#also my skin is moisturized and my laneige lip balm is on and life is just good rn

[stuckinapril]

Nothing gets a girl going faster than making an hour by hour schedule of her day.

[hellsbellschime]

that all sounds pretty fun! now im curious about what your favorite skin care products are, do you have a whole planned out routine or do you just try random stuff?

It is! And no I don't have a routine at all, because I work from home I just have a bajillion bottles of skincare stuff on my desk, and at this point I sort of know if my skin is ready for something light or something thick, so I'll pick a serum or essence or toner or moisturizer or whatever and put it on randomly throughout the day. Adapalene is a pretty reliable presence at some point during the week, but my "holy grail" products are far and few between. Honestly if I've learned anything from trying an absurd number of different products, it's that most expensive skincare is overrated and it's very rare to find a product that's SO good it's literally irreplaceable.

At present I have like a doomsday prepper stockpile of skincare products to go through and try because any time I see a good deal on something I haven't tried yet I buy it, plus I have a bin full of samples, and the only products that I would immediately re-buy if I ran out is 1. the Cosrx propolis light ampoule, 2. an Adapalene gel, 3. the Glow Recipe hyaluronic gloss balm, and 4. the Glow Recipe watermelon toner. The propolis light ampoule is like THEE holy grail of holy grails for me at the moment, I have gone through three bottles already after trying it maybe two months ago and have a stockpile of like eight more now, but I put it on my face multiple times a day. Adapalene is a prescription ingredient that you can get over the counter which is nice and reliable, but I also have plenty of other retinoids so it wouldn't be a federal emergency even though I'd definitely get it again eventually no matter what. I also have a ton of lip balms/masks, and the Glow Recipe one is my favorite so far, I'd say it's a pretty close dupe for the Laneige lip mask except the hyaluronic acid actually does make my lips feel plumper. And I have a lot of toners, but the watermelon toner is a really unique texture and it feels like it exfoliates and nourishes my skin at the same time.

But, skincare works differently on different people, so one of my holy grails might kill someone else's skin. Generally speaking, sunscreen and retinoids are what I would pick if I had to choose two skincare ingredients to use for the rest of my life, and if you use those two things that's probably 75-90% of what you need to take care of your skin long term, I just happen to love experimenting with the other 25-10%.

[werealljustwinginit]

Tell us about what skincare ingredients and products you love!

Okay, so I LOVE TALKING SKINCARE. This is a huge topic for me and I often write up a blog post once a year where i recommend skin care products. So here is this year’s recommendation! An insanelyyyyy long and detailed post nobody asked for!! HERE WE GO: 

I am a long time skincare advocate...before it really blew up and people started really getting to know more about their products and ingredients. I’ve just always had very acne-prone skin so I’ve had to pay attention to what products and ingredients I was using and how their formulas worked for me. As a result, over the years I tried A SHIT TON of products. Many expensive, fancy, high end, etc. But now I have my skincare routine down to a much more manageable and quality ingredient list. Obviously everyone’s skin is different...but this is what I use on a regular basis these days:

Serums:

- Krave Beauty’s Great Barrier Relief Serum: Honestly, this is THE SHIT. My favorite moisturizing serum to really help balance your skins hydration barrier and stay hydrated. It’s thicker and almost feels like a moisturizer. It’s so great.  - The Ordinary’s Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% Drops: Niacinamide is an amazing ingredient for your skin and can help a tremendous amount with clearing the skin, resurfacing, fading scars, and more. This really does a good job helping with my acne, so i really recommend to anyone. And I am pretty sure it’s like $5 cause it’s from the ordinary.

Moisturizers:

- CeraVe Moisturizing Cream: It’s a very cheap drug store moisturizer that has good, clean ingredients. After using fancy moisturizers for years, I finally gave into my dermatologist’s recommended lotion. LOL. They do have a lotion that is lighter, but my skin tends to be dryer, especially in the winter so I use the cream not the lotion. It’s thicker. (For high end junkies--it’s like comparing Drunk Elephant’s LaLa Retro to their Protini cream). I also sometimes throw in drops of a marula oil into this cream if I am really dry. Make myself a little face smoothie. 

Eye/Lip Creams:

- Mario Badescu Ceramide Herbal Eye Cream: Now honestly, I still haven’t found my perfect eye cream yet...but I have used this one for a few years now. It moisturizes well and is cheap to buy. It’s probs not the most effective but at least I am moisturizing my eye area. One day I will take on more eye creams that target certain things, but that is one day when I have money to spend lmao. -Glossier Bubblewrap Lip/Eye Cream: This is a very unique moisturizing product that is meant for sensitive skin like your eye area and lips. It does say it plumps a bit, which I don’t ever feel a plumping effect, but I do love to use it on my lips. It’s so moisturizing and is kind of like using a primer before you apply chapstick or lipstick. 

