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.
Monday, December 14, 2015
Friday, December 4, 2015
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.
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.
Thursday, December 3, 2015
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.
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.
Monday, November 30, 2015
Skincare Routine Mondays: November 30, 2015
- Oil Cleanser. None. Still none. Even though I am looking into it.
- Water-based Cleanser (Foaming Cleanser). None, see above.
- Water rinse. My actual step 1. Water is at a neutral ph of 7. Check.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Sunday, November 29, 2015
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:
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.
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.
Thursday, November 26, 2015
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.
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.
Tuesday, November 24, 2015
DO NOT USE: Old Masks!!
Gah! I feel so dumb for having to write a post on what seems like common sense. But, all warning labels are there before someone was dumb enough to do it, and I, was dumb enough to use outdated face masks.
At first, I didn't think of it as a bad thing. If you've been in Asia as long as I was, you'd had a collect growing too. This was even before I was into skincare and was using overly alkaline face washes and couldn't figure out what was going wrong. I EVEN PUT BAR SOAP ON MY FACE and thought that it was all going to be ok. (How I cringe thinking about that!!)
First I used an Aqua Moisture Nature Republic mask. It didn't have so much of the goo it's usually covered with, so I just shrugged and was like, "great, now it won't drip down my neck!" In retrospect, I don't know why there wasn't so much goo, but I do know that I dried itself up in less than 15 minutes. Never have I had a facial mask that dried itself up! Even when I "accidentally" fell asleep with one on. That was sign number one that I should not use an outdated mask.
Of course, I didn't listen and used a snail goo facial mask. It was a Baviphat snail something or other mask, and it smelled... strong. It was a perfumey kind of smell, so I didn't think anything of it. Totally goopy, but ah! The more the better, right?!
WRONG.
WRONG.
WRONG.
I put it on my face and instantly tensed up. Maybe this smell was too strong, but I can deal. Then in a couple seconds, "hmm this doesn't feel quite nice, let me adjust it." After adjusting the mask several times I realized that it was making my face feel itchy and I ripped the mask straight off and proceeded to wipe off all excess residue (and there was a lot, ugh).
Being Chinese, or maybe just being sad to see a good thing go to waste, I placed the mask on my foot and give my foot a facial treatment. Since I had a duplicate of the same mask from the same era (2012) I ripped that one open and placed it on my other foot. My feet did not have any issues, so I am glad it did not totally go to waste. There are at least three or four other masks that are outdated at least a year and a few of them are my beloved Hello Kitty Masks by "Sexy Look" (haha got to love Taiwanese names!). These poor masks have expired about a year ago, and in a little more than a month they would be almost two years expired. I think my feet are about to get a little more pampering than they're used to... hee hee hee.
BOTTOMLINE (tl;dr)
It took me two tries, but I have learned my lesson: don't use outdated masks. They are old and they are not good for your face anymore. Feel free to try them on other body parts that may have a thicker skin (figuratively and literally).
At first, I didn't think of it as a bad thing. If you've been in Asia as long as I was, you'd had a collect growing too. This was even before I was into skincare and was using overly alkaline face washes and couldn't figure out what was going wrong. I EVEN PUT BAR SOAP ON MY FACE and thought that it was all going to be ok. (How I cringe thinking about that!!)
First I used an Aqua Moisture Nature Republic mask. It didn't have so much of the goo it's usually covered with, so I just shrugged and was like, "great, now it won't drip down my neck!" In retrospect, I don't know why there wasn't so much goo, but I do know that I dried itself up in less than 15 minutes. Never have I had a facial mask that dried itself up! Even when I "accidentally" fell asleep with one on. That was sign number one that I should not use an outdated mask.
Of course, I didn't listen and used a snail goo facial mask. It was a Baviphat snail something or other mask, and it smelled... strong. It was a perfumey kind of smell, so I didn't think anything of it. Totally goopy, but ah! The more the better, right?!
WRONG.
WRONG.
WRONG.
I put it on my face and instantly tensed up. Maybe this smell was too strong, but I can deal. Then in a couple seconds, "hmm this doesn't feel quite nice, let me adjust it." After adjusting the mask several times I realized that it was making my face feel itchy and I ripped the mask straight off and proceeded to wipe off all excess residue (and there was a lot, ugh).
Being Chinese, or maybe just being sad to see a good thing go to waste, I placed the mask on my foot and give my foot a facial treatment. Since I had a duplicate of the same mask from the same era (2012) I ripped that one open and placed it on my other foot. My feet did not have any issues, so I am glad it did not totally go to waste. There are at least three or four other masks that are outdated at least a year and a few of them are my beloved Hello Kitty Masks by "Sexy Look" (haha got to love Taiwanese names!). These poor masks have expired about a year ago, and in a little more than a month they would be almost two years expired. I think my feet are about to get a little more pampering than they're used to... hee hee hee.
BOTTOMLINE (tl;dr)
It took me two tries, but I have learned my lesson: don't use outdated masks. They are old and they are not good for your face anymore. Feel free to try them on other body parts that may have a thicker skin (figuratively and literally).
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