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.

Skincare Routine Mondays: November 14, 2016

Full of anxieties today. 

1. AM Eyelid Cleanser: Ocusoft Used it this morning, but that was the first time this week.
2. Water-based Cleanser: sum37's Miracle Rose Cleansing Stick, started a new stick last Monday, what good timing.
3. Wash-off Mask: I need to use one, but haven't the time this past week.
4. Moisturizing Toner: The Face Shop's Chia Seed Line, also good timing as it's sputtered it's last drops last night. Started Enprani’s Dear by Enprani Moistfull Booskin hydrating toner this morning. Similar consistency to the Chia Seed Line, so I think I might be reusing the nice glass Chia Seed bottle that has a pump instead of keeping it in the plastic drip top bottle it came in. The pump really does make things easier and less dribbly.
5. Moisturizer: Keeping it up with Ginseng Royal Silk Essence this entire time. Not the biggest fan, but it's growing on me. However, I will note that I was away this weekened and therefore using my Sephora sample of Ole Henriksen's Sheer Transformation, which absorbs much better than that Nature Republic cream. It is closer to how Mizon would feel, but at a much higher price tag.
6. AM Sunscreen: Biore Aqua Rich Waterly Essence Sunscreen 50g Spf50+ Pa+++  Pairs well with all my moisturizers. It's great.

Though last week I blamed the cream, my period came in the middle so really, it was hormones and probably the "adjusting" phase.

My oily t-zone is back, but not in full force. I hate how there can be "periods of adjustment" when it comes to using new products. Not the biggest fan, but we will see how things turn out. Introduced a new hydrating toner today, so we will see how things work out.

Skincare Routine Mondays: November 7, 2016

HOW IS IT ALREADY NOVEMBER?!?! And the birthday of my of my besties still living in Taiwan.

1. AM Eyelid Cleanser: Ocusoft But to be honest, I think I used it maybe ONCE this past week. My eyes have been ok, not really as crusty. My false lashes are persevering to the point where people ask me if I had them redone. Nope, just waiting for them to fall out. This last place really did a good job, it's been four weeks!
2. Water-based Cleanser: sum37's Miracle Rose Cleansing Stick, is literally just a wad of booger. It's only going to be good for one or two more uses and then BAM! out comes the new stick. And this time my sister won't be using it as well, so it should last a wee bit longer, right?
3. Wash-off Mask: From Sephora Sample Wonderland I got a bit of the Peter Thomas Roth Peeling Gel. Honestly, felt weird because again, it wasn't really as effective as I think the Japanese product Natural Aqua Gel Cure. The PTR sample just smelt yeasty, and I felt like the product was just rolling up on itself, not actually taking off dead skin? I don't know, maybe peeling gels are not for me, but this one really didn't do anything and I would not think of sampling it again.
4. Moisturizing Toner: The Face Shop's Chia Seed Line, still trying to use it up.
5. Moisturizer: Mizon's AIO Snail Cream ran out the day I wrote last week, so I've actually be using another cream that I bought from duty free, which is older than the other cream I originally planned on using. This cream is also from Nature Republic and is their top of the line, Ginseng Royal Silk Watery Cream. I definitely did not pay that much for it, more like, it was less than $40 USD and it came with a full sized Ginseng Royal Silk Essence (which I have not started using yet.) Introducing one new thing at a time in my routine is important to me, so I am trying my patience in doing one at a time. This cream also does not seem to absorb so well, and the first time I used it, I think I used way too much product and felt like I was washing a sleep pack off in the morning. Mizon really got me spoiled with the instant absorb and scent-free thing it's got going on. (Yes, I gave in and order another jar via Amazon.)
6. AM Sunscreen: Biore Aqua Rich Waterly Essence Sunscreen 50g Spf50+ Pa+++  Always leaves my skin so matte and smooth

My skin has not been as nice lately, and I BLAME THE CREAM. Honestly, I have more jawline pimples (can't tell if they're hormonal or not), and now I have more around my chin/nostril area, and some small white heads that pop-up on the tip of my nose.

This cream might be top of the line, but it really gives me the same oily t-zone that I've manage to avoid completely when using my Mizon AIO Snail creams. I am using the minimal amount of cream, and it actually has real gold flakes in it, so who knows where that's ending up! It's also for older and more mature skin, maybe I will try to convince my mom in using it instead.

MY OILY T-ZONE IS BACK, and I am so, so, so, so sad. One more week of this cream because I try to pawn it off on my mom. Then Moistful BOOskin is coming in as my toner and I can go back to MIZON, because I hope it has arrived by then.

Ugh, I really don't like thick creams. They bring back the oil in full force.

Snow White and the Asian Pear

She's a great skincare (k-beauty oriented) blogger. She hasn't updated in a while, but I can see why. Why would you want to write about more products when you have a handful you already love and trust?

Except for reformulations, those are evil.

The following image is a lifesaver, so I really just want to share it with you. My products, mostly, come from Amazon (especially repurchases), so this actually looks eerily similar to what I have in my stash.