Exfoliators:

- Glossier Solution: The OG chemical exfoliant I tried and loved. These types of products aren’t great for everyone, and may have to be used less or more depending on skin type, but as an acne-prone human, I love a chemical exfoliant. This works and lasts a long while.

- Krave Beauty’s Kale-Lalu_AHA: Another chemical exfoliant. I recently tried this one because I do believe Krave Beauty uses better ingredients than Glossier Skin typically does (no shade tho). They were close in price, so I made the switch and have enjoyed the results so far. The packaging is also beautiful.

- Dr. Brant Microdermabrasion Exfoliant: This is NOT a chemical peel, this has aluminum oxyde crystals in it to polish the skin like a normal exfoliant would. It also has a lot of ingredients that help renew and refresh the skin while exfoliating. Now this product is HELLA expensive...I only have it because I once bought it for way cheaper when I had a subscription box. I don’t know if I would spend the full $80 bucks on it, but your skin does feel smooth.

- Tatcha The Deep Polish: This is an enzyme powder that you mix with water and exfoliate fro there. It is from when I used to buy the highest end products in hopes it would help my skin. It is pricey, but again does leave your skin feeling soft. So I rotate it in from time to time.

Masks: 

- The Ordinary’s AHA 30% BHA 2% Peeling Solution: AKA THE BLOOD MASK. Now hugely popular on social media, the “blood mask” is a chemical mask that peels off dead skin and essentially works to eliminate the top layers of your skin and begin rejuvenating a fresher layer for softer, healthier, plumper skin. I do this once a week and it is way cheap. I can compare it to Drunk Elephant’s Sukari Babyfacial and it definitely beats that expensive version.

- Glow Recipe’s Avocado Melt Sleeping Mask: This is an overnight moisturizing mask that you simply wash off in the morning. It really helps lock in moisture and feels nice on the skin. I use this when I am feeling really dry. 

- Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay Mask: This one you have to mix the dry clay mixture with water and apple cider vinegar to create a goo that you can then let dry on your face. It may be intense for some, but I find it really helps dry out my acne spots and reduce redness in my skin. It’s always a fun one to do with other people too because you do have to prepare it. Good sleepover activity. 

- GlamGlow Bubble Sheet Mask:  This one is honestly more so used for when I am traveling and want to keep a mask on hand or when I am having a fun girls night or something. It’s a bubble mask--so to me that just means fun. I typically avoid sheet masks (unless I am traveling) because I think you end up throwing a way a lot of product you are paying for. But this one is fun, it’s cute, it’s different. I don’t notice a huge change in my skin tbh, but it is a fun activity for girls night. 

Honorable Mention/Random Products:

- Youth to the People’s Kale and Green Tea Superfood Cleanser: I stayed away from this one for a long time because it’s expensive and I could rationalize buying such an expensive cleanser, but I got a gift card to Sephora and finally decided to try it. And ya know what?? I guess I am fancy now because I really love it. It does not overly strip your skin at all, and for the first time in my life I really know what that means. It’s so great, it smells so good. Ugh. Can’t get enough of this bougie bitch of a face wash.

- The Inkey List Retinol Cream: A recent purchase, but I have enjoyed seeing the results. Everyone imo should be using an eye cream and a retinol. This is a nice introduction to retinol, so I recommend to those looking for one.

- Glossier Mint Balm Dot Com Chapstick: THIS AGAIN--IS THE SHIT. Many will say they would never spend more than two bucks but one tube of their’s is seven bucks and it is WORTH IT. I buy the three pack once a year and i’m good. This is the best chapstick you will literally ever use. Fucking buy it. If I could tell you only three products that are a must from this list this would be one of them. (the other two would be great barrier relief and the kale cleanser)

- Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask: I like this lip mask, it’s not needed everynight, but I do like to use a lip exfoliant (made or buy one, whatever) and then use this to really retextures my lips. 

- Bag Balm: Now this is a very unusual product to recommend lmaooo. Originally, bag balm is used for chapped cow udders on farms--which is how I discovered it. Farmers eventually noticed that it helped your skin retain moisture and repair cracked skin in their hands. So now it is known as a good thick ass cream for hands and feet. Now this shit is again--used on cows originally, so the formula feels thick and greasy. I like putting it on at night and letting it soak in for a while as I lay on my phone. It really works--I swear to you. 

- Sagely CBD Cream: I use their relief and recovery crea which smells like lavender and has a cooling effect when applied to the skin (kinda like biofreeze or icyhot would). This is only a 50mg CBD lotion, but I do like it. 

- Mad Ritual CBD Muscle Recovery Balm: Now this is thick and definitely a balm, not a cream. It is much higher strength though, so I break it out when needed and a little goes a long way. This one is 200mg of CBD. 

