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 Mondays: May 23, 2016

1. Oil Cleanser: Maybe around once or twice this week: Shu Umeura High Balancing Cleansing Oil.
2. Water-based Cleanser: Only occasionally using my heart Konjac sponge this week. Miracle Rose Cleansing Stick all the time!! It works better as a second cleanser, since I feel it was a bit drying at first. However, I think my skin has balanced out and is ok with being the only cleanser.
3. First Essence:  My FTE BAE: Missha's FTE Intensive. Literally my "Before Anything Else." ;)
4. Toner:  The Face Shop's Chia Water 100 toner, which I don't feel like it does too much. It does feel hydrating, but since the consistency is stickier and therefore heavier than Missha's FTE, it's been going on afterwards and more as an after thought. Sometimes I forget to use it because it is just that unremarkable to me.
5. Serum or essence: Pimples around my period week (sorry if TMI) has led me to not use serums but masks instead.
6. Masks: Lovemore Pearl Barely and Milk, which is still my favorite, went on this week after some acne had graced my skin right around my birthday. Really into clay masks right now and used my Say Yes to Tomatoes Clay Mask several times this week. I have it in that old jar package, though they've revamped it to be in a tube now. Also tried out the new jar version of Fresh's Umbrian Clay Purifying Mask. The Sephora lady swears this is better than Glamglow! Impulsively bought a $4 tube of Queen Helene's Mint Julep, which is too cheap to try anywhere else but my nose. I did a patch test on my inner arm and got a few little bumps, so I didn't want to try it out on the rest of my face which is normal/dry skin. Oily skin only for Queen Helene. Also, allergic reactions on my jaw line called for a "put all these masks on my face to soothe and calm my skin down ASAP" moment. More below.
7. Moisturizer:
    AM: Aveeno Smart Essentials Daily Nourishing Moisturizer SPF 30. (grease-city!)
   PM :Mizon - All in One Snail Repair Cream (75ml) (still have a teensy bit left!)

First-- Weird Trends: Armpits

Not only have I been using my Say Yes to Tomatoes Clay Mask on my face, but I use it on my armpits too.  After learning that many East Asians have the ABCC11 gene that inhibits them from having body order as well as wet earwax...whereas in the rest of the world only 2% has this gene... I sadly came to the conclusion that my Caucasian side was stronger and I have both wet earwax and smelly pits. This is why my mother couldn't understand at 12 that I was begging for deodorant-- she simply didn't have the genes. 

However, after thinking about how many years I've been consistently applying chemicals to the delicate underarm tissue, I decided that my armpits also needed a little TLC and cleansing, just like my face. If I can put it on my face, why couldn't I put it on my pits. Thus, clay masking my armpits weekly has begun.

It's like giving my pits a break from consistently be physically and chemically clogged. I've found that sometimes I can smell myself, but then I've also switched to mens deodorant and been feeling less smelly overall.

Using Axe's White Label with the scent of "Island" I thought that maybe I couldn't smell myself was because there was more aluminum content. But I was wrong, there is ~15% in both Lady Speed Stick and Axe White label. 

Second-- Allergic Reactions... Again, Le Sigh: Masking Craziness

Currently suffering from another allergic reaction to my cat. My poor cat is so loved and yet my face is finicky on whether or not it like to behave. Sunday it did not feel like behaving. Had an WOW AMAZE MASK CRAZE moment.

The second I got my flare-up from loving rubbing my cat's face against my own... I went into " OH NO, SLATHER ON ALL THE THINGS" crazy mode.

First I put on Fresh's Rose Mask. A hydrating mask that Sephora gave out as a free birthday gift. FELT ITCHY, the allergic reaction was winning! Must not let it win!! Bumps have already formed. Washed this mask off and was all, EEEKKK what am I doing!?!?

Secondly, decided it was time to purify my face! Used the Umbrian Clay mask over my entire face. It dried and my skin felt less inflamed than before. My sister said I looked like an old witch with the dull green skin that would wrinkle a ton when it was dry.

