Summer Essentials

I’ll be the first to admit that I am kind of vain and that I am a little obsessed with anti-aging. Over the years though, I have learned to accept that a completely “made up” face is not always necessary when going out. I mean, I can now go to the grocery store without foundation, CC cream, BB cream, or bases of any kind. However, there is one thing I never skimp on and that is sunscreen. As everyone knows, it is supposedly the most important part of your anti-aging arsenal. Here is the arsenal I am using this summer to defend myself against those harmful sun rays.

Hurraw Sun Lip Balm

Hurraw has got to be one of my favourite lip balm brands. I love the oval shape of the tube and how it fits the shape of my lips perfectly. The formula also glides easily over my lips and is very moisturizing. That is why I was excited to try their SPF lip balm last year. I enjoyed it so much last year I decided to repurchase it this summer as well. Why do I enjoy it so much? Most mineral sunscreens leave a white cast, which is not a pretty look on your lips. This one is virtually clear and it has a lovely citrus scent. Definitely my favourite SPF lip balm!

Thinksport Kids Safe Sunscreen SPF 50+

I personally love kid’s sunscreen. First of all, they smell better than the adults versions to me. Thinksport was a brand that I stumbled upon when I was visiting our local general store. I had never heard of Thinksport before this, but soon learned that they are a brand that focuses on making “safe” consumer products. Like a lot of clean products, it doesn’t contain a myriad chemicals and is also cruelty-free and gluten-free. Most importantly, how does this sunscreen preform though? Since it is a physical sunscreen, it is definitely on the thicker side, but not that bad compared to others I have tried. My favourite thing about this sunscreen is that it dries relatively matte. I hate greasy sunscreen!

Meow Meow Tweet Deodorant Cream in Grapefruit

Yes, I am one of those lucky people that doesn’t really sweat much. So I usually will opt for a deodorant most of the time. If it gets really hot, I might switch to an antiperspirant. I have used a deodorant from Schmidt’s for a long time and thought it was about time I switched things up a bit. What can I say. I always get sucked in by cute packaging and it is no different with this deodorant from Meow Meow Tweet. This is one of those tub deodorants where you have to grab a pea-size amount of the product and rub it into your armpits. Yes, I have tried the stick version of these more “natural” deodorants, but I find they tend to crumble more, so I prefer the tub version.

This is an organic, fair-trade, and cruelty-free brand. Instead of baking soda, the main ingredients of arrowroot powder and dietary magnesium help control moisture and odor. Essential oils also give this deodorant a lovely smell that doesn’t really linger too much. I find that it is great at keeping any odor at bay. You will still sweat, but it does minimize the moisture you feel. It is a great everyday deodorant, but probably not enough if you are super sweaty.

Weleda Skin Food Original Ultra-Rich Cream

I had seen this infamous green tube all over Instagram and have always wanted to try it. This cream is made of all plant extracts and is for those that have very dry skin. I had heard a light version of this cream had come out recently, so I did expect it to be thick. Boy, I had no idea how thick though! I wouldn’t recommend this as face cream, and maybe not even a hand cream. Like the script on the packaging says, this is meant for rough patches on hands, feet, and elbows. I love to apply this on my eczema and just dry patches on my skin. It has worked great in that capacity. Plus, it has this amazing citrus scent, which I love.

Skincare Short Reviews

It is always so intriguing to me how all my skincare seems to run out at the same time. I am always left scrambling to buy new items before the last drops disappear. I honestly feel like there is some universal force working to make this happen or I am just to lazy to buy backups. Presently, as I am scrambling to buy some new skincare online, I thought I would take a break to quickly review three of the skincare products that I have emptied or almost emptied in the last month.

Naturaglacé Point Makeup Remover

I am always on the lookout for a makeup remover that not only removes makeup, but also doesn’t make my eyes sting. Naturaglacé is a natural and organic brand from Japan. I love a lot of their base products, so I thought I would give their makeup remover a try. This is one of those dual-phase makeup removers that you have to shake up before using. It contains argan oil to moisturize the eye area. Luckily for me, it didn’t have much of a scent, which can really affect my opinion of a product. It also did not leave much of an oily residue after using it. Unfortunately though, it does irritate my eyes and make them water a little and just feel more irritated in general. I did finish the whole bottle, but won’t be repurchasing.