- Mario Badescu Drying Lotion: This drying lotion is now so popular but has been a staple of mine for at least a decade now. You leave it on over night and it really does dry up and reduce zit size. Helps a lot. There must be a reason why super models are told to use this shit before a runway show. 

- Tatcha The Essence: Essences are a new and kind of weird thing, kinda like priming the skin to allow for better absorption of a product. Now this product I received as a Christmas gift one year, but I am pretty sure it’s like $100...breaking the bank as always, tatcha. Anyway, it does allow for better absorption of products and feels light and refreshing on the skin. One bottle has lasted me two years now. I don’t know if I would recommend it, but I do use it somewhat regularly and it does make you feel like a bougie bitch. 

AND THAT IS THE END. Sorry that was soooo long. But like I said, I do a write up once a year of my skincare products anyway. So there you guys have it!! If you have any questions at all about your skin or skincare routine , honestly hit me up. Over the years I have slowly has friends come to me. Once I collect all of the I will have all of the infinity stones lmao. 

[sakurar0se]

My Monthly Favorites - March/April 2020 Favorite Products

by Rosy Day Blog

I've added some new and old products to my routine between March and April so I've decided to combine my favorites from those two months. Sometimes you don't realize how much you like a product until you give it a second chance (or re-introduce it back into your routine). My point is a favorite is still a favorite whether old or new.

Disclosure:

I bought all of these products with my own money from various websites. I was not given anything in exchange for reviewing any of these products. I enjoy doing product reviews to share my own experiences with the product and hope someone finds it useful. I do not work for any of the brands featured here or any of the online stores I bought them from. » View All Monthly Favorites

All-in-One Pads

Peach & Lily Lazy Day Moisture Pads

This isn't a new favorite (it was my favorite exactly a year ago in 2019), however with COVID-19 lockdowns/restrictions going on all over the world right now - I crave a more simple routine. Especially since there's no point in piling on so many products on your face when you're just going to cover it up with a face mask anyway. And those face masks can be hard to breathe sometimes if you wear them for a prolonged period of time. A couple times I've gotten a pimple around the area where my face mask is rubbing against. These moisture pads make it feel like you had a refreshing sheet mask or a multi-step routine without necessarily using an actual sheet mask or having a multi-step routine. Also, even though we have more time during quarantine life, sometimes we still get lazy and want "the quickest way to a complete routine" - and for my oily/combo skin, this is pretty much it. Now more dry types might feel a bit naked so they might want to top it off with moisturizer, but oilier types (especially now that the weather is warming up) can get away with using just this product during the day after cleansing. These Peach & Lily pads are a lot more moisturizing than I expected. It’s not like it’s only a few pads that are soaking wet - every single pad seems evenly wetted down. Also, the pads never dry out while I’m wiping my face. Sometimes when you use a cheap quality pad product, it seems to dry out faster than you can get to the rest of your face. After one round on my face, the pad is still moist enough for me to do a second round (if I wanted to LOL). These are also perfect for using prior to makeup application. Interesting ingredients include spinach (antioxidants), carrot (sun damage protection & anti-aging), broccoli (detoxify & anti-inflammatory), cabbage (anti-oxidant & anti-inflammatory), kale (reduce dark circles & tighten skin), pomegranate (anti-aging & strengthens skin), peach (fatty acids & firming), and prickly pear (hydrating & fatty acids). Final Rating = 5/5 (For those who are into all-in-one products these are quite possibly one of the best). » Buy Product

Brightening + Smoothing Serum

Peach & Lily Glass Skin Refining Serum

This was actually one of my favorite products of 2018 (the year this product was released). However this serum was so popular at the time of its release, that it kept getting sold out and I never had the chance to repurchase. While I did give it a 4/5 back then, because I couldn't repurchase, naturally I started using other serums and completely forgot about this. I recently overdid it with vitamin C and 10% niacinamide (don't combine the two unless you know your skin doesn't react to the combination). I wanted a serum that brightened my skin as well as have some soothing properties. Now that this serum isn't constantly selling out, I've decided to go back to this and you know what? I think I love this even more now than I did back then. You probably won't appreciate this product as much if you're already hitting it hard with actives but as someone who is pretty much omitting a dedicated vitamin c serum and high percentage (10%) niacinamide from her routine, this still gently and effectively brightens my skin with 2% niacinamide. A high percentage is not everything if it's going to irritate your face in the long run. This also helps with redness and irritation to a certain extent. Overall my skin looks nice and healthy again. I do wish this had stronger firming and redness reducing properties, but overall this is a great serum that really tackles a bunch of different issues. Not everyone will be impressed but if you have similar skin issues like me, this is definitely worth a try. With the Peach & Lily Glass Skin Refining Serum, I feel like I get that “freshly exfoliated” look every day. This serum contains Peach & Lily’s properietary hyaluronic acid complex which according to them a “…blend of short-chain, medium-chain and long-chain hyaluronic acid molecules helps provide hydration at every level of skin; short-chain molecules sink into the deeper layers, while medium-chain molecules fill in the layers closer to the surface of the skin, and long-chain molecules lock in moisture on the skin’s surface so that skin is plumped up from within while the outer layer becomes radiant.” Other interesting ingredients include niacinamide (brightening & balancing), peach extract (fatty acids & firming), East Asian mountain yam (fighting collagen loss & reducing skin flakiness), madecassoide/beta-glucan (anti-inflammatory & collagen synthesis), and peptides (firming). Final Rating = 4.75/5 (This might not be for you if you're already using actives but it's a great alternative for similar effects at a slower pace for sensitive skin) » Read My Full Review (originally posted in 2018) » Buy Product

