My The Ordinary Order

The Ordinary 100% Plant-Derived Squalane - 30ml	7.90	x 1	7.90
The Ordinary “Buffet” - 30ml	14.80	x 1	14.80
The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% - 30ml	5.90	x 1	5.90

This simple order makes me smile. Though I originally wanted the Rosehip Seed Oil, it was sold out, so I opted for Niacinamide instead. (Free shipping starts at $25, so might as well try something else!)

Ever since my lovely time healing from when I chemically burned my face (that's really must have been what I had done, there's no other explanation for it), I have been very thankful for Squalane. The ONLY item in my routine that did not leave my face stinging upon application.

However, it is important to not discount the fact that I had also incorporated two newer items into my routine: SK-II and Beauty of Joseon Dynasty cream. SK-II stung my skin when I was going through my reaction, and the Beauty of Joseon Dynasty was applied at the tail end, so I cannot actually assess if it was helpful or not.

Squalane, precious plant-derived squalane. Though the one I am using now was bought for $10 during the Peach and Lily, the original price is $42 and I am not willing to pay that much for 1 ounce of facial oil. The price that The Ordinary offers is cheaper than what I originally paid and I am going to compare it when I get the chance. DECIEM notes that they can take up to ten business days to process and order, nevermind actual shipment and deliver of these products.

There is no rush, I have an abundance of skincare products that I need to get through before they expire.

Maybe this is the time where I should introduce an eyecream... after using SK-II for a month to see how my skin stabilizes. (Ah, but sometimes I just get so excited about products that I want to use them all at once!)

Allergic Reaction Non-Action

So, where I might have tried to up my game and fix my allergic reaction that I felt two Sundays ago (January 21), I realized that maybe less is more and time will heal it in itself.

So I did mask a couple time at first, but my face was still really sensitive. Even my Missha Clear Toner and my SK-II essence felt like it burned when I slapped it (figuratively) on my face. Especially around the upper lip and mouth area. Oh boy, it stung and stung and stung, morning and night, both routines. Then, on January 24th, on Wednesday I ran out of my usual moisturizer, and started using the Beauty of Joseon Dynasty cream which I purchased on a whim when I saw it went down to $15 USD on Amazon.

This is one of those sticky creams, and I AM LOVING IT. Whereas I did not have a good experience with Donkey Milk cream, I am having a good one with Beauty of Joseon Dynasty.

However, I think it's only fair that I mention the importance of 100% Fluid Squalene, the ONLY part of my skin routine that did not sting my skin on contact.

Thank for face oil, for treating my skin right when everything else brought me pain.

ALLERGIC REACTION ACTION

Masking is great, I LOVE sheeting masking.

However, it does not always love me. I found this out the hard way when I tried a Freeset Donkey Milk Aqua Skin Gel Mask Pack and found that my mouth area felt like it was burning... well I knew I had to take it off and wash my face again immediately.

Of course, I did this mask and had this sort of discomfort right before a Friday night date. Wonderful :/

I quickly applied a Lovemore Milk and Barley smoothing mask over it to counteract whatever issue I had just felt and thought I evaded all problems. I thought wrong. Though Friday night it was fine, and all Saturday I felt normal, when I woke up Sunday morning, it looked like I was wearing a red muzzle. It was dry, it was tight, and it felt swollen and uncomfortable.

This morning, Monday morning, it felt the same, and worse, if that's possible. It feels like my skin is dried but still stung by bees. I brought moisturizer to work, but I am worried that by over lotioning my skin, not only will I look oily and greasy, but that it will exacerbate the problem.

Ugh, what a reaction for the first day of classes. Not fun.

Need to take action without exacerbation. We will see how this works. Used sheet mask good and still felt it. I wonder if using The Boy's Neutrogena Deep Clean face wash to wash my make-up off on Friday night excaerbated the issue... but it didn't show until a day later? That's kind of weird, but now that I think of it, totally plausible.