Thirdly, decided that it wasn't enough, used Tony Moly's Egg Pore Steam Balm on my face. Smells great! Exfoliates! Starting to feel a bit better already.

Ended the night with a reapplication of BAE (because I had already done my skincare routine by the time I thought it would be nice to hug my kitty goodnight), and a My Scheming Aloe Vera and Vitamin E sheet mask. Woke up this morning and I could still feel the bumps, but it isn't noticeable or bad like the flare up last night.

Still, BUMPS! Shakes fists in the air. So obsessed with having good skin that this totally ruins my weekend of a gross amount of oversleeping and eating. Perhaps the sudden surge of sugar is also not helping...

Skincare Routine Mondays: May 16, 2016

1. Oil Cleanser: Maybe around once or twice this week: Shu Umeura High Balancing Cleansing Oil.
2. Water-based Cleanser: Gave my Konjac sponge a rest this week. Used it once or twice. I started getting pimples on the outer fold of my nostrils, so I gave scrubbing there a rest. Otherwise,  Miracle Rose Cleansing Stick for everythang.
3. First Essence:  My FTE BAE: Missha's FTE Intensive, though I've another FTE in my latest haul... hehehe, coming soon!
4. Toner:  The Face Shop's Chia Water 100 toner, again, can't wait to be done with this. It is very hydrating, but I don't think it does anything too much. Used some of my travel size Missha Time Revolution Clear Toner, which actually reminds me of the fermented sake smell it has. I didn't notice it until I stopped using it. I think getting another fermented sake toner might be ok with me.
5. Serum or essence: Finals week has made me lazy. Tried Missha's Something Super Aqua Cell Snail Renew Sleeping Mask and still didn't feel like it did anything. And my skin was still sticky in the morning. NOPE, did not like this.
6. Masks: Used a Skinfood Broccolli, like putting a soggy, but durable, paper towel on my face. Can't say I cared for it much.
7. Moisturizer:
    AM: Aveeno Smart Essentials Daily Nourishing Moisturizer SPF 30.
   PM :Mizon - All in One Snail Repair Cream (75ml), which I am almost out of, so I have Amazon'd the BLACK AIO Snail Cream to try!!

Skincare Routine Mondays: May 9, 2016

Happy Belated Mother's Day for all Mom's out there. My mom is someone who I love and I am trying to get her into taking care of her skin just a little bit more. Can't splurge on a regimen for her as she doesn't stick to these sort of things for long. But I have hope. She wants a facial mist...when does doesn't even regularly wash her face with anything more than water.  Slowly, right? I mean, who knows how long this will last for me. It's time and money consuming and right now I am single and at home and can afford such a time luxury.

My face has not been Tazorac'd, and after the skin flair-up from soaking in my SPF last last Saturday, I've been masking it daily. Either with a sheet mask or with a sleeping pack.

1. Oil Cleanser: Evenings only: Shu Umeura High Balancing Cleansing Oil, which I massage into my face as well as using my knuckles to massage the sides of my neck. Drain those lymph-nodes, or something like that.
2. Water-based Cleanser: AM: Konjac sponge with the teeniest amount of Fresh Soy Face Cleanser. PM: Using my new heart konjac sponge with a couple swipes of Miracle Rose Cleansing Stick. Lathers right up.
3. First Essence:  My FTE BAE: Missha's FTE Intensive
4. Toner:  The Face Shop's Chia Water 100 toner, can't wait to be done with this.
5. Serum or essence: Been masking in lieu of either of these. I have an essence from Nature Republic, but am waiting until I am out of my night moisturizer (Mizon - AIO Snail) before incorporating two products from the same line into my routine. Which will be soon. I was surprised how quickly I am using up the AIO cream.
6. Masks: Used the remaining essences from  Lovemore's Rose and MBD's Imperial Bird's Nest masks. Using Laneige's Water Sleeping Pack every other day. Purchased Say Yes to Tomatoes and used it on Thursday to treat my usual hormonal acne flair that is happening on my chin per usual. Followed this clay mask with the Laneige sleeping pack because I was too tired to deal with a sheet mask.
7. Moisturizer:
    AM: Aveeno Smart Essentials Daily Nourishing Moisturizer SPF 30.
   PM :Mizon - All in One Snail Repair Cream (75ml), perfect for the change in seasons. Most likely will repurchase!!