Anti-Aging/Retinol Treatment

The INKEY List Retinol Anti-Aging Serum

As part of incorporating more gentle products into my routine, this is probably the gentlest retinol product I've ever used (without necessarily using the retinol alternative bakuchiol). This time released retinol combined with squalane, really makes you not notice that you've been using retinol on your face. By that I mean I don't have to deal with irritation or extreme dryness and peeling, often associated with using retinol every night. I've never really been able to use retinol every night for these reasons, but with this product, I easily can. Glow Recipe also makes a good retinol product but sometimes I feel like the retinol and PHA combo makes it a tad strong for me to use everyday (I can probably use it every other day without issues). The only bad thing I have to say about this product is that for some, it might be "too gentle" in that you might question if it's really working. I only really use retinol for preventative measures so aside from all the irritation and dryness, I actually never really see that much anti-aging effects. It's more like something that exfoliates and keeps my acne away, LOL. So I can't really say that "stronger" retinol products necessarily have a better effect for me - they're just more irritating if anything. This is also probably the cheapest retinol you can buy, making it a great starter to retinol as well. Final Rating = 4/5 (Unless you like your retinol on the stronger side of course). » Buy Product

Antioxidant Moisturizer

Peach & Lily Matcha Pudding Antioxidant Cream

I have to admit, I didn't think that much of this moisturizer when I first used it since there was another similar moisturizer that I enjoyed using more at the time. However this actually has quite a bit going for it. Yes it is a bit basic in that it doesn't really have any strong brightening or firming/anti-wrinkle properties. It does have matcha green tea (a great antioxidant and for protecting your skin). It's also a nice medium weight pudding-like texture. It might not be ideal for oily skin, but it's good for normal to dry (drier types might still want something heavier for night though). What I love about this lately is that it plays nicely with the rest of my routine and even though it's medium weight, it doesn't make my combo skin breakout (though with the weather warming up I might have to use this at night). For me, it provides sufficient enough moisture that my face (around the eye area and smile lines) don't look all sunken in by the end of the day. The older that I get, the more that I look for moisturizers to plump and firm my face even if they're just temporarily flooding it with moisture (still a good thing). Lots of moisturizers aren't hydrating enough for aging skin that you actually do look a bit crepey at the end of the day. Final Rating = 3.5/5 (It might not "do much" but it's gentle and sufficiently hydrates while providing antioxidant protection). » Buy Product

Multi-Tasking Lip Product

Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Lip Pop

At first this does seem like an expensive lip product. However if you're like me who can't use the majority of (often cheaper) lip products without just as, if not having drier than before - Glow Recipe has created like the perfect product for you and me. I want a good lip scrub, lip balm, and tinted color and this product does all 3 making it perfect for traveling and even lazy days when you just want to consolidate your lip routine (if you have other lip products you still use). I never use lip scrub anymore because this does a great job at keeping my lips hydrated. My lip lines are even less noticeable the longer I wear this. I do try to only wear this during the day because of the tint, however when I'm too lazy to scoop out product from my Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask, just a few quick swipes of this is sufficient before I go to sleep. I mostly sleep on my back by the way, so I never worry about getting product on my pillow/blanket. I think that if you use this every day, this product should last you at least 2 months. It's been about 2 months since I first got this product and I still have some left. If you use this sometimes, then it should definitely last 3 months or so. It's a good value and despite the price, it lasts pretty long and can replace multiple products. You barely notice that it's exfoliating your lips, who wants to go back to a messy lip scrub? Final Rating = 5/5 (Glow Recipe put a lot of thought into this - I've never thought of a 3-in-1 lip product before). » Buy Product

