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. 

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.