Melvita Argan + Face Care Oil

I am totally on one of those face oil kicks. I have combination skin, with an oily T-Zone and dry cheeks and have just found that face oil really keeps my dry cheeks moisturized and looking great under makeup. I decided to pick up this one from Melvita because I love the facial oil I bought from them years ago in Asia. This facial oil contains nourishing argan oil and amino acids that help with firming. I love that the scent of this oil is very subtle and sinks in really quickly. There is nothing worse than an oil that leaves your skin feeling super greasy. It is super moisturizing and lasted four months with me using it in the morning and nighttime. With regards to the firming effect, I think it helped, but it wasn’t anything obvious. I would definitely repurchase.

Scinic The Simple Calming Toner

This is a lesson of buying something that has good ratings, but is not that compatible with your skin type. This Scinic toner had really good reviews on a Korean beauty review app, and I bought it without even reading the brand write-up. It is a solid toner for those with sensitive skin, but not enough for who is looking for anti-aging benefits. It has contains water-lily flower extract which is moisturizing, madecassoside which protects your skin barrier, and aloe vera which is soothing. During application, it sinks in quickly and doesn’t contain much a scent. Overall, it does leave my skin moisturized and soothed, but it is not moisturizing enough for someone with dry skin. I think I would prefer a toner with a few more anti-aging ingredients, so I probably will not repurchase.

Review: Mad Hippie Vitamin C Serum

I have always loved skincare, but I never have been too into analyzing ingredients till last year. I realized, that in order to be a “good” reviewer, I really needed to consider all the aspects of a product. This not only includes the ingredients, but also the brand’s ethos, packaging, and source of their ingredients.

I feel like Vitamin C products have been everywhere lately. I am definitely a newbie when it comes to using Vitamin C skincare products. However, my first experience with Vitamin C product was so promising (it was from Wishtrend), I decided to venture out and try more. After, googling Best Vitamin C Serums, I decided to try this one from the Mad Hippie.

You have probably have heard of the benefits of Vitamin C for our health, but how is it beneficial to our skin? After doing some research online, Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that helps to defend against free radicals. It helps with diminishing pigmentation, fine lines, and skin texture. It can also improve hydration and boost collagen production.

Brand Background

Reading through Map Hippie’s website, it is a very “wholesome” brand. It only uses “natural” ingredients and is free from a ton of, what they call, “nasties,”, like parabens, synthetic fragrance, dyes, petrochemicals, PEGs, SLS etc. They are also cruelty-free and care about the impact of the beauty industry on the environment. For example, their boxes are printed with soy ink and their facilities run on alternative energy.

Ingredients

Like the infamous Skinceuticals C E Ferulic with 15% L-Ascorbic Acid, Mad Hippie’s version uses a Vitamin C derivative, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, combined with Vitamin E and Ferulic Acid. This combination seems to really boost the effectiveness of Vitamin C. Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate may be less researched and applauded version of Vitamin C, compared to L-Ascorbic Acid. However, it is more stable and less irritating. The formula also includes Hyaluronic Acid which is great for hydration and other soothing ingredients like Konjac Root and Chamomile Extract.

Application

This serum has a lightweight-watery texture and sinks in quickly. It has a very faint floral scent, which dissipates quickly. I use about 2-3 drops for my entire face. Using it AM and PM, it lasted me for about almost 3 months. I usually used it as my first step of skincare as recommended on their website.

Results

I loved the application of this product as it felt like I was just applying a hydrating serum. There was no irritation or purging stage for me at all. In fact, for a while, I really didn’t think it made any difference to my skin at all. However, we all know it takes a while for skincare to show results. After 2 months, I definitely noticed my skin texture was smoother. More obvious, was the brown spots I had on my cheeks had definitely lightened. However, compared to other Vitamin C serums that use L-Ascorbic Acid I have tried, I didn’t find the brightening effect as obvious.

VERDICT: If you are looking for a Vitamin C Serum that is non-irritating and helps fight pigmentation and improve your skin texture, I totally recommend this one. Also, if you are also getting into skincare with “clean” ingredients, this would be a good pick.

Resources

How Does Vitamin C Help Skin?

Vitamin C Derivatives – Which One is For You?