Scented Hand Soap

Raw Sugar Liquid Hand Soap Watermelon + Mint

If you're looking for a cruelty free and vegan hand soap (and also love the smell of watermelon), look no further than this one from Raw Sugar. Normally I don't spend much on hand soap nor do I look at more "fancy" hand soap brands. However since COVID-19, there has been a shortage on all the cheaper hand soaps so I've started looking elsewhere. I love anything watermelon (thanks to Glow Recipe and their watermelon line). This was no exception - it's smells like watermelon with hints of mint and it smells so good. It makes me look forward to washing my hands, LOL. While I didn't think this was super moisturizing at first, I think it is working because overtime, I noticed my hands weren't as dry from the constant washing. Right now as I'm typing this, I haven't even applied any moisturizer or hand cream to my hands and they're still not dry or crepey looking. According to Raw Sugar, they use cold pressed plant-based nutrients and organic aloe vera, olive fruit, shea butter, and jojoba oils to hydrate. The mint is anti-inflammatory while the watermelon adds antioxidants. This hand soap sounds about a good as a nourishing face wash. I will definitely repurchase this as soon as it runs out. Also important to note, Raw Sugar donates a bar of soap to a family in need for every product purchased. I can definitely get behind beauty brands that make thoughtful products while also performing thoughtful acts. Final Rating = 5/5 (If you don't mind paying for "bougie" hand soap - this is definitely quality). » Buy Product

Dry Wash Spray

Love Home & Planet Rose Petal & Murumuru Re-Wear Dry Wash Spray

I've never heard of a dry wash spray before, but I quickly found multiple uses for this product. This is basically a product to quickly refresh clothing or accessories that are not quite ready to be thrown in the washer just yet. This is definitely useful for things you might wear more than once in a week, such as jackets or accessories. Or if you want to quickly refresh a piece of clothing that you haven't worn in awhile. With its anti-odor technology, it does smell like fresh roses but isn't powering. It also really helps get the wrinkles out of clothes. I haven't tried this on a work/dress shirt, but I had a sweater that was super wrinkled after I took it out of the dryer. I sprayed this all over, smoothed the sweater down a bit and then hung it to air dry. When I checked it later, the wrinkles were all gone. Definitely a life saver when you're constantly battling with wrinkly clothes. Sometimes my clothes start wrinkling faster out of the dryer than I can hang them all up back in my closet. I will always keep this product around! Final Rating = 5/5 (Worth it if you plan to use it like I do above - plus it will last a long time if you just only use it as needed). » Buy Product If you have any questions about any of the products above, please let me know. Photo Credits: Peach & Lily/Sephora/Target

[skinkcare-blog]

90 Questions, Beauty Edition

Helloooo, I’m starting to jumpstart my blog here. I really miss it, and a few encouraging people from my school have told me to start blogging and posting about what I love which is skincare and makeup. I saw two tags on tumblr and decided to form this 90-question tag. You’re free to take this if you want it, but I’d love to see your own answers!

1. Do you remember your first makeup item?

My first makeup item was most likely a cheap kohl liner that costed me like 20 pesos or something. Bands like Panic! at the Disco, Fall Out Boy, Greenday, etc. were really famous when I was in elementary school and my best friends started getting into putting heavy black eyeliner... of course, I had to follow!

2. Describe your perfect mascara?

I’ve got straight-ass baby lashes, and I think I’ve found my holy grail: Marc Jacobs Velvet Noir mascara! It’s really good and doesn’t smudge on me. The first time I put it on I was aoskdfasdfjhaeuirjhj!!!!!! WOW!!1 Are those really MY lashes! Wow! I put it right before my law school finals and was really happy the whole time because I felt so stinking’ cute with my lashes, lol.

3. What kind of coverage do you prefer from foundation?

Full-ass coverage to hide my imperfections. But that’s usually uncomfortable, so when I just have school or stuff, I do like light coverage.

4. Favorite high-end makeup and skincare brands?

For makeup, I have a favorite brand for each item like eyeshadow, lipstick, etc. It’s hard to choose. But I freakin’ love everything that Anastasia Beverly Hills releases. For skincare, I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Herbivore Botanicals. Everything seems to work for me and my collection of theirs is growing.

5. What cosmetic and skincare brands have you always wanted to try but still haven’t?

Boscia. Vinter’s Daughter. Sunday Riley (I keep canceling my orders because I just can’t justify the price tags. Ugh). Laneige. Indie Lee. Chanel. Giorgio Armani. Guerlain. High-end stuff my broke ass can’t ever afford, lmao.

6. Favorite drugstore brand?

Maybe L’Oreal. I love their clay masks and the Miss Manga mascara too much.

7. Do you wear fake lashes?

Yes! But they’re such a hassle, so only when I’m going to some party (or when I’m taking selfies lol)

8. Is there any kind of makeup you can’t leave the house without?

I would say lipstick, but the brows really make the face and these days I really can’t leave the house without putting on some dip brow. :( Kilay is life.

