Skincare Routine Monthly Check-in: March 9, 2017

Whoops! I'm nine days late...... but I'm pretty settled.

1. Water-based Cleanser: sum37's Miracle Rose Cleansing Stick. My sister got the Cosrx Low Ph Good Morning Gel cleanser, and it's a bit minty and I don't care for it. I'm not the one with a straying eye. 
2. Moisturizing Toner: Enprani’s Dear by Enprani Moistfull Booskin has been given the boot now that I got my sister (and myself) Kikumasamune Moist toner! The pink bottle! Not as big as I thought it would be, though in the grand scheme of skincare products it is huge. LOVE THE STUFF. Sure, it smells like sake and a bad night at the bar for a hot second, but it is hydrating and soaks right in. My sister swears that since she started using toner she doesn't need to layer up on her moisturizer. 
3. Essence: Innifree's Soybean Energy Essence still going... though I don't know if actually does anything.
4. Serum: Been awfully lazy, but sometimes Caudalie's Vinoperfect serum since I have it. Whoa, and I think they upped the price! It used to be $72 USD, now it's $79?! Glad I got it for under $40 in France.
5. Moisturizer: Mornings I use Nature Republic's Snail Solution 70 cream as seen in this set. The light fragrance is still nice to me. Almost done using the Nature Republic's Ginseng Royal Silk Essence at night. Can't believe I've been using it this long... but then again, I only use it at night since it doesn't seem to really sink in well.
6. Eye stuff: I got a teeny sample Origin's GinZing in a Sephora Play! box and I use it sometimes when my eyes look puffier or more tired than usual. Problem with me, mornings, and eye creams is that I often get the stuff in my eyes and it stings and makes my contacts all blurry.
7. AM Sunscreen: My BAE sunscree, Biore Aqua Rich Waterly Essence Sunscreen 50g Spf50+ Pa+++, is still BAE even though I've been using Nivea Sun Protect Super Water Gel SPF 50/PA+++ which leaves my face so greasy I might as well be using western sunscreen!!! How upsetting. Sometimes there are no cheap tricks out of what works. Got to use up the 140g bottle though, oh well!

Ah!!!! I bought more stuff.

Taking another chance at incorporating Actives into my routine. Thank you Amazon, for indulging me in all my unnecessary skincare desires.

Bought Timeless's Skin Care 20% Vitamin C Plus E Ferulic Acid Serum, which cost me less than the OST C20 vitamin C that I used previously that started getting oxidized and kind of yellow so I stopped using it.

Then I got two more jars of Mizon's Black AIO Snail Cream. At only 10.50, yes please.

Finally I caved and I bought something that I've been keeping in my shopping cart for ages now: Kikumasamune Sake Skin Lotion High Moisture. It is 500 ml! I'm hoping to convert my sister into a fuller skincare routine (she actually uses an oil cleanser, but that's the only thing she has over me). She does first and second cleansing, which is good because she actually wears eye make-up. She has dryer skin than I do, so I think incorporating a hydrating toner would be beneficial, but she doesn't do her research, so I'm not going to let her use up my expensive Booskin.

AH! I did it, I finally got the Kikumasamune toner. We will see how this goes for both her and I.

Skincare Routine Monthly Check-in: February 1, 2017

New Year! Truth be told, the weekly routine write-ups weren't going anywhere fast. I've found what I liked and only once in a while introduced something new.

So, I think a once a month check-in would suffice, you know?

Here's this month! Currently on a bout of GREAT skin after travel in late Dec/early Jan wrecked havok on my skin. (European water, I swear, it messed me up!)