Skincare Routine Monthly Check-in: January 14, 2018

Not only am I fourteen days late of my personal deadline, but I am also all over the place because I have been traveling for the last two/three weeks.

The end of december went well, but it was full of final papers and things to take care of, and then before I knew it, it was December 26 and I was in the air on my way back to my beloved Taiwan. Taiwan was great, but I had my travel skincare routine, which consisted of Kiehl's facewash, leftover Moistfull Booskin toner, Maycoop Raw, and goodal's boost moisturizer. Sunscreen, of course, BAE Biore, new formula. Broke out a little, but that makes sense with the change of atmospheres between Taiwan, Bali, and back home. Bali was even hotter and more humid and Taiwan, which was already hot and humid enough.

However, I did do one thing while at Duty Free on my way home... I spent over $300 USD on SK-II. Pouring that liquid money all over my face as of January 12, 2018. My fine lines, especially the ones around my eyes, feel more apparent, in an exponentially fast pace. Therefore, when I saw the bottle that retails for $229, for $146 USD, I jumped on it, got the two bottle special edition Year of the Dog set, bought another started set that brought me up to over $10,000 Taiwanese dollars and gave me a travel set (which was probably worth $50 USD on its own).

In 2018 I vow to take the best care of my skin, and I have started with the expensive SK-II habit. Oh, feel that lifestyle creep? It says you're graduating and won't have to pay school bills for much longer.

Well, let's get on with it, my 2018 Skincare routine!

1. Oil Cleanser: None!
2. Water-based Cleanser:  Mornings still get Cosrx Low Ph Good Morning Gel cleanser. Been going back to usng Lagom's Gellup Gel to Water Cleanser, but it doesn't feel like it does anything much.
3. Hydrating Toner:  Missha Clear Toner, SK-II dupe of their $76 clear toner. It does the trick, but I have so many toners that once this bottle is done, it's time to use something else. It will be a product I miss using, I think that's an indicator that it's gaining HG status.
4. SK-II - Essence slapped onto my face here. It is lightweight and much sweeter smelling than I imagined. Reminds me of one of my favorite Taiwanese breakfast drinks, yi ren jian, or Job's Tears Barley drink. At over $60 for the little 75 ml bottle I'm using right now (Sephora sells it as a part of a $99 starter kit), I remind myself that each shake of the bottle is practically like pasting a dollar bill to my face. It's just that expensive.
5. Serum: Still using Olivarrier's Fluid Oil Squalane and it's odd, but I do like it. I make to pat extra around my eyes, I am so scared for those fine lines right now. Still using Derma Dr.Lab Hydromoist Night Rich Serum can't tell if it works, but I am going to finish using it all the same.
6. Moisturizer: Dr. G's Hydra Volume Cream tube, which has been on it's last legs (and if I didn't go on vacation, would have probably been gone already). Going to transition into another day cream, but I am not sure yet. Using the Coconut Souffle moisturizer at night since it's so thick.
7. Sleeping Pack: Too Cool for School's Pumpkin Sleeping Pack, forever!! But it has started to run out and I squeeze out compressed air half the time now. Once it's done, it's time to start and finish the other Holika Holika sleeping pack I have, though I know it won't live up to the Holy Grail status of TCFS's Pumpkin.
8. Sunscreen: Haven't been using the Peripera Oil Capture Peach Sun Finisher with SPF 50/PA+++. Instead I had opened up a new formula tube of BAE Biore. I still like it, even though its different. Interestingly enough, I got four more tubes in Taiwan.... and they're still only selling the old formula. Got to use that up first then, I usually run out every month and a half, so that's not going to be too bad, no matter how old the formula is, I think.

Really need to make amends to my sleeping patterns, as I vowed never to be late to this job again. Also, I need my beauty sleep, but I keep finding myself in long naps each evening. Tired from vacation, need a vacation from vacation. Totally missing the daily massages we would get in Bali.