9. What is your most cherished beauty product?

I’ve got a lot since I’m finally, finally (after 120312932 trials and errors) finding my own holy grails, but it’s probably Glossier Cloud Paint in Haze. Started my whole “drunken blush” thing going on lately. It also lasts forever even on my oily skin. I put it on in the morning once, and when I went home my mom asked me “why are you so red? are you drunk?” And I just. Yassss.

10. How often do you shop for beauty products?

Too often for someone who’s kind of dirt poor and in law school, tbh. I pick up one or two items every week or two.  But again, as I’m discovering my HGs, I’m trying to cut down on my impulsive buying. (It’s hard.)

11. Do you have a “beauty budget” or do you spend freely?

As long as my parents are in a good mood I spend freely... just not excessively! 

12. Do you utilize coupons, reward cards and sales when you shop for products?

Of course, I try to. But sometimes I can’t wait to get my hands on a product so I just pick it up already!

13. What type of product do you buy the most of?

Lipsticks. I’ve got way too many. (70-something.)

14. Do you avoid certain ingredients in cosmetics and skincare?

Avoid parabens! And sulfates! And weird things like bird poop and horse fat! (I know right?)

15. Do you have a favorite place to shop for makeup?

Yes! Russian’s The Beauty Source in Makati! Super friendly people there. The sad thing is though, it’s all high-end. I mean I do tend to buy high-end stuff but things like La Mer are... phew. Never in a million years.

16. Do you like trying new skincare products or do you stick to a routine?

I love trying new skincare products because my skin is so problematic and I’m always trying to find things that’d work for me. 

17. Favorite bath and body brand?

I like The Body Shop, but my favorite scents are from Bath and Body Works.

18. Are you clumsy applying makeup?

I’m clumsy in general. So!

19. What do you apply first, concealer or foundation?

Foundatiooon. Duh.

20. What do you love about makeup?

It’s therapeautic for me, I found out. Like it makes me feel happy and calm whenever I do my makeup. Or even just do a swatch party.

21. Lipstick, Gloss, Lip Stain, Balm, or Lip Liner? 

I just discovered Peripera’s Ink Velvet tints, and though they’re a bit drying I love them. So I’ll go with those since they’re the only ones that stay on after I eat and stuff, lol.

22. How do you make your Lipstick / Lip Gloss last longer? 

I use lip liner, usually. And to make them last extra long you gotta stop licking your lips!  23. How do you pick a Lip Color that looks good on your skin color? 

I tend to not go for super light shades because those wash me out and just don’t look good at all on my skintone.  24. What are some cheap ways to take care of chapped lips? Good ‘ol lip butter and some sugar scrub. Or vaseline.

25. Favorite drugstore lip product? EOS lip balms are nice.

26. Favorite brand name lip product? Kylie Cosmetics (for liquid lipsticks and lip liners), Fenty Beauty (for dat mf gloss bomb!), Peripera (tints)! 27. Do you usually play up or play down your lips? Play down. I love MLBB shades. 28. Eyeliner in Pencil, Gel, or Liquid? Liquid. B-) 

29. How do you do a cat eye? 

I just... wing it! Honestly. I’ve been putting on fancy eyeliner since I was like 13 so I’ve got the hang of it now. (Still mess up sometimes tho. Blame the shaky hand.) 30. What do you use to remove eye makeup and mascara? Right now I either use Pixi double cleanse, Skininc coconut cleanser water, and Maybelline oil-based makeup remover. The Pixi one works the best but kind of stings my eyes. 31. How do you make your eye makeup last longer? Good eyelid primer! Setting powder!  32. Cream or Powder eye shadow? Powder since I have yet to try any cream eyeshadows. I tried using Glossier’s cloud paint in Dusk on my eyelids once... it was a weird, sticky mess. #nope 33. What tricks can you do to make your eyelashes look longer? If you’ve got baby lashes like me (who am I kidding, even babies have longer lashes than me), just use false lashes lol. 34. How do you brighten up your eyes? 

Glitter eyeshadow, inner corner highlight, concealer, nude kohl liner and black as FUCK mascara. Yes.  35. What color(s) go with your eyes? 

Warm shades. 36. Favorite drugstore eyeliner? 

I don’t use drugstore eyeliner!  37. Favorite drugstore eyeshadow? 

I also don’t use drugstore eyeshadow. I’m picky as hell. 38. Favorite drugstore mascara? 

L’Oreal Miss Manga voluminous mascara forever. 39. Favorite drugstore eye pallette? Eh, pass.

40. Favorite brand name eyeliner? K-Palette eyeliner! Asia represent!

41. Favorite brand name eyeshadow? Anastasia Beverly Hills for powder eyeshadow, Stila (Magnificent Metals Glitter and Glow!) for liquid eyeshadow. 42. Favorite brand name mascara? 