1. Water-based Cleanser: sum37's Miracle Rose Cleansing Stick, always. My sister actually got the CosRx Good Morning Low pH cleanser and I tried it once. But really, MRCS is BAE.
2. Moisturizing Toner: Enprani’s Dear by Enprani Moistfull Booskin hydrating toner, still using it and liking the rose scent.
3. Essence: Innifree's Soybean Energy Essence, but will probably go back to Missha's FTE once I'm done because it's less accessible to purchase at a reasonable price.
4. Serum: In France, Caudalie's Vinoperfect serum, 1 oz, was literally half the price of what Sephora sells it for. Sephora sells it for $70 and it was about 37 Euros. I was on vacation and I was like "TREAT YO' SELF!" and I bought it. Now I use it nightly and it is going way too fast for me to be happy with. It is so expensive, but I like it!!
5. Moisturizer: Got my sister into using Nature Republic Super Aqua Max Combination Watery Cream, but I am currently using Nature Republic's Snail Solution 70 cream as seen in this set. It's thick enough for the harsh winters, and I don't need to apply very much. A little goes a long way, and I got the kit when it was on sale for $20 or so. Great deal, even though I've only used the cream so far. It has a slight sweet fragrance, but I really don't mind it at all. Still using Nature Republic's Ginseng Royal Silk Essence during the evening just to use it up. Still not the biggest fan since it's so sticky and I cannot wait to just be done with it.
6. Face Mask: Since it's been cold and dry, I've been sleep masking it with either Laneige's blue stuff, or just using a face mask. Yesterday I used Etude's I need you collagen (or was it coenzyme Q10?). It had a milky texture and it was nice to leave on overnight, even though I know I was just washing it off in the morning. Felt a bit like a sealant.
7. AM Sunscreen: Biore Aqua Rich Waterly Essence Sunscreen 50g Spf50+ Pa+++  always and forever.

Skincare Routine Mondays: December 12, 2016

Happy Birthday to my Eight Grade crush! Why my head won't forget this useless information, I will never know.

1. AM Eyelid Cleanser: Ocusoft twice this week, in the shower. Have four falsies left on the right eye (two center, two edge), two lashes left on the left eye (one right of center, one left of center). Get these lashes off me!!
2. Water-based Cleanser: sum37's Miracle Rose Cleansing Stick, always.
3. Moisturizing Toner: Enprani’s Dear by Enprani Moistfull Booskin hydrating toner, which smells nice, and feels nice, but I don't know what it's really doing? 
4. Essence: Introduced Innifree's Soybean Energy Essence, which is supposed to be a close comparison to Missha's FTE. However, this liquid is actually a little more viscous than my toner, so instead of using it right after I wash, I use it after the toner. Really, practically the same feeling, but when you pour it out of the bottle, the toner slides right out, more so than this essence. Don't know if it's doing anything yet.
5. Moisturizer: Mornings and some evenings, Nature Republic Super Aqua Max Combination Watery Cream and then Nature Republic's Ginseng Royal Silk Essence during some evenings. Still not the biggest fan of the Ginseng Royal Silk Essence, it just doesn't absorb right and always feels a bit sticky.
6. AM Sunscreen: Biore Aqua Rich Waterly Essence Sunscreen 50g Spf50+ Pa+++  always and forever.

Currently going through that time of the month. Some pimples in the area below the corners of my mouth. Don't know if this is hormonal acne or possibly something that this new Innisfree product is giving me. Outside of the masks, I've not used an Innisfree product. This was to see if anything could test Missha's FTE, even though it is not a replacement because price-wise it is not cheaper.

Skincare Routine Mondays: December 5, 2016

26 days until 2017! Time really has been flying by.

1. AM Eyelid Cleanser: Ocusoft but not this week. I have four lashes left on my right eye, and seven lashes on my left eye (but five of those are one clump).
2. Water-based Cleanser: sum37's Miracle Rose Cleansing Stick, need I say more? Nope.
3. Moisturizing Toner: Enprani’s Dear by Enprani Moistfull Booskin hydrating toner, which smells nice, and feels nice, but I don't know what it's really doing? 
4. Moisturizer: Mornings and some evenings, Nature Republic Super Aqua Max Combination Watery Cream and then Nature Republic's Ginseng Royal Silk Essence during some evenings. Still not the biggest fan of the Ginseng Royal Silk Essence, but I want to use it up because it's not bad, per se, just not perfect for me.
5. AM Sunscreen: Biore Aqua Rich Waterly Essence Sunscreen 50g Spf50+ Pa+++  always and forever.

Pimples have disappeared, but other hormonal side effects haven't quite let up. How to say that I am glad that after a whole year of skincare, my skin has not gone crazy with the shift in weather and with the introduction of dry heat back into my life.

Thank you skin care routine! Really, I am so grateful.