Will probably try to do Tazorac again after I am over this eye infection. (So maybe around two weeks from now.)

Skincare Routine Mondays: April 25, 2016

1. Oil Cleanser: None.
2. Water-based Cleanser: Been switching between Fresh Soy Face Cleanser (which is still my favorite) and SUM:37's Miracle Rose Cleansing Stick. Alternating because something is going on with my skin and I can't figure out what.
3. Toner:  The Face Shop's Chia Water 100 toner from set (on right)
4. Serum or essence: The Face Shop Chia Seed First Essence (10ml sample size) and I "tried" the set's "lotion." 
5. Moisturizer:
    AM: Aveeno Smart Essentials Daily Nourishing Moisturizer SPF 30, though lately I've been breaking out the BIORE UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence because the weather has been so nice and I don't need the grease of my usual Aveeno.
   PM :Mizon - All in One Snail Repair Cream (75ml), which honestly has been the most skin saving, best thing this week!!

RANT:

So my Missha Time Revolution set has finished itself, and I had already started introducing MRCS into my routine.... BUT, something is going wrong!!!

I know starting too many new products at once is bad, but it happens. :( I am out, and so I started the Chia Water set thing and OH NOES, my skin feels smooth-ish, but there are SO MANY little bumps popping up everywhere! Little white-ish ones that aren't white-heads, but aren't normal either!

The MRCS gives my skin a little tightness, I'm guessing it's overly drying my skin, so I've been using what little is left of the Fresh Soy Face Cleanser that I love so dearly (and thank goodness it's Sephora's Birthday gift as well, so I have a little more to live off of). So MRCS is not as "miraculous" as it made to be. However, it's only made worse by the new products that took over Missha's place...

Toner, First Essence 10 ml, Moisture Cream 10 ml, "Lotion" UGH

The most disappointing though is The Face Shop's Chia Water set. Sure, it looks pretty, and it was an impulse buy in duty free, butttttt not pleasing at all. They're in two skinny, but really heavy glass bottle, that I'm always nervous I'm going to crack the sink with (already cracked it once before).

The toner is toner, it's not as watery as the one I just finished from Missha, but it does the job. Unlike the Missha Clear Toner, this is a hydrating toner. The first essence is more gel-like and sticky when I put it on, but the WORST is the "lotion" that came with the set. I feel like I'm just putting hand lotion on my face to the extent where I stopped using it after two days. It felt awful and just ineffective. 

Mizon All in One Snail Repair cream has really saved my face this week. If it weren't for that product, I would probably cry and use face mask after face mask, begging my skin to get it's act together and just pretend that my Missha Time Revolution set did not run out.

Though I do not know where exactly I stand with toner yet, but I do know that I got spoiled by using good products to start my skincare routine, and now that I'm using sub-par products I am really feeling (paying) the difference.

Skincare Routine Mondays: April 18, 2016

It's official, I am OUT of Missha FTE. Also, introducing a cult favorite foaming face soap. More below.

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. Which is nearing it's end, which bothers me because at $15 for 1.7 ounces, that's a lot of money for a product that lasts... less than three months? My first record of it was from February 1st. It's just past the mid-point of April, meaning that it's getting low at the 2.5 month mark, which concerns me for such a luxury product that I actually LOVE using. Starting using SU:M37's MRCS (aka miracle rose cleansing stick, aka cult favorite). It's literally a cylinder of soap and I write more about it below.
3. Toner: Missha's Clear Toner (in the Time Revolution Starter Set), but will be switching over to The Face Shop's Chia Water 100 toner. (From something similar to this set, though my packaging is different)
4. Serum or essence: "First" Essence-- Missha's The First Treatment Essence (in the Time Revolution Starter Set), which I AM OFFICIALLY OUT OF, so I have been sad. However, I will start using The Face Shop Chia Seed First Essence (10ml sample size), but I am not sure how I feel about this set. I will follow with the set's Lotion, which I cannot tell if the consistency is more or less thick than the Mizon Cream I am using now.
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:My Scheming 我的心機 L-Ascorbic Acid Whitening, which I actually got individually from Poya (which is where I bought the majority of my individually bought masks from). It's a milky serum, that I have been hoarding and using on my face since I don't have a set serum and my Missha FTE is out.

