Skincare Routine Mondays: May 31, 2016

Whoops! It's actually Tuesday. However, this weekend was a holiday weekend and there were many stress factors starting early morning Friday-- but I digress. Here is my SRM for the week of May 31:

1. Oil Cleanser: Totally only did this once or twice, if at all: Shu Umeura High Balancing Cleansing Oil. It just seems unneccessary, even though I know it's best for taking off the scuzz that sunscreen leaves behind on my face.
2. Eyelid Cleanser: It turns out that I am prone and very susceptible to blepharitis. Yeah, no fun. Also, according to that resource, it's for life, and therefore I need to maintain proper eyelid hygiene. My doctor sent me home with a terrible photocopy and suggested I purchase a large bottle of self-foaming Ocusoft. The direction on the bottle just says to rub lids back and forth (gently) WHICH IS GIVING ME ANXIETY BECAUSE IT MEANS GENTLY TUGGING AT MY EYE SKIN. Which means, more self-induced wrinkles aside from the ones I get from squinting all the time and forgetting to wear sunglasses. The label my doctor's office pasted on says to do this for 3-4 minutes. I can hardly brush my teeth for that long and they want me tugging on my eyelids daily this way? Ugh, the whole process is terrible and I wonder how long it's really going to last.
3. Water-based Cleanser: Just sum37's Miracle Rose Cleansing Stick, even got my sister into it. She loves the light rose smell too.
4. First Essence:  My FTE BAE: Missha's FTE Intensive. Literally my "Before Anything Else." Though I was away for the long weekend and used the Missha Clear Toner and FTE in tandem, and realized how much I actually missed the Clear Toner, which I originally thought it was nothing too special.
5. Toner: Shopped locally and got ripped off. Paid ~$21 for a bottle of CosRx's AHA/BHA Clarifying Toner that I could have gotten for under $14 on Amazon. It was also bought on a whim, so not only did I get ripped off money-wise, but I also was mislead by the name of the toner. I thought that this would be a slight chemically exfoliator with trace amounts of AHA/BHA in the mix. While it does have a ridiculously low ph that other bloggers have noted been under 4, it is actually not an exfoliator . In fact, it's just prep for the actual actives for your face, which is making me think if I should add a Vitamin C active, even though they're not always the most stable, especially in the heat. And summer's pretty much at the front door these days, which is bad news for shipping this sort of product. Used The Face Shop's Chia Water 100 toner maybe once or twice, on my cheeks/dry spots only. Dropped the bottle from out of the medicine cabinet though, and chipped the top of my toilet tank. The bottle did not crack, and I actually cannot figure out if that is a fortunate or unfortunate occurrence.
6. Serum or essence: Although it's technically a cream, it's an AIO that can for before creams/serums/ampoules/etc. So with the teensy bit that left, Mizon - All in One Snail Repair Cream (75ml) has been promoted to earlier in the skincare routine. Next week, when it should be done with it, I will be introducing SCINIC's Honey AIO ampoule, which, if it makes me too greasy, I will probably reintroduce the Retinoid Diaries again.
7. Masks: Even though I am still suffering from hormonal left side of my chin acne, I have not gone mask crazy as I did last week.This week was super minimal and I think I may have only tried out one mask, a random $5.99 for ten masks found on a shelf randomly: Welcos Jeju Natural Volcanic Mask. Smelled great, but little leftover serum. Don't know if it actually did anything for my pores, but I got ten of these so I'm going to use them!
   
8. Moisturizer:
    AM: Aveeno Smart Essentials Daily Nourishing Moisturizer SPF 30. But it's been so hot lately, I realize that I have been reaching for my alcoholic Biore sunscreens, and layering instead.
   PM :Mizon - All in One Snail Repair Cream (75ml) layered under Mizon Snail Recovery Gel Cream. The Gel Cream is supposed to be the last step in a routine, even though I was initially concerned because if its gel rather than cream-like texture. The squeeze tube is much smaller than I had anticipated, and also because it is a squeeze tube, I have been using it quite liberally and wonder if it's going to be used up too quickly. I especially been gobbing it on to my hormonal acne spots, and I can't tell if the double snail products is helping, or if my hormones are balancing themselves out (eventually?) and it's just time making these bumps go away. The right side of my face is about 90% better, but my left side is still a concern.
9. Sunscreen: MDW has just passed and summer came to our door knocking, like, HELLOOOOOO! Totally humid and totally hot, and yet I can't stop wearing full-length leggings! Anyway, since the heat is back with a vengeance, my usual 2-in-1 Aveeno moisturizer/sunscreen has not been my favorite. Now I find myself reaching for my most recent purchase of the cult favorite Biore Aqua Rich Waterly Essence Sunscreen 50g Spf50+ Pa+++, which goes on and keeps my face super smooth, almost unnaturally. It's so odd, to feel like I had matte-fied my face, but I can see why people love it so much. Then there is my cheap $100 NT ($3 USD) sunscreen that is chockfull of alcohol, but has become my favorite when I lived back in Taiwan and needed sun protection always. 
   