Skincare Routine Mondays: November 28, 2016

Whoops, it's actually FRIDAY and it's the 2nd of December!! December already?!?! How did this happen, how does time pass so quickly?

Monday and Tuesday were major school work days. The rest of the week were major work work days. So, apologies that I am five days late.

1. AM Eyelid Cleanser: Ocusoft once! There are several false lashes left, and sometimes they get stuck on my lower lashes. It's been over two months, how do I still have any left?! Nine on my right eye, ten on my left eye. Kind of even, even though the left is centered and the right has it on the edges. Totally weird look, but subtle enough to not really pick up.
2. Water-based Cleanser: sum37's Miracle Rose Cleansing Stick, and this second stick is still great. Really glad I can get all of these things on Amazon, my saving grace.
3. Moisturizing Toner: Enprani’s Dear by Enprani Moistfull Booskin hydrating toner, which I think I use too much of, but it evaporates fast enough that it doesn't really matter. For $20 USD though, you'd think it come in a glass bottle, not a plastic on that looks like glass. 
4. Moisturizer: Previously I've stopped using Nature Republic's Ginseng Royal Silk Essence, but since it was a holiday weekend and my sister was home, she put my Nature Republic Super Aqua Max Combination Watery Cream some where else and so I use the Ginseng at night and the combo watery during the day. Honestly, I think it's working out and I use up a product I'm not the biggest fan of without feeling to consequences.
5. AM Sunscreen: Biore Aqua Rich Waterly Essence Sunscreen 50g Spf50+ Pa+++  Never giving you up! Simply makes my skin feel so smooth and goes so well with everything.

Two pimples, left check (high, upper cheekbone area) and right bottom chin. Hormonal, really, I'm pretty sure. However, really really really glad that my skin did not break out as I have been going through a lot of stress. My body though, is very hormonal, not quite sure the cause of that, but glad it's not going out through my face (yet... there's always time, no?).

Otherwise, though it is December, and my elbows are ashy, I've yet to have repercussions on my face, which is amazing. Thank you skincare regime, I am really thankful for you.

Self-care is self-love and that's the best thing of all. Be your best self.

Skincare Routine Mondays: November 21, 2016

WHOOPS, it's actually WEDNESDAY. Too much crazy this past weekend, and then yesterday I just plum forgot.

1. AM Eyelid Cleanser: Ocusoft NOPE. Should have though, my left eye has been a-hurtin'
2. Water-based Cleanser: sum37's Miracle Rose Cleansing Stick, it's always so good. Was away this weekend, so used the Cao Lion's Pore Blackhead O2 Sparkling Soap, which I refer to back in my Workout Wednesday post. My weekender bag is usually my gym bag, when it comes down to it. Makes like easier than to reassemble and forget.
3. Moisturizing Toner: So far so good with Enprani’s Dear by Enprani Moistfull Booskin hydrating toner. Sometimes I use way too much though, it just comes out too fast. Dries very quickly though, so it's not gross, no complaints here. Smells like light rose, and makes it seem like an extension of the MRCS. However, my gym weekend bag's toner is running lower, so I kind of skimped on that during the weekend.
4. Moisturizer: Nixed the Ginseng Royal Silk Essence as it left a weird feeling on my face and hands, and I feel like it was almost making my pores larger. I don't know if it actually did, but it wasn't making me comfortable so I went back to my Nature Republic Super Aqua Max Combination Watery Cream. Usually on the weekend I use Sephora sample of Ole Henriksen's Sheer Transformation, which absorbs much better than any Nature Republic cream. However, I brought over the Combo Watery Cream and used it, and I'm adjusting to the extreme scent of the product. My Mizon replacement came in the mail on Friday, but I've decided to use up these creams first, with the cold weather hitting us in the face (literally), this thicker cream might be a better option.
5. AM Sunscreen: Biore Aqua Rich Waterly Essence Sunscreen 50g Spf50+ Pa+++  Never giving you up. Though I have a pump bottle of Nivea that's supposed to rival it one day soon. 

Nothing much to note other than that I've stopped using the Ginseng Royal Silk Essence. One of the more expensive products I've bought. Just proves price isn't everything, it really isn't.