Vitamin C: The Multi-functional Skincare Work Horse

Recent Roundup

I thought that I would do a little roundup of things I have purchased, loved, and used up. I still enjoy blogging, but I have been really obsessed with Instagram this year, and post more regularly there. If you are interested, my instagram is itsmudges.

Recent Purchases

Herbivore Hydrate + Glow Natural Skincare Mini Collection

Herbivore is a brand that is hard to resist. It has the most beautiful and chic packaging. Their brand focus on safe and effective skincare also feels modern and appealing. I had previously never tried anything from Herbivore before so I thought this set was a perfect overview of some of their bestsellers. This set contains four products: Pink Cloud Rosewater Moisture Creme, Phoenix Regenerating Facial Oil, Rose Hibiscus Hydrating Face Mist, and Brighten Pineapple + Gemstone Glow Mask.

Quick Impressions and Review: I have used up the Creme and love it. It smells lovely (not like roses though) and gives you this dewy glow. I would say it would be a great summer moisturizer. Out of everything I have tried in this kit, the oil is definitely my favourite. It doesn’t smell to strong, sinks in beautifully, and is so moisturizing. My dry cheeks have been loving it. I am still getting used to the mask as it is different from my really moisturizing Korean mist toners. The mask is lovely as well. It is a bit tingly, but gives you the most beautiful after you wash it off.

Melvita Face Care Oil

My love for facial oil continues with this purchase from Melvita. I was introduced to Melvita when I picked it up in Taiwan a few years back. Previously, I noticed it featured in a lot of Japanese magazines I read. Melvita is actually a brand from France that has been around for 30 years. They specialize in organic high-performance formulas in skincare. This particular face oil highlights the anti-aging benefits of argan oil and amino acids. As I was reading their website, I learned that argan oil is full of omegas and sterols which nourish and maintain the youthfulness of your skin. I am excited to use this oil as it says it is a dry oil. I hope it will sink in quickly unlike some other oils that will cause my makeup to shift throughout the day.

Sidmool AC Bye Trouble Skin Handmade Soap

I love facial soap so I am always on the hunt for a new one. Being a longtime lover of Korean skincare, I realized I had never tried any of their facial soap. So I decided to pick this one up by Sidmool. This soap contains olive oil and snail mucus as its top ingredients and is geared towards acne prone skin. I will report back after I have used it for a while. Also, if you want to be environmental, bar soap is usually touted as the better choice than liquid soap.

Conscious Consumerism

To be honest, I don’t even know what the best term for this is. There seems to be an endless amount of terminology to describe this action. There is ethical consumerism, environmentalism, green beauty, and the list goes on. Over the last few years, I have just become more aware of what I buy and how it affects the world. I am not a saint or anything, but if I can do a few things to help the world, I thought why not? Here are a few actions I have taken to become a more ethical shopper.

Just Buy Less

I find that this is harder said than done, but I feel I have just gradually bought less over the years. I guess, having a mortgage kind of jumped started this process. I started having a one-in and one-out policy with most of my beauty products. I mean, it is not perfect or as streamlined as I wish, but I try my best. For example, I usually only own one blush, but then I do spit it into a cream and powder blush.

Refillable Makeup

Nowadays, I tend to pause I think before I buy anything. It allows me to reflect on whether I truly need something, and most importantly, how my purchase will effect the environment. There are more brands that are putting out refillable makeup which I think is such a great idea. Many times, the case is so pretty, you don’t even want to throw it out. Some brands I have been loving with refillable makeup are Kjaer Weis and MiMC.

Green Beauty

Of course, the obvious way to be more ethical is to buy from brands who claim to be more clean, green, and sustainable. I know, a lot of these words have been thrown around without much respect for the original meaning and some brands just use it as a form of marketing. However, I would like to believe that there are some brands that truly want to make a difference. It is important to do your research. On the other hand, I don’t think any brand is perfect, and being conscious about your purchasing decisions doesn’t mean I nitpick every single thing that the brand does. Some of my favourites are Herbivore, Kosas, RMS Beauty, and Kjaer Weis.

If you are interested in reading some in-depth reviews of some products I have tried lately, check out my review of the RMS Beauty Signature Set in Pop Collection and Belif Moisturizing and Firming Eye Cream.