   Biore UV Super UV Milk SPF 48 PA+++ (which I could only find via YesStyle or ebay) is cheap! It's a milk, and just dribbles through a tipped nozzle in solid white. Though it sounds weird, it has been my go-to for years. Due to it's "milk" nature, and it's possibly high alcohol content, it goes on wet, but then dries super quickly. This has been my favorite because it's affordable (I go through these little bottles like crazy) and because when I sweat buckets (especially on a dragon boat race day), I can reapply it to my face without feeling my face is on fire. Many other sunscreens cannot be reapplied to my face mid-day mid-sweat because of this reaction. My face doesn't get red or inflamed looking, but I when I use the wrong sunscreen I feel like I just want to claw the pain off my face. It's awful, and it has taken many different sunscreens to find what works for me.

So that wraps up the week-- eyelid cleanser, two new products, and alternative sunscreens taking precedence over my usual. 

Skincare Woes: Hormonal Acne

Right now, I believe I am suffering from hormonal acne.

It's from the top of my cheekline, trailing down my jaw. Small little whiteheaded pus bumps. Disgusting.

Ate with a friend last night and even her first response, before I said anything more, was, "hormonal acne!" Face-mapping is a common way to "self-diagnosis" and the area around the chin and jawline to be more hormone induce skin troubles. This site says it's my small intestine, or diet issues. But the other four sites that were link-dropped mainly point to hormonal imbalances, or stress. Even Google Images tells me about the same: hormones and/or girl parts mainly.

How do I measure if a product is working if I am so distracted and bother by this acne that I believe is hormonal?

Just started the AHA BHA Clarifying Toner by CosRX, don't actually know if it's doing anything though because these pesky bumps still riddle my jawline.

Order of Obsession

As seen on: http://www.fanserviced-b.com/a-visual-guide-to-the-korean-skincare-routine/

Tracy over at Fanserviced-b really has a great skincare blog going on. She got into Korean products via Kpop, which isn't too far away from my love of all things Asian. Even though I sadly did not get into it when I was in Taiwan. But it was humid! All I needed was sunscreen and sometimes facewash. However, it worked out for the best since the Korean brands are insanely marked up due to "luxury" tax.

Anyway, I really think that this chart is so, so, so important. And as a visual it makes the Asian Beauty routine a lot less complicated. People are always hauling in new products and not really  understanding where they go, or how to incorporated them. Most of the time I think the most important part of having a skincare routine is patience.

Products need to be slowly introduced into a routine, and even I am guilty of going against this rule. It's just so exciting to get all these new products that are supposed to make you more glamorous, but you have to realize that your face can't take all this newness. It needs to come in slowly, but surely. This is really applicable to me because I am super lazy and don't patch test.

There are SO MANY STEPS, and there are actual waiting times for some of these steps. One of my issues in The Retinoid Diaries was that I kept using Tazorac at the wrong time. Yes, this visual notes that it should have been done after the pH balancing toner, but I should have been using after I moisturized.... so there is also what you're using. This visual could use a little AM/PM tweaking. For example: I don't oil cleanse in the AM nor do I apply a sleeping pack then, and I definitely don't put on sunscreen in the PM.

A lot of the time I didn't really realize the difference in toners, and the Chia one is hydrating, but I think the Clear Missha Toner was prepping. I certainly didn't know that there could be more than one toner in a routine.

Either way, yesterday I found myself purchasing CosRX's (mixed reviews) BHA/AHA Clarifying toner. In the end I realized that I paid just over $7 too much, but that's what you get for in store impulse buys. I wanted another toner, and I felt like the Chia toner was not working for me and that it was hydrating, sure, but it wasn't doing the trick. I've also been suffering from little pimply bumps all along my the edges of my faces from cheek to chin. Possibly residual effects from cat allergens, but at the same time, my usual routine has not been helping. Haven't introduced anything new either.

My Amazon Haul comes in later today. We will see when those products will get their time. Patience, surely, is the hardest part of building a routine. As a hobbyist, it is too easy to become obsessed and want to add them all at once. Arg, really need to work on patience in regards to my skincare obsession.

Amending because Clay/Wash-off Masks were forgotten:

1. 1st and 2nd Cleanser
2. Clay/Wash Off Mask
3. pH adjusting toner
4. Actives (vit c, BHA, AHA. 15-20 min wait between each one)
5. Hydrating toner Essences/Serums (thinner to thicker)
6. Sheet Mask Moisturiser/Sleeping Pack
7. Sunscreen (AM)
8. Spot Treatment (PM)

Amazon First World Problems

I don't have Amazon Prime. Technically I am on a no buying kick. But even when that is lifted, I don't nearly order enough from Amazon to make the Prime membership worth it.

Anyway, here are my woes:

WHAT IS IS DOING JUST SITTING THERE?

