Skincare Routine Mondays: April 11, 2016

Missed the last two weeks because... school. Anyway, not much has changed. Just a bit of anxiety now that my Missha FTE is soon to be OUT.

1. Oil Cleanser: None. Should I bother when I'm fresh-faced (a la sans make-up) everyday? Please advise.
2. Water-based Cleanser: Fresh Soy Face Cleanser. Soon to be out. Thinking of trying out Corsx Low Ph Good Morning Gel Cleanser, which is actually on sale at Jolse, but I already whined about my hesitancy in purchasing from them.
3. Toner: Missha's Clear Toner (in the Time Revolution Starter Set). 
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). And WOE is ME, as I am almost out and I realize that I do like this stuff, even though I don't really know what it actually is doing for me. One of those things where you keep doing it for the long haul, you know? I am almost out and I have been skimping on how much product I use because I don't want to be out! 
5. Moisturizer:
    AM: Aveeno Smart Essentials Daily Nourishing Moisturizer SPF 30.
   PM :Mizon - All in One Snail Repair Cream (75ml), which gets absorbed so nicely that it's not bad at all to layer underneath my greasy morning Aveeno SPF moisturizer.
6. Treatment Sheet Mask: NRK's Collagen Booster Firming Mask, which I actually got individually from Poya (which you can purchase through Poya via Yahoo) 

I actually didn't take a picture the second time around. The first time I used it, I used the snail mask, as seen above. It came with a lot of clear viscous serum, and had a white plastic lining that had to be removed.

Honestly, it was big for my face, though I appreciated that the area between the nose and the upper lip was wide and big enough to be properly covered. However, the edges of my mouth were totally peeking out. It had the cuts in the side so that you can adjust and overlap them properly, which I didn't do such a great job if you can see all the wrinkles hanging out.

Layer that with my Daiso silicon cover and BAM, serum for days. (A good thing, even though I look miserable in that last shot!) The snail mask was unremarkable. Really, I hardly even remembered I did it until I was surfing through my photos trying to find one of the Collagen Booster. The Collagen Booster did not get any pictures taken of, but it had a nice and pleasant smell. It felt great, or maybe it's been a while since I did a mud mask follower by a sheet mask, but either way, it left a better impression than the snail mask (which didn't leave an impression at all, now that I think of it...).

NRK is sold in Taiwan, and it's pricer, too. Honestly, though I paid 27 NTD for it, which is just under a dollar, the LOVEMORE masks are a much better investment. I raved about them last time, and still, it's number one in my book. NRK is also thicker than the My Beauty Diary masks, which are also cheaper and a better bang for your buck. 

The Short of It -- Review: Freeset's Donkey Milk 3D Moisture

It has to be said: I love it, but it's not my holy grail.

This cream is a bit tacky, so it comes off as a bit stringy when you dab it, but it really does the job in a few dabs.

However, after the two week trail period, I've noticed that my T-zone is still a bit shinier than I would like it to be. My U-zone, the dry parts, do feel hydrated and soft. But the moisture that they need is different from the T-zone where it still feels unbalanced.

The scent is also kind of nice, though I cannot put my finger on what exactly it is.

Bottomline: For $40 I am satisfied, but always looking for something that really makes my face more balanced. Maybe I am just spoiling myself and this might be one of the better products I've used. We will see.

Review: Missha Super Aqua Cell Renew Snail Sleeping Mask With Snail Extract

The Missha Super Aqua Cell Renew Snail Sleeping Mask With Snail Extract was a part of my Missha Thanksgiving-to-myself haul.

First off, it is a beautiful silver and gold package. Sophisticated, not cheap or tacky looking at all! And instead of having Korean and English on the package, it was English and Spanish, which I thought was pretty neat. The bottle itself only had a back label in Korean, but it made me feel good that the US branch really put an effort versus just having stickers over the box in English.

The freestanding tube is also very pretty, and it comes sealed, something else I also really like. No mess!

The texture is interesting and it squirts out in perfect little lines that look like immaculate play-doh rolls. Only it's much smoother and it feels like it goes into your skin almost as a moisturizer. I almost forgot that this is a sleeping pack and not my nightly cream. In fact, it's a bit sticky, but feels much more matte than my actual cream.

Instructions say to put on an "appropriate" amount and rinse off with water in the morning.

What qualifies as an "appropriate" amount? Did I use too little because my face felt a little tacky, but not really? Or is there supposed to be a layer of too much product? I am not sure how "appropriate" my amount was, but I hope it was enough.

In the morning it is my habit to wash my face with water, a kind of perk-me-up wake-me-up call. So, following that instruction was basically like telling me to keep breathing.

Night came, I applied the mask, and I went to bed. Eight hours later I woke up and for the first time in a long time I felt like my T-zone was oiler than usual. Actually, my WHOLE FACE felt rather oily. Even after rinsing my face with water it felt a little greasier than I usually am.

Back in the day when all I did was wash my face with water, I would wake up with such a greasy face that I would ten again wash with water to get back to normal. Why would this Missha Sleeping Mask have the same effect?

Masks are often used for their "instant gratification" prize. However, I did not really get any of that sort! My face felt like my face, but a old greasier version of my face. It would be a lie to say if I felt any effects or saw any effects. Just using a night cream alone did the trick, this sleeping mask seems to be a bust.

However, since I have a whole tube of it and I only got it for 13 dollars and change, of course I am going to try it again.... next week. Maybe I was just using it wrong and put an "inappropriate" amount on my face. Usually I think less is more, but maybe in this case more would be more? We will see.

Bottomline (tl;dr)
Woke up with a greasy face, so I was not impressed, but always open for second (and third, and fourth, and fifth) chances. Update May 2016: I keep trying, but I keep getting disappointed. Wish someone would take this off my hands, especially since other people note that it works for them. It just doesn't work for me... at all.

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. :)