may have read, I was suffering from a very adverse allergic reaction on the lower half of my face. It was awful and instantly blew up, making my poor skin suffer. After the redness and swelling had died down, I was left with skin that felt like sand paper, like the winds of time themselves hit my face and left my skin coarse with windburn.


It was horrific.

However, on Thursday, I had the great idea (and unlike the accidental numbing agent, this was a great idea) to try out of my of precious Lovemore Masks. I tried out the Pearl Barley and Milk soothing mask, because I needed the smoothing part for sure. Not to mention that the "pearl barley" they are taking about is none other than Job's Tears (薏仁 yi ren) which is the main ingredient in one of my favorite traditional Chinese breakfast shop beverages Yi Ren Jiang (薏仁漿), which all the ladies at the bakeshop loved to tell me that it helps me skin become even white. Not a goal I actually want to attain, but I LOVE THIS DRINK. It reminds me of oatmeal, but not quite, much lighter and SO MUCH BETTER. So good, that it made me sooooo happy to put it on my face.

Here's a googled image that shows you the difference between "pearl barley" and "Job's tears"

Unlike other brands, Lovemore only comes in five to a box. The box itself cost me around $250 NTD, or in American, about $7 to $8 dollars. It wasn't as easy to find, especially not at a good price. I think it was a deal that I got at Poya which is an AWESOME place to get masks. They have so much variety, you can buy the pack of 5 (or ten, as it's with My Beauty Diary), individual packs (which is how I sampled a million types of My Scheming masks). Seriously, I know people like their (overpriced) Watson's, and then there is (the occasionally limited) Cosmed, but NOTHING beat Poya and the fact that Poya stores are HUGE and have vastly selection on basically EVERYTHING (even got my beloved panty-liners here for mad cheap, but that's another story). According to this week's Poya DM, My Scheming Masks (ten pack) are 2 for $285 NTD, which according to Google is around $8.81 USD. That is TWENTY masks for 44 cents a PIECE. Can we talk about how AWESOME that is?! Because it's damn awesome. Though I "dan dian"d my My Scheming masks and it was only twenty cents more per mask and I didn't get any duplicates; there were too many types to choose from!! Right now My Beauty Diary (which is also quite high in quality) is being sold at two for $419 NTD, which is about 12/13 dollars a pack, making it less than $1.30 a mask, which is why I think mask prices in the US are really so absurd. They also have kept up with the trends and do offer some random K-beauty. I got my teeny tiny Guerisson horse oil cream from there. Which is more like a salve, so maybe I bought the wrong thing?

Bottomline: Got these Lovemore masks along with a variety of My Scheming, My Beauty Diary, and NRK masks, and that's only the Taiwan side of things.

What makes this mask different is that it's not only thin, but it understands that it needs a protective layer as to not let the serum evaporate as quickly. Therefore, though I did cover it with my silicon mask from Daiso, it already came with it's own cover. The plastic white sheet comes off, and you're supposed to keep the blue sheet on. Except I didn't read the directions (which, for once, I can read and understand without English translation) and took the blue sheet off. But you can see how transparent and thin it is, almost like the new My Beauty Diary masks.

And the smell, the light sweet milky smell!! It was so aromatic and lovely and I have to say I really enjoyed smelling the mask itself as well as wearing it. It was delicious!!

This mask also has the thinnest lip slit ever. Which is fine because I have some rather thin lips, and actually worked out in my favor because as a part of the allergic reaction I was having, my lips were equally chapped and rough. But look how it cut off the tops of my lips, aka, the Cupid's Bow. My lips are so thin, that this is something I rarely if ever had to deal with. The mask lined right up with the bottom lip and it was snug, but I can't say I was going to complain. My lips/face needs as much pampering as possible.

I LOVED IT SO MUCH. It is truly my current NO.1 mask. Is it HG status worthy? Quite possibly. The serum that this mask is soaked in, really, really, really saved my poor suffering skin and I am so grateful for that.

Thank you Lovemore, for making me love you more.