Marc Jacobs’ velvet noir saved my life. 43. Favorite brand name palette? 

Kat Von D Shade and Light Contour palette helped me lose like 10 pounds. 45. If you can only use one eye makeup product, what would it be? 

Mascara, okay. 46. What is the difference between an eye primer and an eye base? 

Imo eye primers are more of like the “glue” that holds everything together and an eye base is what goes over the primer as like. The base color. Makes everything bolder, brighter and last longer. 47. Any tips on applying falsies? 

Pray. 48. Favorite brand of falsies? 

I really love Lilly Lashes but they’re mad expensive (like $30). 49. How do you pick your shade of foundation? Whatever says medium lmao I go with that. I’m shit at picking foundation and concealer shades but I’m usually like a pure beige/medium/warm beige/nude warm vanilla things like that. Yellowy. 50. What's a good foundation for oily skin? 

ESTEE LAUDER DOUBLEWEAR FOUNDATION SAVED MY OILY ASS SKIN. 51. What's a good foundation for dry skin? I’m not sure.

52. What's a good foundation for normal skin? 

Probably the Fenty Beauty foundation and every other foundation in the world, you lucky ducks. 53. How do you pick a foundation for your skin color? You pick one blindly and hope it’s a match. Hehe. 54. Tinted Moisturizer, BB Cream, or Foundation? Foundation. I love tinted moisturizers in theory but they don't work for me (for some reason the NARS one stings?) and BB creams are TOO white for me. 55. What is a BB Cream? Blemish Balm cream. Also known as the culprit for my ghastly white face in old pictures. Boo.

56. What do you use to apply your Foundation? Either a beauty blender or a foundation brush by Artis, BH Cosmetics or Real Techniques.

57. How can I make my nose look slimmer or straighter? 

Contour, boo. 58. Cream, Powder, or Liquid Blush? 

LIQUID BLUSH CHANGED THE GAME FOR ME. 59. Favorite foundation? 

Estee Lauder doublewear. 

60. Favorite concealer? The Tarte Shaptape is real good imo. Not sure if it’s holy grail material but it’s good for what it’s worth. 61. How do you conceal a pimple? I fail at that.

62. How do you conceal dark circles? 

First you gotta color correct (I use the LA Girl pro concealer in the orange shade) and then you put on the concealer. Use a beauty blender to blend the orange color corrector first then the concealer.  63. How do you get rid of or lessen dark circles? 

If you know the answer to this that doesn’t involve water or sleeping early, please hmu. 64. What is your daily skin care routine? Morning: wash face with my The Face Shop Dr. Belmeur foaming cleanser, tone with witch hazel, put on vitamin c suspension (The Ordinary), then Hyaluronic Acid (also The Ordinary).

Night: remove makeup with the Pixi double cleanse, cleanse with The Face Shop ^ cleanser again, use a mask, tone, put caffeine solution (The Ordinary) under eyes, put hyaluronic acid, then rosehip oil (The Ordinary).

65. What is your weekly skin care routine? 

Theta’s it. I use masks like Herbivore’s Blue Tansy as often as needed and advised. 66. How do you prep your face for makeup? 

PRAYER.  67. How do you take off your makeup? 

Double Cleanse, wipes, and Micellar Water (Garnier). 68. What are some DIY face masks? 

Honey + avocado + apple cider + oats.  69. Where can you buy face masks? 

I usually purchase mine from The Face Shop, Herbivore Botanicals, L’Oreal and just korean brands. 70. What facial moisturizer do you recommend? 

I don’t know. I want to try the Fresh Seaberry oil though. 71. How can I get rid of or shrink my big pores? THAT IS MY CURRENT PROBLEM. :( 72. How do you highlight your face? 

I use a good high-end highlighter (my favorite one is from OFRA), wet my brush using MAC Fix+ after dipping it into the highlighter, and bam. Cheekbones, nose bridge, tip of the nose and cupid’s bow. 73. How do you contour your face? 

I use either Kat Von D’s contour palette, or Too Faced’s milk chocolate soleil. 74. How often should you clean your makeup brushes? Depends on how much I use ‘em.

75. How do you clean your makeup brushes? I either use some soap + olive oil or the Daiso or Beauty Blender cleansers. 76. What are some inexpensive makeup brushes? BH Cosmetics’ are really nice!

77. Do you prefer matte or shimmer eyeshadows? I used to love matte shadows but now I super love shimmer shadow. 78. Do you prefer matte or dewy skin? Can I have dewy skin that doesn’t look oily, please.

79. Do you prefer matte or shiny lipstick / lipgloss? Matte because it lasts longer. 80. When did you start wearing makeup? Officially started getting really into it when I was like 13. 81. Who taught you to put on makeup? Myself. 82. What is your favorite brand of makeup? Already answered this!