Review:RMS Beauty Signature Set in Pop Collection

One of my favourite things about browsing the Sephora website is checking out their beauty sets. I find that it is such a great way to get an overview of a brand. I have actually been loving my Herbivore set from them latey. Today though, I really wanted to talk about the Signature Set I got from RMS Beauty in Pop Collection. If you have read my blog for a while, you will know that I love their cream highlighter and base products. However, there are a few items I still wanted to try from their line, so I decided to get this set.

Overview

This Pop Collection set contains five products. It comes with two of their cream blushers, Lip2Cheek, in shades Demure and Beloved. It also includes a cream highlight in Magic Luminizer and a bronzer in Buriti. The last product is the Simply Vanilla Lip & Skin Balm.

Packaging

Unlike other products in their line which are housed in glass tubs, the packaging for this set is made of plastic. The packaging is chic and minimal being all white with only their brand name printed on the front. There is no indication of what type of plastic is used in the packaging, so I am a little worried about how recyclable it is compared to their glass tubs.

Application

If you have watched RMS Beauty videos or read their website, you would know that they recommend you apply their products with your fingers. They praise the benefits of using your fingers or what they call “skin to skin application.” I personally really enjoy applying their cream formulas with my fingers. I find that the bronzer and highlighter are very creamy and blend out easily. I would say the blushes have a more putty texture and take a little more work to blend out. The balm is also very emollient and blends out easily.

Review

I am going to go through each product individuality and review whether I would purchase the full-size. There were definitely some hits and misses from this set for me.

Bronzer in Buriti

This was one of the surprising hits from this set. Since it only comes in one colour, I really wasn’t sure it would work for me. I am around a MAC NC 25. As claimed on their website, this bronzer is not orangey at all. In fact, it is more of a warm brown. It looks darker than it applies on the skin as it sheers out quite a bit. I am amazed at how well it blends out on me. It really gives me that summery glow from within look.

Would I Buy the Full-Size? Yes!

Magic Lumizier

Many of you might already be familiar with their Living Luminizer. Many celebrities love to wear it. It is also one of my favourites because it gives you a beautiful dewy glow. I must admit that when I started using the Magic Luminizer, I didn’t love it. I think I was so attached to the Living Luminizer that I didn’t see its merits right away. Unlike the Living Luminizer, it has a slight metallic sheen. I feel it takes a little longer to blend, but it is worth it because I was surprised that it had such great longevity for a cream highlighter. I think this highlighter gives a more subtle glow, which is perfect for a work day.

Would I Buy the Full-Size? Yes!

Lip2Cheek in Demure and Beloved

Their cream blushers seem to have a lot going for them. Are they pigmented? Yes! Are they long-lasting? Yes. However, since they have a more putty texture they are a bit harder to blend. They also can appear a little bit patchy on the cheeks. I do enjoy both colours. Even though the shade Beloved looks really intense in the pan, it does give you a very healthy glow. I just take a tiny dab and it is enough for one cheek. Demure is a lovely pink shade which is great for everyday wear. It can be easy to overdo either shade so I usually start off with less and add more if I want to build more intensity. Overall, the blushes wear really well throughout the day. I just wish they were less patchy.

Would I Buy the Full-Size? No.

Simply Vanilla Lip & Skin Balm

Unfortunately, I am not try able to give a fair review of this product because the vanilla scent just got too strong for me. I am quite sensitive to scents and you smell it for a while after you apply it. It applies on smoothly and dries down on the matte side. It is one of those lip balms where you feel a layer of product on your lips as it doesn’t really sink in. I did try to keep it on for a few hours and it does feel moisturizing. I would just not purchase full-size because I disliked the scent.

Would I Buy the Full-Size? No.

Do you have any favourite RMS Beauty products?

Quick Reviews: Deluxe Samples

Yes, I am one of those people that go into Sephora with no intention of buying anything except to look at their deluxe samples. For me, it is the best way to try something before investing in the full-size product. I finished these three samples lately and want to share my experiences with them.

BITE BEAUTY Multistick in Mochi

I’ve never had the best of luck with multipurpose beauty products and I’ve afraid I feel the same way about this product. Don’t get me wrong, I do enjoy this product, but not in all the ways that it is meant for. Bite Beauty’s Multistick is meant to be applied on the lips, cheeks, and eyes. By far, my favourite application is on the cheeks. The pigmentation on these are amazing! You only need to dab a little onto your cheeks and you have a beautiful flush.