Skincare Routine Monthly Check-in: December 8, 2017

It's been over a month since I finished my Whole30, and I am begging for the Whole30 skin back! It's been just over a month of eating outside of compliance, and my acne has come back (but not as bad, more of a eye-sore than an actual problem), and so has some belly. Being on the Whole30 really felt fresh and clean and I did it again for four day straight after Thanksgiving (because Thanksgiving nearly killed me, my gluttony really got the best of me!).

1. Oil Cleanser: None!
2. Water-based Cleanser:  Goodal's Natural Clear Deep Cleansing Gel to Foam recently ran out, and though I liked it, it was time to use something else I haven't tried yet: Lagom's Gellup Gel to Water Cleanser.  Yes, I did get this at the Peach and Lily sample sale where I was standing in line at 6:45 like a crazy person. It really does feel like water after I rub it in a little. Can't tell if it cleans, but I am hoping it does. Of course, I still use Cosrx Low Ph Good Morning Gel cleanser in the mornings.
3. Hydrating Toner:  Missha Clear Toner, really still liking this product. Kind of sad I only have one more bottle in my stockpile, but I have so many other toners that I have to cycle through, that it will get a rest for a little once this bottle is over. 
4. Serum: Caudalie Vinoperfect Serum also ran out last week, exactly the same time my cleansing gel to foam cleanser ran out. Instead, I have also opted to use another Peach and Lily sample: Fluid Oil Squalane from Olivarrier. The girl at the sample sale raved about it from someone else, and I think it was $10/15, so why the hell not?  Derma Dr.Lab Hydromoist Night Rich Serum that honestly just feels like a thinner moisturizer, not a serum type product.
5. Moisturizer: Mornings have been Dr. G's Hydra Volume Cream tube. In the evening I kind of use whatever moisturizer I want, though I have been using the Hydra Volume Cream more often than not.
6. Sleeping Pack: Too Cool for School's Pumpkin Sleeping Pack, forever? Or just for the season? time will tell. I also have a Holika Holika Wine Sleep pack that I should crack open.... but I don't know if anything can compare to TCFS's Pumpkin!! Slightly worried about this, is this a holy grail sleeping pack?! We will see.
7. Sunscreen: Still using the slightly white-casted Peripera Oil Capture Peach Sun Finisher with SPF 50/PA+++. I wish I wrote the date down on the tube, like I did with some of my other products. I'm curious to see how long this tube will last.

Been having a hurty-time pimple that has no head... probably because I keep putting those acne patches on them. I found a sheet that my friend gave me and I've been using them. Nexcare from Taiwan, she swears they work... I haven't had a pimple like this in a few months, so I am not happy about it. Says it takes 12 hours? 72 hours? I can wash with it on? It's basically supposed to be a miracle patch, and though I've used three of them now, I am not so convinced. Maybe I'm just using it wrong.

While I'm at it, I should write what new items I have acquired:

1. Maycoop Raw Sauce Mini ($7.99 from Marshalls)
2. Maycoop Raw Moisturizer ($19.99 from Marshalls)

Really, I should write what I get so I truly understand how much I am buying and stockpiling. My Taiwan trip is in a matter of weeks, and who am I kidding, I am going to get a haul!

Bottomline: Two new things this round: Lagom Cleanser and 100% Squalane. We will see how this winter goes; tomorrow it's supposed to snow.

Skincare Routine Monthly Check-in: Novermber 2, 2017

Still riding on that good skin train!!

Finished my Whole 30 on Saturday, and it's been five days since I've been off, but my skin still feels prime.