Skincare Routine Mondays: March 7, 2016

1. Oil Cleanser: None. Still none. Whatever. I don't wear make-up.
2. Water-based Cleanser: Fresh Soy Face Cleanser. Only wish this company was cruelty-free. That would make my year!
3. Toner: Missha's Clear Toner (in the Time Revolution Starter Set). It turns out that it's supposed to be wipe off dirt kind of toner, not the set in the skin toner (as I have been treating it). However, every time I have used the cotton-ball method, I don't get any coloring on the cotton ball. Does that mean my face is too clean?!?! What is going on? I rather like using it as a prep, instead of a wipe-off. I think I am will stick to my old methods instead.
4. Serum or essence: Not quite an essence/serum, but a "First" Essence-- Missha's The First Treatment Essence (in the Time Revolution Starter Set).
5. Moisturizer:
    AM: Aveeno Smart Essentials Daily Nourishing Moisturizer SPF 30. But sometimes I just use NR's Combo Watery Cream with Biore's Watery Essence PA 50+++. Depends on how greasy I  feel.  
   PM : Nature Republic Super Aqua Max Combination Watery Cream.
6. NEW PRODUCT INTRODUCTION: Mizon - All in One Snail Repair Cream (75ml)

First Impressions, basically a short NPE!!!  Lookee here at numero 6! 

I am making the transition because I am nearly out of the Nature Republic Combination Watery Cream. Which I am sad about, but more so because I won't be able to get it at amazing duty-free prices anymore. Out with the old and in with the new.

However, any this is definitely a did she really go there? Yeah, she did... kind of moment. 

---IF YOU ARE UNDER 18 YEARS OLD STOP HERE, DON'T READ ANY FURTHER----!

NPE!! Nature Republic Provence Calendula Perfect Sun Block SPF50+ PA+++

So sometimes I get gimmicked into buying things from a sale person. Today was one of those days.

Nature Republic was having their sale that supposedly was supposed to end today. There was a large sunscreen I was looking at, their Sun Block Provence Calendula SPF 50 PA+++. It was marked down 50% from 29.90. 50%? Not bad. The girl chatted me up for a bit and tried to push other items on me, but I wasn't having it. However, with the recent disappointment in Clinique City Block, I was ready for another sunscreen, even though this one had a bit of a white finish.

Initially I was very sad because as soon as I did some research, I thought that I could have gotten this sun block for a couple bucks cheaper. Jolse via Amazon sells it for $14, an ebay seller is selling it for a penny less, and Cosmetic Love sells it for 16 cents cheaper than that.

However, note that the Nature Republic USA website is selling it at 20.90, but at the full 150 ML not the 57 ml linked above. (Found it via Jolse too for 16.98.) So I guess I got a pretty good deal since I did get the 150ml bottle. I do need all 150 ml (5.07 ounces) because I am pale as anything and need sun care all year long. Yes, I even bring it around in my purse on those awfully sunny days.

Due to the fact that I do not see it often online, and the fact that there are no ingredients listed (the box I purchased has it listed in Korean and English) here are the CosDNA results (I added to their website) and the ingredients:

Water, Ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate, Butylene Glycol, Ethlhexyl Palmitate, Cyclopentasiloxane, Titanium Dioxode (Cl 77891), Glycerin, 4-Methylbenzylidene Camphor, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Cyclohexasiloxane, Neopentyl glycol diheptanoate, Ethylhexyl salicylate, Alcohol Denat., Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Water, Glycol stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Triceteareth-4 phosphate, Glycol stearate, Silica, Sorbitan sesquioleate, Potassium cetyl phosphate, PEG-2 Stearate, Acrylates/ C10-30 alkyl acrylate crosspolymer, Glyceryl caprylate, Tromethamine, Caprylyl Glycol, Dimethicone, Citric Acid, Cetearyl Alcohol, Xanthan Gum, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Fragrance

(Many thanks to CosDNA because after I manually typed out the first four ingredients, I thought I was going to die.)

We will see how this goes and hopefully I am not allergic to it, because with it having a white cast, I don't know who else would want it. I am one the palest people I know, and of my pale friends, I am one of the most obsessive sunscreen apply-ers that I know. This will take over from the Clinique City Block SPF 40, which is tinted and therefore feels like I am wearing make-up, especially when I blot my face with a wet paper towel. (Yuck.)

Update May 2016: Has a very white cast, but smells nice. I use it for my arms every now and again when I remember. It's greasier and reminds me of Western sunscreen, only it doesn't smell like Western sunscreen. Would not purchase again. I'd rather have Hawaiian Tropic's SPF which moisturizes like lotion, smells great, but can take the ink right off plastic grocery bags.

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!!

Review: Hada Labo Alpha Lotion (Rating: Crestfallen)

I wanted so badly to like this. Purchased on Saturday night I instantly incorporated it into my routine. After all, I hadn't used toner in a while and this is precisely what it is.