SU:M37 Miracle Rose Cleansing Stick is not "miraculous" per say, but it is exactly everything else it says it is. Rose, yep!  

It's quite fragrant, so if you don't like the smell of roses, don't even think about this. I bought it at Duty Free in Incheon this past January. Since it's a natural soap, and these things go bad, I decided that I would use it this weekend as I was going to my friend's house and didn't feel like toting around a nearly empty bottle of face wash.

Instructions:

• Wet face.
• Rub stick over face as if your whole face was a pair of lips needing chapstick.
• The label makes it looks like you need to rub on face until foamy but I think
• Rub face with hands after swiping stick over face (it will suds enough itself)
• Rinse

I also tried to method of rubbing it on my hands and then sudsing it up that way, but I felt like I wasted more product that way. It's really up to you.

The first impression I had was concern. Once I rinsed my face, my face felt tight. I think panicked that thought that this is a bar of soap, what if the pH isn't right?!?! Cue mini-internal drama going on inside my head. Why would my skin feel tight? Usually a pH imbalance, too alkali or something. Looked it up, it has an acidic 5.5 pH level, so that should be fine, it's in the right range. So what was it then?

However, I used it several more time over the weekend and it felt nice. I just felt like I was using too much of it, so I worked my way down to wetting my face and giving my face a quick once over before foaming the soap on my skin up. 

I am still not sure how I feel about this, especially after the initial tightness feel. Doesn't seem Holy Grail status, and it seems to be in the same price range as my Fresh Soy Cleanser that I just love so much more. We will see how this goes.

Skincare Routine Mondays: Feb 29, 2016 Leap Year Edition!

1. Oil Cleanser: None. Still none. Still feel unnecessary. My bad.
2. Water-based Cleanser: Fresh Soy Face Cleanser. This is also the Sephora birthday gift. I can't wait to get mine and then I can play with the rose mask. 
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).
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.

Nothing much has changed except for the fact that I am now including a chemical peel once or twice a week (depending on how I feel). The lady at Sephora gave my friend and me three days worth Dr. Dennis Gross extra strength daily peels, and the first time I used it I was nervous at how much my fine lines really did decrease. However, I have used it twice in conjunction with an assortment of "revitalizers" in order to compensate for their harshness. 

The first time I did the peel, a clay mask, my usual routine of #3 and #4 and then a hydrating face mask. Boy did my skin feel great!!

Right now, I used a peel (evenings only since it makes normal skin photosenstive and I'm naturally "photosensitive" anyway and don't want to risk sun damage). Then the rest of the Caudalie Pink Clay mask and my usual 3/4/5. I hope it's enough and that I don't feel sad tomorrow when I wake up with skin trying to re-balance itself.

Still have an oily t-zone, but not nearly as bad as when I was using the Donkey Milk 3D moisture. After my NR Combo Watery Cream is done (and it will be done before I know it), I'm moving on to the Mizon AIO Snail cream. Hopefully that won't be too crazy and make my t-zone greasy again.

Skincare Routine Mondays: Feb 1, 2016

1. Oil Cleanser: None. Still none. I am bad at this.
2. Water-based Cleanser: Fresh Soy Face Cleanser. This was a Christmas present from my friend, and I really love it. It gets milky the same way that oil cleansers get milky, but because you wet your face before using, it gets milky as you massage it around your face. I use a pinky-nail's worth of cleanser and it goes such a long way. So far, I LOVE IT. It's the first cleanser that doesn't make my face tight and it feels clean, yet moisturized. 
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).
5. Moisturizer. 
      AM: Aveeno Smart Essentials Daily Nourishing Moisturizer SPF 30. But sometimes I just use my PM cream with Biore's Watery Essence PA 50+++. Depends on how greasy I  feel.  PM : Nature Republic Super Aqua Max Combination Watery Cream.