I prefer to dab it on my finger and then onto my cheek, so that I can control the pigmentation a little bit more. I find that, as a blush, it can be on the drier side, and a bit patchy. However, it lasts so long on your cheeks, that it is worth it. Onto application on the lips. I love their lipsticks, but this formula is a bit too dry for me on the lips. It works way better with a lip balm. Lastly, I’ll be honest, I never used it on my eyes. I still haven’t had the courage and temptation to made such a bold colour work on my eyes.

LAURA MERCIER Eye Basics Eye Primer in Wheat

I am obsessed with trying out new eyeshadow primers because nothing stays on my eyelid without primer for more than a few hours. That is why I immediately picked this sample up when I saw it at Sephora. Like many popular eyeshadow primers, this comes in tube form with a doe-foot applicator. However, unlike many primers, it comes in six shades. Some of the shades are more colour-correcting and the others are meant to flatter different skin tones. I was lucky the shade, Wheat, matched my skin tone quite well.

Since this primer has pigmentation, it does a really good job of covering any discolouration on your eyelid. I would consider it more on the drier side though, but it does a pretty good job of controlling oil on your eyelid. I would say it keeps your eyeshadow looking good for a good 4-6 hours. I mean, it is not the best one I have tried with regards to increasing the  longevity of your shadows, but it does a really good job of upping the vibrancy of your shadows. Lastly, since it is on the drier side, I would recommend you pat this primer onto your lid instead of blending it in back and forth.

SUNDAY RILEY Good Genes

This was my first foray into AHAs and Sunday Riley’s Good Genes was such a good introduction for me. Good Genes probably needs no introduction since I see it all over Instagram, but basically it is a lactic acid treatment. It aims to exfoliate your skin to reveal glowier and smoother skin. Initially, I was quite hesitant to use it because I heard all these horror stories of these type of treatments making your skin purge and breakout. I, luckily, didn’t have any bad reactions to it, but I would still recommend test patching first before full-blown using it. I don’t know if all lactic treatments smell this way, but this definitely has strong scent that you have to get used to. Other than the scent, I really love this. When you wake up in the morning, you do see a noticeable glow and over time it really does smooth out your skin texture. As a last bonus, I also found this helped out with hormonal acne, as it has pore-clogging properties.

Have you tried any of these products? Also, I have been quite addicted to Instagram, so if you want to see more frequent posts from me, please check me out at: https://www.instagram.com/itsmudges/.

The Last Few Drops (a.k.a Empties)

I wanted to title this as an empties post, but I always forget details of a product when I use it up completely. Like how did smell? What was the texture? So for the products I talk about below, I am really at the last few drops or the last few uses of it. All three products are more skincare-related as it just takes a lot longer to finish makeup products.

Make P:rem Black Cleansing Water

Make P:rem is a Korean brand that aims to create effective products using quality raw materials at reasonable prices. Their brand focuses on using Nordic philosophy in its use of ingredients, technology, and design. Their Black Cleansing Water is especially striking because of the black colour that comes from peat moss, which is found in many Northern European countries. It is supposed to absorb impurities and be moisturizing at the same time. Their unique Micro-Trans Moisture technology is supposed to help the product absorb more deeply into the skin. This cleansing water is also infused with many other fermented ingredients and oils which help to moisturize and brighten the skin. You can check out the ingredients on the bottom of the product page on their website here. It is also sold with an extra bottle of the product which is great (if you like it that is).

Review: I really enjoyed this cleansing water. It does what it says and does a great job cleaning your makeup off and leaving your skin plump, moisturized, and even a little tacky. Like many cleansing waters, it is not the greatest at removing waterproof makeup, and will sting your eyes a little bit. I prefer using dual-phase makeup removers for eye makeup anyway so this wasn’t a problem for me. The packaging is very minimal, sleek, and ergonomic. My only gripe would be that the pump is quite strong, so sometimes I end up getting the product everywhere. I also wasn’t a big fan of the scent. It smells earthy, but they also added some fragrance to it which didn’t make for a very enjoyable for me.

Repurchase: Maybe. I feel the scent is a deal-breaker for me because I really didn’t enjoy it. However, if you are not bothered by most scented problems, you will really enjoy this cleansing water.