It's a viscous liquid, and it comes out of the bottle in sticky drops. In all honesty, I reminds me of really watery sperm, maybe a little creamier. It spreads nicely, and goes on easily. However, today is the sixth day I am using it (for both morning and evening routines) and these pesky little white-head pimples just won't go away.

Ingredients: Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Beta Carotene, BHT, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Carbomer, Disodium EDTA, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Limnanthes Alba (Meadowfoam) Seed Oil, Methylparaben, PEG-20 Sorbitan Isostearate, PPG-10 Methyl Glucose Ether, Retinyl Palmitate, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Thioctic Acid, Tocopherol, Triethanolamine, Zea Mays (Corn) Oil

On COSDNA.com the ingredients do note that some are acne triggers. I can spread virgin coconut oil, a well known comedogenic, all over my face and never get a single pimple. However, I use this light, but sticky lotion/toner on my face and my cheeks are just dappled in acne. They're lining the undersides of my cheeks and my skin has never been this bumpy before.

Tonight marks the last night I use this lotion. To ease it's ill effects and to introduce a new product, I am started to use Donkey Milk 3D Moisture Cream at night.  My skin is still irritated with pimples, but feels nice and plump with this cream on.

Also, very excited, bought Missha's Time Revolution Starter Set because it was 40% off. Getting the First Time Essence is exciting! But I am also excited to get the clear toner because I have been trying to incorporate a toner into my routine and just can't find the right one. However, I erroneously thought I needed to spend over $50 to get free shipping (I realize that this is for SOKOGLAM and not Missha US, Missha US is $40 for free shipping, ugh, stupid me), I got a snail sleeping pack to make my total to be $60.

Snail goo, who knew? Going to hop on the bandwagon while I'm here. :)

New Product Excitement! - DONKEY MILK 3D MOISTURE CREAM

To be honest, I capitalized the title to be obnoxious.

So, yesterday, which I got the Japanese toner, the nice lady there also introduced Freeset's (Korean brand) product. Donkey Milk is all the rage these days, no? It was forty dollars and the sale associate even said it was really popular and they're only down to one even though it's rather expensive.

Either way, in my extensive research (re: reading fifty shades of snail's review where she gave it a 4.5 our of 5, very high satisfaction rate!) I saw a pharmacy named dropped somewhere within the comments. Asian beauty products sold in an Asian pharmacy? I had to say I was a bit surprised, but then not too surprised at all. So today I went scouted and found that it indeed was sold there for 35.99. The box was a bit dusty, but since there was only one I got the fear of missing out of purchasing opportunities and just bought it.

When I brought it up to the cashier, she remarked to herself in Chinese, "wow, why are so many people buying this?" I asked back in English, "yeah, I don't know." Then I asked in Chinese, "have a lot of people been buying this?" To the extent of which she did not recoil at my Chinese (in shock not disgust) and replied in Chinese, "yeah, a lot of people lately, but they're all foreigners." May I remark that "foreigners" usually imply non-Asian of a Caucasian variety. Like me. Which is what I replied, "ah, hmm yes, just like me" and sheepishly walked out of there.

Sheepishly because, yes, I feel like such a sheep jumping on an expensive cream bandwagon. I hadn't even researched the Hada Labo Alpha Lotion (aka Japanese for toner) before buying it, but I did it anyway. Turns out I made a good purchase decision as I looked it up online, and price checked the pharma where I got the Donkey Milk cream, and where I got it was the cheapest I saw the Hada Labo toner. Fist pump for getting a good price. Saving the world five to ten dollars at a time.

Which also is to say that I am saving my pocket by getting liquid gold samples of SKII from Sephora. This weekend was just crazy!! So many people in the stores because VIB get 20% off. This was written about already, hasn't it? OH WELL.

One thing I've learned in my skin care research is that we get too excited to try on ALL THE PRODUCTS and yet we never let a product fully take it turn. So I AM SO EXCITED about donkey milk....but will have to practice self restraint before I use it. Beauty bloggers have noted around two to three weeks before introducing a new product into your routine. That is to say that you have a "wardrobe" of products, but you can't wear all of them at the same time. Therefore, since the Hada Labo Alpha Lotion is my latest new product I've been using, I have to keep using it for at least two weeks and then I can change my routine and incorporate the Donkey Milk into my regimen. I still have my little samples of SKII Repair C (the "C" is not for Vitamin C which even the Sephora associate thought and informed me it was. The "C" is for concentrate, how misleading!).