I've really calmed it down with trying to maintain my samples of "liquid gold" (aka SKII Repair Treatment C). Can I tell a difference? Not really. Hahahahaha. Oh my gosh, how much am I spending on things that may or may not actually have an effect?!

Have a random pimple on my left cheek (totally in the middle, like one red dot in the vast desert of my left cheek) and my chin area feels greasy and pimple-prone. What is up with my face. When I used the masks on Sunday I made sure to follow-up with a nutrient-rich mask. Tested out My Beauty Diary's Imperial Birds Nest and it's great. Best quality mask in that it's pretty see-through, keeps it's wetness for a prolonged period, and feels great.

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.

Skincare Routine as of December 14, 2015

1. Oil Cleanser. None. No make-up = no oil.
2. Water-based Cleanser (Foaming Cleanser). None, see above.
3. Water rinse. My actual step 1. Water is at a neutral ph of 7. Check.
4. Toner. Missha Time Revolution Clear Toner. It goes one light, and you can feel it dry on your face in a very nice and refreshing way. Don't know if I am supposed to have it dry before I put on the first essence.
5. First Essence: Missha Time Revolution First Treatment Essence. It has the same water consistency of the Clear Toner, however it smells more yeasty. Due to the fact that often do my routine without my glasses on or my contacts in, I have been very nervous about getting the toner and the first treatment mixed up. Good thing the Clear Toner comes in a cheap plastic bottle with a round screw-off top, whereas the FTE comes in a glass bottle with an oval screw-off top. Also, the smell would be an indicator, but I don't usually realize until I slap it on my face. This watery essence does leave my face a little stickier than the toner. 
6. Serum or essence. MY LIQUID GOLD samples of SK-II Facial Treatment Repair C from Sephora.  Then, as of yesterday, I have had sample of Amore Pacific MOISTURE BOUND Rejuvenating Serum which I am using after the SKII is absorbed a bit into my skin due to it's thicker texture. The SKII glides on and leaves my face a little sticky, whereas Amore Pacific is light and gets absorbed almost instantaneously. 
7. Moisturizer. AM: Still using my holy grail of moisturizer meets SPF of Aveeno Smart Essentials Daily Nourishing Moisturizer SPF 30. It really makes me feel moisutrized and happy to know that I am also getting SPF 30 out of it. It's heavier, so many people might feel it's greasy, but with my combination skin, it works like a charm. PM: Freeset's Donkey Milk 3D Moisture Cream, been using this for a while, and while it's not a holy grail, I am very content with its results. Each morning my skin feels plump and more balanced. My t-zone remains greasier than the rest of my face, but it really is not bad at all when using this cream.

What's new here? Amore Pacific and Missha Time Revolution Clear Toner and First Treatment Essence.

Wrote about my New Sample Excitement with Amore Pacific.

Wrote about my disappointment with Missha's Super Aqua Cell Renw Snail Sleeping pack.

Pretty darn happy with my Time Revolution set so far. Should also note that I have been suffering from acne on my chin/chin jawlin/upper lip since last Wednesday. Though I don't usually get pimples on my chin's part of the jawline, they have subsided quickly and I hardly know the difference now.

My period arrived yesterday, which is usually the factor to blame when I get mouth/chin area pimples. Jawline though? That's a bit weird, but no one can tell, just me.

Got a compliment on my skin on Sunday. My friend who hasn't seen me in a couple of months (she moved cross-country for her career) said my skin looked fantastic.

In another unrelated comment about my skin, someone noted that I looked "paler," which I didn't really think was possible considering how ghostly pale I am already. Here's the hoping that this "paler" comment is in regards to my skin's cells balancing and renewing themselves.

Also have to think of how much long I am going to go around to random Sephoras that carry the SKII line and ask for samples of my liquid gold. I cannot live on samples forever, but $170 for a single ounce really is beyond my means. I am already so stoked that I got the Missha Time Revolution set for 46 bucks during the Black Friday weekend, and I am going to use that for at least the next year.