Aritaum Lip & Eye Remover

I’ve been through my fair share of eye makeup removers. I use quite a bit of waterproof makeup so I tend to like dual-phase makeup removers because they usually can get most of my makeup off. This remover from Aritaum contains fermented beans which helps to moisturize the eyelids. It is also not supposed to irritate sensitive eyes.

Review: This is a very good eye makeup remover. It removes everything from eyeshadow to hardcore Japanese waterproof mascaras. I was impressed. Usually, these type of dual-phased removers can leave your eyelids super oily, but I would say this one is definitely on the less oily side. I also a person who has eyes which will get irritated even using the sensitive version of Bioderma and this formula didn’t irritate me at all. Once again, the scent is quite a big con for me. I can’t read the Korean ingredients, but I suspect fragrance is on the list because it definitely doesn’t smell like beans.

Repurchase: Maybe. The scent again is a deterrent for me. However, it does such a good job of removing makeup and the price is more on the drugstore side, so I would probably pick this on a whim if I needed an eye makeup remover.

Lanolips 101 Ointment Multipurpose Superbalm

You probably have seen the brand Lanolips all over Instagram. It has a lot going for it, including their super cute packaging, being 100% natural, being against animal testing, and not containing artificial colours, fragrances, parabens, petrolatum, PEG’s, mineral oils, and sulfates. Basically, it sounds like a product that is good for you. The key ingredient in this balm is lanolin, which is derived from Australian sheep. It is supposed to mimic human oils, which makes the product compatible for human use. This superbalm has multiple uses, including moisturizing chapped lips and dry nasal passages, and even helping with insect bites.

Review: I really enjoyed the experience of using this product, but it wasn’t super effective for me. The tube is very convenient to use and is great for on-the-go use. The texture is similar to Vaseline, and other similar petroleum-based balms. When you apply it on the lips, it feels very emollient and as if it will seal your lips from moisture-loss. However, the main reason I didn’t find this product that effective for me was because my lips felt great when I applied it. Yet, hours layer when the product wore off, I felt my lips were just as dry. For super dry winter where I live, this just wasn’t enough to keep my lips from getting chapping and peeling. I really wanted to love it though.

Repurchase: No. However, if you don’t live in a cold and dry environment, it might just be moisturizing enough for you.

Beauty Binds #4 – I Give Up

If you have been following my blog the last few weeks, I have been doing a series about beauty dilemmas. So far, I have discussed battling forehead wrinkles, under eye circles, and of course, smudging eyeliner. For my final post in the series, I want to discuss those beauty binds I have given up on solving or have not bothered with anymore. Do you have any beauty steps and/or dilemmas that you just have given up on?

#1 – Keeping my eyelashes curled, defined, and separated

Shiseido Eyelash Curler

I have stick-straight short lashes, so it literally takes a village to keep them curled and defined. I don’t know how many tubes of mascara I have tried and how few have actually worked for me. Even those that have worked, usually take too much time and effort to remove for me to consistently use them. I also wear glasses and curled lashes become quite a hassle when they constantly hit the lens. Therefore, I have basically resorted to using mascara only on special occasions.

When I do curl my eyelashes, my favourite is the Shiseido Eyelash Curler. The shape is a bit flatter and is ideal for my more almond-shaped eyes. I find the infamous Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler tends to be rounder and I often find myself pinching my eyelids. I usually will also use the Panasonic Heated Eyelash Curler to lift my eyelashes even more and keep them curled. Even with these steps though, my eyelashes will only stay curled for a few hours. If I had to choose, my favourite mascara is probably from Heroine Make. It has a lot of fibers which help lengthen my lashes and it is very separating.

#2 – Sheet Masks

To be honest, I have pretty much given up on masking of any kind. I am aware that many skincare fanatics use sheet masks on a regular basis. I mean, I want to be that person, but it has never quite happened for me. For some reason, I don’t mind doing a 10-step Korean skincare routine or even the 7-Skin Method, but masking is just not my thing for some reason. With the sheet masks, I hate the feeling of putting something so cold on my face. I find it too jolting to me. Then, with the wash-off masks, I literally have no excuse really. I think doing mask just takes an extra 10 to 20 minutes that I don’t want to waste and having to go back into the bathroom to remove it requires an extra step I don’t want to do possibly. Who knows really? Right now, I have few mask samples hanging around in my drawers, including a deluxe sample of Tata Harper’s Resurfacing Mask and L’Occitane’s masks. Maybe, I should try masking once a month to start off and see if I can do that. How often do you mask?