Location	Date	Local Time	Activity
Jacksonville, FL, United States	05/21/2016	6:35 A.M.	Departure Scan
	05/21/2016	1:16 A.M.	Arrival Scan
Orlando, FL, United States	05/20/2016	10:07 P.M.	Departure Scan
	05/20/2016	4:52 P.M.	Arrival Scan
Ruskin, FL, United States	05/20/2016	3:00 P.M.	Departure Scan
	05/20/2016	12:20 P.M.	Origin Scan
United States	05/20/2016	12:24 P.M.	Order Processed: Ready for UPS

It's already May 23rd, and it's been sitting in Jacksonville for over two whole days.

MOVE IT PLEASE, I've placed my order over a week ago and I want it now already!!!

Research

Cleansers 

1. Oil Cleanser: Innisfree Apple Juicy Cleansing Oil 5.07 Oz/150Ml by Innisfree $17.88
2. Foaming Cleanser: Cosrx Low Ph Good Morning Gel Cleanser 150ml $9.33

Toners

1. Hydrating: Kikumasamune Sake Skin Lotion High Moisture - 500ml ~$13
2. Purifying: [MIZON] AHA & BHA Daily Clean Toner 150ml (5.07 fl.oz.) ~$20 Heard it's been discontinued? Sadface.
3. [Benton] Snail Bee High Content Toner ~14 Guessing it will be a hydrating toner
4. Exfoilating: Pixi Glow Tonic ~15 at target for 3.4 fl oz

Essence/Serums/Ampoules

1.  BENTON Snail Bee High Content Essence $13.98
2. LJH Tea Tree 90 Essence
3. Cosrx Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence 100ml by Cosrx $16.05
4. MIZON Snail Repair Intensive Ampoule Cream, 1 Ounce by MIZON $12.24
5.  SCINIC Honey All In One Ampoule All Skin Types Women Whitening (250ml) $18.84 bought at $18.46 May 2016

Cream/Moisturizer

1. Joseon Beauty Moisture Whitening Anti-wrinkle Cream $23.20 discontinued on Amazon, but can find via Memebox
2. Korea Jaminkyung Crema Caracol Snail Cream/ Reduce Scars Acne Pimples $23.99
3. MIZON Snail Recovery Gel Cream 45ml (1.52 fl.oz.) Pack of 2 $9.69 bought at 9.59 May 2016
4. MIZON Black Snail All In One Cream, 2.40 Ounce Bought for $13.09 May 2016

Sleeping Packs
Ranked Wishlist:

1. TCFS Pumpkin Sleeping Pack ~$13 bought at $12 May 2016
2. Mizon Good Night White Sleeping Mask ~$9
3. Cosrx Ultimate Nourishing Rice Overnight Spa Mask ~$13
4. Goodal Anti-Wrinkle Want Night Sleep Cream Pack ~$33
5. Sulwhasoo Overnight Vitalizing Mask ~$43
6. Innisfree Green Tea Sleeping Pack ~$15
7. Holika Honey Blueberry Pack ~$13
8. Etude House Berry AHA Bright Peel Sleeping Pack ~$14
9. Mamode Rose Honey Sleeping Pack ~$20
10. Tony Moly Wonder Honey is actually a cream :S

Recommended by others but I HATE IT:

Missha Super Aqua Cell Renew Snail Sleeping Mask ~$14

Recommended by others with mix reviews, but I LOVE IT:

Laneige Water Sleeping Mask ~$20

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...

TW/KR Haul!!

Lucky me! My Aunt when to Taiwan for a visit and found my beloved Lovemore masks on sale! Apt because it was right around Mother's Day. Her friend's layover was in Korea and YES, I did get my fill of second time purchases and first time tries.

The hauls!!!

This Taiwan Mask Extravaganza!!! only cost me $33!!

This Duty Free Shopping Spree put me back $91. Though I honestly think there might have been a little lost in translation. You need to haggle in Mandarin, darn it!!

Three repurchased items!! FTE Bae, MRCS (which has been growing on me). And Nature Republic's Combination gel cream (which I didn't realize was so heavily fragrance until I stopped using it and put in Mizon's AIO Snail goop).

I'm so happy!!! But in post-finals time I broke my no spending rule again by late night Amazoning. Nothing good can happen when you Amazon at 1 in the morning..... Goodbye money!!!


Items pictured in this haul:

1. Lovemore Pearl Barely and Milk Mask
2. Lovemore Rosa Hybrida Mask
3. Lovemore Loofah and Aloe Mask
4. Lovemore White Yeast Mask
5. Missha Time Revolution The First Treatment Essence Intensive (third bottle <3)
6. Innisfree Super Volcanic Clay Mousse Mask
7. Innisfree Soybean Energy Essence (to compare to FTE bae)
8. su:m37 Miracle Rose Cleansing Stick (second stick!)
9. Nature Republic Aqua Super Aqua Max Combination Water Cream (second jar, probably the last though)