Nervous though, because I am pretty sure I am going to do a Duty Free Incheon Airport haul in the next month and those products will bring so much excitement that I just might switch around my routine. As someone said, your skincare products are more of a wardrobe. You can't wear all of your clothes at once, but you can pick and choose what you want for the time being.

Skincare Routine Mondays: November 30, 2015

1. Oil Cleanser. None. Still none. Even though I am looking into it.
2. Water-based Cleanser (Foaming Cleanser). None, see above.
3. Water rinse. My actual step 1. Water is at a neutral ph of 7. Check.
4. Toner. Although I have purchased Missha's Clear Toner (in the Time Revolution Starter Set), I am waiting until Friday to start. This is because I want to see how Freeset's Donkey Milk 3D Moisture Cream adjusts to my face after two weeks. Two weeks is my bare minimum in regards to adding a new product, even though I would love to use everything I bought all at once. I was having a reaction to the Hada Labo Alpha Lotion, so that was nix just shy of a week. Missha's Time Revolution toner and first essence will be incorporated late this week.
5. Serum or essence. Still using samples of SK-II Facial Treatment Repair C from Sephora. Honestly, I do not know if it is making a difference. I am on my third or so sample, and have been using it consistently for at least the last two or three weeks. Probably going to go out to get some more samples because it makes me feel better to have a fairly expensive serum in my routine. Whereas the freebie Clinique Smart Custom-Repair Serum has not been seeing as much love. Right now going through a hormonal acne phase, and really, with SKII Facial Treatment Repair C, I think this second serum is just child's play.
6. Moisturizer. 
      AM: Aveeno Smart Essentials Daily Nourishing Moisturizer SPF 30. Seriously, I don't know why I love this over-fragnanced product so much. It leaves me moisturized and sun protected all in one go. However, I will be trying to incorporate Nature Republic's Provence Calendula Perfect Sun Block SPF50+ PA+++ since I no longer wish to use Clinique's City Block when I use a regular moisturizer without SPF in it.
      PM : Freeset's Donkey Milk 3D Moisture Cream, still smells great, still leaves my skin plump and nice. Still has not been two weeks, so I am not sure exactly how it's going to adjust to my skin just quite. 

Skincare Routine as of November 23, 2015

1. Oil Cleanser. None. I haven't worn make-up, so I really don't take this step seriously.
2. Water-based Cleanser (Foaming Cleanser). None, see above.
3. Water rinse. My actual step 1. Water is at a neutral ph of 7. Check.
4. Toner. None! I have the outdated Holika Holika one that I referred to in my last routine check-up. Unfortunately, I am having a slight reaction to the Hada Labo Alpha Lotion that I purchased earlier this month. It did not last me a week because I was tired of all the little bumps and white-heads that I do not normally get. It has been one week since then and my skin is still trying to heal itself.
5. Serum or essence. Right now I have been leeching samples of SK-II Facial Treatment Repair C from Sephora. They have this nifty thing where I can go in and ask for a sample, they give me a few pumps in a small container, and viola, liquid gold! And at the price Sephora is selling it for, ($170 for 1 ounce) it truly is. I keep it in a dark place in my medicine cabinet and one sample usually lasts me almost a week. Mornings and evenings. In the evenings I have also stuck to using my freebie Clinique Smart Custom-Repair Serum.  Usually I place this on the drier patches of my face, the "U" shape that combination skin knows so well. Especially since they're the problem spots the Hada Labo Alpha Lotion had exacerbated.
6. Moisturizer. AM Go to: Aveeno Smart Essentials Daily Nourishing Moisturizer SPF 30. PM Go to: OH YAS MY DONKEY MILK 3D, where you can read the lovely Fifty Shade's Review on it. I have scoured, found it for 35.99 for a 50g glass tub, and I had purchased it the day after I bought/used the Hada Labo Alpha Lotion for the first time. It took me five days, but I finally gave up what isn't good for me for something better, and that is Freeset's Donkey Milk 3D Moisture Cream.