#3 – Body Care

I live in a city where it is only warm maybe 3 months of the year, so most of the time I am covered up in coats, scarves, and toques. At least, that is the explanation I give for not keeping up with body care. For the most, I only fully moisturize my body in the summer because there are just more limbs on display. Plus, it is just so much more convenient to moisturize when you are in shorts and a t-shirt. During the cooler months, I tend to only moisturize when my skin is dry and itchy and small patches of eczema start emerging, which is probably not that the best thing to do. However, if you are looking for some great moisturizers for eczema, I would recommend the Spectro Face & Body Moisturizer and Guérisson 9 Complex Cream. If you have any recommendations of body creams that work without being sticky, I would love to know.

What are beauty dilemmas that you have given up on?

Japan Beauty Haul – Drugstore Edition

So there is more. Several posts ago, I talked about the high-end beauty products I purchased from my Tokyo. Of course, I didn’t just raid the luxury beauty stands because Japan has some of the best drugstore makeup I have ever tried. I think that if you only purchased makeup from a Japanese drugstore, you would be very happy with the quality. Before I went to Tokyo, I had already made of list of drugstore makeup products I wanted to try using a Japanese makeup review site, called Cosme. To be surprise, they actually had a Cosme store, where they sold all the best ranked beauty products. Don’t even ask how much I spent there!

Visée Lip & Cheek

Like many beauty brands in Japan, they are usually part of one of the bigger companies in the Japan beauty market. After some research on their website, I found that Visée is a part of Kosé, which also owns other renowned Japanese brands, like Jill Stuart and Decorté. Visée’s target market is actually young adults, which at the drugstore price point, I can see that. However, I have really enjoyed everything I have tried, so I wouldn’t necessarily consider it a teen line. I guess, since the brand concept is to create trendy makeup for a more mature, and glamorous look, the more wearable colours can suit anybody. I chose to get this Lip & Cheek because I see that it often places in the Top 10 of Japan’s cosmetic ranking site, Cosme. Unlike Jill Stuart, the packaging is black and almost has a gothic feel.

Calypso Magic Concealer

One of the most exciting aspects of travelling is discovering new places and experiences. When it comes to beauty shopping, the most exciting thing is discovering a new beauty item with endless potential. For me, that would be this Calypso Magic Concealer. In the Cosme Store, it was rated in the Top 3 for best concealer. I had to get it, not only because it was such value, but I was hoping that this concealer would be the one! The concealer that will truly hide those dark circles and not emphasize those fine lines. As I did more research, I am guessing this product might be from a smaller brand as I can’t even locate their website. From their packaging, I know that it has won a lot of beauty awards. There are literally 5 stickers indicating the awards they have won. This concealer is supposed to address uneven skincare texture due to acne scars, fine lines, wrinkles, and pores. It also helps to even out dark under eye circles. It comes in two colours: salmon beige and pink beige.

Excel Powder & Pencil Eyebrow

Ever discover a new beauty product and wonder how someone didn’t come up with this before. For me, that would be the New Born W Brow EX. I bought this product on a whim and I have loved it since. It is a 3-in-1 product that includes a brow pencil, brow powder, and spoolie brush. The brow pencil gives you definition while the powder is great for filling in the front end of your brow and filling in gaps in your brows. Plus, it is pigmented and stays put for most of the day. So when I spotted a similar pencil made by Excel, I had to purchase it to perhaps do a comparison later on. I mean that packaging is exactly the same except for the colour. Later on, I did find out both companies belong to a beauty brand called SANA so I guess they are just using the same packaging. However, I did manage to swatch the Excel one in-store and I feel like it is more on the waxier side, which is bit more similar to the cult-classic Shu Uemura Hard 9 formula. Stay tuned for my comparison!

I have a lot more to share, so I have been slowly documented my haul on my Instagram. You can check it out if you are interested.