1. Oil Cleanser: None!
2. Water-based Cleanser:  Goodal's Natural Clear Deep Cleansing Gel to Foam for the most part, and sometimes  Cosrx Low Ph Good Morning Gel cleanser when I want a minty pick-me-up.
3. Hydrating Toner:  Missha Clear Toner, proving to still be as nice as I remember it. Seriously, I don't know why, but I think my skin really likes Missha's SK-II dupe line.
4. Serum: Caudalie Vinoperfect Serum. Twice a day because I can.
5. Moisturizer: Rosette Aqua Ceramide Gel has been doing the trick during the evenings. Ran out of Derma Dr. Lab Hydromist Gel Cream rather early on, and moved on to another mositurizer I got through the Club Clio Sale. Dr. G's Hydra Volume Cream tube. Tubes are so nice and easy to dispense the product. This Hydra Volume Cream came with a weird vibrating thing to "massage" the cream "deeper" into the skin. Honestly, I've used the massager twice and it just takes up too much of my time and feels like it's pulling on my skin. Directions say to put a thin layer of cream on, but I feel like if you don't put it on thick enough this thing will pull your skin along with it. Not that much fun. At night though, I have also been indulging in this Bulgarian day cream that my co-worker got me. Something with rose oil... Found it!! Leganza Intensive Hydrating Facial Day Cream with Rose Oil. It's actually very cheap to buy via Amazon.co.uk, and it was probably cheaper to get in Bulgaria. The jar is a cheap plastic, but meh, I just want to use it up and I love the smell. 
6. Sleeping Pack: Too Cool for School's Pumpkin Sleeping Pack is my jam!! Hardly smells like a thing, keeps everything in, and my skin has been great, so I don't know waht ex
7. Sunscreen: Been writing "W"s on my face with Senka this whole month. It does the job, but I've got a couple more sunscreens to work my way through, especially after the Club Clio and Peach + Lily sales this year.

Since the Whole 30 has ended, I was really scared that my skin would flare up again. It's only been a couple of days, but I've already started eating refined sugars, pizza, and a couple sips of red wine. We will see how things go, but I'm love love loving my skin right now.


Costco has SK-II for $189 for 11 ounces.... is it worth the plunge?!?!

Skin is at 100%

Only with a little less boob wiggling. I am civilised and wear a damn bra.

My skin is BACKKKKKKKKKKK and it's better than ever!

Only problem is that I cannot isolate exactly what I am doing that is making my skin work flawlessly as there have been a number of attributes. Let me list the ways:

1.  Twenty days ago I started a round of the Whole 30 food challenge. Only fruits, meats, and vegetables have been consumed by me. The cleanest eating I have ever ate in my entire life, and I am enjoying myself.
2. I have been using Missha's Clear Toner consistently for the last month. It was the first toner from K-beauty that I experimented in tandem with Missha's Time Revolution First Essence. Though I used it at the same time, two new products at the same time, I remember thinking back on the toner fondly.
3. When my French friend visited me, she handled me two bottles of love that is Caudalie's Vinoperfect Radiance Serum. So, for about a month I have also been using this serum morning and night.
4. Two days ago I finally opened my hoarded pack of Too Cool for School's Pumpkin Sleeping Pack. It's finally feeling like the cool crisp cold of Autumn and I wanted to welcome the season as well as I could. I lit a Warm Apple Pie candle and started using this sleeping pack. It's only been two days, but what a glorious two days it has been. My skin has not felt this good in a very long time.

What should be affecting my skin, but isn't right now:

1. My period. There is a shadow of what hormonal pimples are and where they usually sprout up during this time. But that's it, MERE SHADOWS.
2. Poor sleeping schedule. In the last eight days I only went to bed before 3 am maybe once.. or twice? Thursday? Sunday? Yesterday I slept at 1, so I guess that's an improvement, but nevertheless I have not being sleeping well or enough at all.

My skin feels so smooth and soft, it's hard to not stop touching my face! Sebaceous black heads are still around, but they're always going to be around. Now, I'm more focused on how my skin feels to me since when I mess it up back in July it felt horrible, but didn't look as awful as I felt.

Let see how long this stays. Something tells me it has more to do with my diet than it does with the pumpkin sleeping pack (which I have used twice, two days in a row, and I loving it!!).