What's new here? SKII and Donkey Milk.

The tricky thing about the SKII Facial Treatment Repair C is that people are often confused and fooled by the name. Even the Sephora rep told me that it has vitamin C in it. Which I quickly corrected him, "Oh, actually, no, it doesn't." He didn't believe me and had to read the label himself.

"Saccharomycopsis Ferment Filtrate*, Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Methylparaben, Sodium Benzoate. *Pitera."

And that is all there is. No Vitamin C, none of that active culture at all. "C" is supposed to be for "concentrate," but why not create one good product versus a bunch of little ones? The Essence, which another Sephora associate raved has the "highest content of Pitera," is the main-seller and is so watery that I cannot get a sample of it because it's just going to go all over. Hmm, it's about time for me to pick up another sample of liquid gold. Good thing a little of this serum goes a long, long way.

The Donkey Milk 3D Moisture Cream has been making me very happy, but I am going to wait until the two week mark to see if this is just instant gratification or what.

All in due time, my dears, all in due time.

Skincare Routine as of November 16, 2015

This just in: I am no spring chicken. Obviously looks fade, youth dissipates like the sand in an hourglass. Fine lines build into deep valleys, and one day you wake up old.

However, I am a spring chicken compared to the me that exists in five years, ten years, twenty years. By then age will be only a facade, and I hope my heart stays a bright and peppy, even with the possible kids that will cause great joy accompanied with great anxiety.

The cliches are all coming true. It scares me to know how much more wisdom they hold and how much less original I become.

Back in my days in Taiwan (I have half as spent as much time "back" home as my entire Asian life abroad) I was told by a young mother (who was my age back then) to use 保養品. What is that she is talking about? Oh, only but the money making scheme that is called skincare. But not just any skincare, this is anti-aging and youth preserving skincare. In Asia, they not only have different standards of beauty, but another way of perceiving how to maintain such beauty.

The naturally beautiful look is revered, but believe you me, it's a process that lies far from natural. To have great skin and to look young, to stay looking young? The soft dewy skin that goes, "q" which is the slight bounce your fingers have against such great collagen-filled skin. Soft brows, long lashes, light rose cheeks and lips. To imitate the complexion of a porcelain doll, that is the beauty they strive for.

Sure, I might have the alabaster white look down, but my skin is not faring as well as I thought it would have. My neck is losing it's youth and I have rings akin to those that tell the age of a tree. Faint smears of forehead wrinkles for those faces I always make but don't realize how much it alters my fave. Skin that breaks out, and even more when my hormones are in flux.

The Western ideal of skincare is good for someone like me: lazy. However, the Asian skincare routine is better for someone like me: people who want to take care of their skin without hurting it.

There will be no Sonicares (though I really did want one for Christmas last year, I am counting my lucky stars that I or someone else did not waste $200 on something I would probably stop using within the year.) There will be no alcohol-filled toners, witch hazel just seems so barbaric and an ancient way of approaching things, like blood-letting with leeches.

Therefore I plan on adopting a routine that consists of a East Meets West sort of ordeal and hope it all works for the best.

There will be double cleansing on days where my face feels gross. Maybe twice a week if I feel I need it.