Beauty Binds #3 – Forehead Wrinkles

This is the last of a series I have written about beauty dilemmas that continue to haunt me. In my first post of this series, I talk about how I deal with concealer that creases and in my second post, I go through tips and tricks I have tried to stop my eyeliner from smudging. In my final post in this series, I want to tackle the issue of forehead wrinkles. More than crow’s feet or laugh lines, I feel that forehead wrinkles bother me the most because they simply just cover more surface area. I don’t aim to look wrinkle-free, but I just want to look a little younger than my real age. I guess, this is my version of aging gracefully. So what have I tried so far?

Method #1 – Exfoliation

I used to be the laziest person when it came to exfoliation. After applying layers of skincare, the thought of doing another step just didn’t seem appealing to me. However, over the years, I have read many articles about the benefits of exfoliation. It helps promote cell turnover to reveal newer cells underneath. Thus, it can help create a brighter complexion. When it comes to beauty, you can’t be lazy, so I decided to start exfoliating once to twice a week. I find that it helps the skin look smoother and brighter which also helps diminish the look of fine lines. I didn’t have much luck with physical exfoliators as they tended to cause my skin to breakout. However, I have been loving Sunday Riley’s Good Genes, which smells awful, but is not irritating and really makes my skin smoother and “glowier.” It is a chemical exfoliator (AHA), which uses lactic acid to get rid of that top layer of dead skin. Do you have any favourite chemical exfoliators?

Method #2 – Vitamin C

I honestly don’t think I would have gotten into Vitamin C skincare if it weren’t for Instagram. After scrolling through endless photos of skincare routines, Vitamin C skincare products were everywhere. So I finally amped up my research game, and started to learn about why I needed it in my skincare routine. Vitamin C is an antioxidant with amazing anti-aging benefits, including evening out and brightening the skin. I found that exfoliation showed more immediate results, but Vitamin C might take a bit longer. At first, I didn’t think my Vitamin C serum was doing anything till I noticed how smooth my forehead looked after I put on foundation. So you might not want to give up right away if you don’t results immediately. My favourites Vitamin C Serums so far are Wishtrend’s Pure Vitamin C 21.5% Advanced Serum and Ole Henriksen’s Truth Serum.

Method #3 – Pack on the Moisturizers

If you have started to notice wrinkles, you will know that the drier the skin is, the more pronounced those wrinkles look. That is why I think moisturizing your skin is a very important step. I used to go crazy packing on tons of moisturizers hoping that it would fix the problem. Sometimes it did, but sometimes I would also start to breakout in certain areas, probably due to the moisturizers clogging my pores. Lately, I have been loving layering toners using the Korean 7 Skin Method. Korean toners are usually more vicious and full of great skincare ingredients. You pat in the toner and then wait a few minutes before patting on the next layer. Basically, it is a less heavy way of infusing a ton of moisture into your skin. Afterwards, my skin looks glowy and more “bouncy” to the touch. My favourite toners for this method include Whamisa’s Organic Flowers Toner and I also love ID.AZ’s Dermastic Essential Toner.

With regards to a more traditional moisturizer, I have had a lot of luck with moisturizers that have snail secretion filtrate. They keep my skin moisturized even in the dry winter months. My favourites include COSRX Snail 92 All In One Cream and Tony Moly’s Ferment Snail Essence. If you find snail-infused beauty products too slimy, I find adding a facial oil is also a good idea because it really boosts hydration. I am currently using Fresh’s Seaberry Moisturizing Face Oil.

Method #4 – Facial Massage

This is a step I only recently added to my skincare routine, but I think it really does help. I have been mostly focusing on my forehead and I try to do it morning and night when I do my skincare routine. I usually do it when I apply my facial oil because it makes the massage smoother. If you find doing a whole face facial massage too time consuming, I recommend just targeting the area that you are most concerned about first. Here is a great video from Wishtrend about facial massage:

Method #5 – Apply a Primer Before Foundation

There are many primers out there that promise to fill in your pores and fine lines. However, I have not had much luck with this method. There is one primer though that I find to be somewhat effective. It is the J. One Jelly Pack which is more of a firming primer. It is quite different from any other products I have tried before as it is very sticky and thick. When you apply this clear gel onto your skin, you really have to push it in. It is worth it though because you do feel it tighten your skin and increase the longevity of your foundation. My only qualm is that it seems to be more effective with certain foundations and moisturizers. To be honest, I still haven’t gotten this product completely figured out.

Have I missed anything? Thank you for reading.