1. Oil Cleanser. I have my Shu Umera oil cleanser from ages ago, and though it works, I really only use it when I wear make-up. It looks like this, and I need a new one PRONTO. Not using it often really backfires when you have no idea how long it's been and if these things expire and if expired will it still be ok to use? Oh, but I don't want to waste it, so I end up using old products. It's not a good cycle, but it's one I am very guilty of. Especially when I am very attached to the product, or the fact that I do not want to waste something I spent my hard earned money on. This is why I will never run out of hand cream (I never end up using them up in time!)
2. Water rinse. Which will actually be step 1 if I did not wear make-up. The water is at a neutral ph of 7, so I am hoping that this is ok as it not too alkaline, because I read that alkaline products are no good.
3. Face Wash. Using a "Hydro Boost" product I got from Neutrogena. I honestly feel like I am in the minority when I say I do not like ANY of their products. However, this one is not only made in Korea, bought in a Watson's in Taiwan, but it also does not leave my skin feeling tight. Which is what most face cleansers tend to do. Except for things like Cetaphil which feels like I am just rubbing ooze over my face and then straight into the sink. (More about this Neutrogena cleanser here.)
4. Toner. Not Western toner that is used to shock the pores into shrinking or some crazy thing like that. Koreans call it toners, some call it skin refiners, Japanese call it lotion (they sound the most lost in translation). They products ready the skin to absorb products better than without, they also remove excess gunk that is possibly leftover. I have been using either samples from Sephora (usually too strong!) or this old Holika Holika Praha toner that I put into another pump dispenser because you couldn't get anything out of the original glass bottle. (I know, I know, I really should stop using it especially because it has a short shelf life and is past due, but it smells the same as I remember it...)
5. Serum or essence. Right now I have a freebie Clinique Smart Custom-Repair Serum. It has been a few days and I use it once a day instead of the directed twice a day. Custom-repair sounds like a whole like of advertising hocus pocus. As if a chemically engineered product would truly be able to tell where you need help most. I highly doubt it, which is going to be why I don't spend $70 on it myself. Freebies will just have to do. Or there must be a Koran alternative that is not as ridiculous, though advertising makes almost everything ridiculous.
6. Moisturizer. Currently I have been moisturizing twice daily. My go to is Aveeno's overly fragranced two-in-one SPF 30  moisturizer. It comes in a yellow bottle where you never know how much product you have left. For the lazy girl in me, I love that it combines two steps of two things I ALWAYS have to do. Since coming back home my skin has been dry. I am also deathly pale and need to maintain this Wednesday Addams look for the sake of avoiding skin damage. However, this presents a problem at night because I do not want to waste my SPF during the hours the sun doesn't shine. For this, if I have the time and will to put in the effort, I take out a small chip of cold solidified virgin coconut oil. Note that I had no idea that coconut oil is comedogenic, meaning it has the tendency to block pores and create pimples. Though I had always thought of myself as a sensitive skin type of person, it is not quite the truth. Sure, I am prone to turn red easily, whether it's by scratching at my face absent-mindly or otherwise. However, coconut oil really has been lovely for my skin. It feel so nice and though greasy, I wake up the next day with soft skin that has absorbed it (or maybe it's my pillow doing all the hard work?). Sometimes Clinique gives out freebie Moisture Surge, which is gel-based and works really neat if you need a matte surface quick. Your skin feels soft and I like it a lot, however, my friend had an issue where it just wasn't absorbing the same for her and left her sticky for a while, which was rather unpleasant. To each their own, you know. You must find what is right for you.

This is the skincare regime that I am hoping to adopt to maintain my youth appearances into less than spring chicken times. This is a complete change compared to my usual of 1. Splash water on face. 2. Pat dry. 3. Lather Aveeno stuff all over my face and neck. Feel a bit greasy, but WHOOPS you're five minutes later than planned and you get better get out that front door or your lateness will exponentially be worse. Which is actually just two steps if you don't count me patting my face dry.

Ah, what has happened to me?!!?!?!? My friend mails me some face masks, and I feel so pampered and luxurious when I used them once a week that I go out on a limb, research Asian Beauty all over the world wide web, and end up here. Slathered in layers of product.

I can't wait to go to the Lotte Duty Free shop in Incheon and swipe my credit card like it doesn't have a limit! There are some "holy grail" (aka really popular cool kids use this on their faces) products that are cheaper there than if I bought them elsewhere and had them shipped out of South Korea. Then Duty Free also sells in bulk, so lots of faces masks for much less than what it would cost otherwise. 

Already went through many pages of skincare products on their website and will definitely be getting my hands on some sum:37. Sum Sam-ship-chil. I got this. I want that cleansing stick. Even if it costs twenty bucks, I NEED IT, right?!

Also need toner, Laneige Ex Water pack (so I can sleep on the job and make it do its work for me), face masks for more weekly pampering, collagen eye patches, new cleansing oil, serums/essences and more. This is only the beginning......