83. What product do you never leave home without? I always have lipstick in my bag, powder be damned.  84. If you only had $50 dollars for makeup and skincare, what would you buy? I’d buy all the shit I have in my Althea cart (all skincare)! 85. Who is your favorite beauty guru on youtube? BRETMAN ROCK. Does he count? 86. How long do you take to get ready in the morning? Like half the day.  87. What online makeup store is your favorite? Sephora! 88. Who are your favorite beauty blogs on tumblr? Temptalia. Does that count? 89. How long should you keep a product? Until it ain’t spoiled, lmao. 

90. What product are you hoping to buy next?

Honestly, I really want the Fresh seaberry oil and I’m waiting for it to be in stock again. 

[boxyladies]

Y’all know I go back and forth on whether or not I even want to keep this subscription, and this is another month where I am very mehhhhh and should I cancel? I am so hesitant to actually cancel. But maybe I will. Because of boxes like this. Someday…

Play! by Sephora

Price: $10/month

Box Type: Beauty products, 5-6 deluxe samples

Why you’ll love it: Ummmm, did you see it’s all fun products that come from Sephora? Some boxes will send you random products from brands you’ve never heard of before but Play! by Sephora will only send you brands from their own store – basically all high end fun things you are excited to try! Here’s a breakdown of the benefits:

The awesome products, of course.

The $10 you spend earns you Beauty Insider points if you are already part of their rewards program. (I’m VIB Rouge because I clearly have A Problem buying makeup.)

Each month you will also receive a card that you can bring into Sephora that will earn you 50 additional bonus points on your purchase!

How to Subscribe: Click here!

Unboxing + Review

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And here are all of the products from the box. There are definitely a couple products I’m excited about but there are a few items I’m sort of perplexed about.

beautyblender blendercleanser solid pro ($45): I am actually excited about the beautyblender cleanser, as I think it’s a great brush cleaner! I’m trying to make it a habit to wash my brushes more, and with that comes more brush cleaner. TBH, if you ever stay at a hotel, grab a few hand soaps, as I think they are very similar to the brush cleaning soaps I have used. But I’ll def use the brush cleaner from beautyblender, as it’s proven to be pretty great.

Laneige Water Sleeping Mask ($25): I am about to be out of my current sleeping mask, Dr. Brandt Hydro Biotic Recovery Sleeping Mask ($52) that I actually got for free from Influenster (you should join with my link!) last year. I really loved the Hydro Biotic Recovery Sleeping mask, and I think the texture of the Laneige one is very similar. Both are very moisturizing and bouncy, and make my skin feel healthy and hydrated the next morning. Both are fantastic but the Laneige one is cheaper, so you know. If you haven’t ever tried a sleeping mask before, this could be a nice one to try!

Sunday Riley C.E.O. Vitamin C Brightening Serum ($85): I have the full-size version of this, and I think I got it in some sort of box, because I did not actively seek this out. Out of all of the Vitamin C serums I have tried, this one is my least favorite. It’s more like a cream than a serum, and I’ve never really noticed a huge difference in my skin, especially for the price. I kept it in my gym bag, so I would use it sometimes and I didn’t mind it, but it’s not something that I really sought out and I won’t buy it again.

Four Sigmatic Golden Latte Mushroom Mix with Shitake & Tumeric ($20): This was the product where I was like… wait, wut. I am not going to eat/drink this. Full-stop. I don’t want to drink any of those things. Hard pass. If you know me in real life and want this shit, hit me up. It’s yours.

Bite Beauty Agave Sugar Lip Balm and Scrub: I like the Bite Lip Balm, but it’s INCREDIBLY thick. A little too thick for my preferences. However, if you wear a lot of matte liquid lipsticks, you might need a super thick balm to help repair all that. You know I love the Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask. I prefer the Laneige to the Bite for sure. I haven’t used the scrub yet, but I can’t imagine it’s going to be so much different from other lip scrubs.

Bite Beauty Matte Crème Lip Crayon in Glacé ($24): I really like the Bite lip crayons, and I think this color is lovely. I think most people really love this formula, I just can’t enjoy it because it has castor oil in it, so I’ll (sadly) be giving this away.

[line]

Final Grade: B

Like I said, this wasn’t my favorite box from Play! By Sephora. Sure, there were some products I liked, but did it thrill me? No. Not really. I always wonder if I should just cancel this box, but at the end of the day it’s $10, so it doesn’t make a huge impact on me either way. I’ll probably hold onto it but it’s one of those things I’m asking myself about this. You know what box I NEVER question? The Allure Beauty Box. Now THAT is a great box I never want to cancel.

But if you want to subscribe to the Play! by Sephora box, click here. Or not. Whatever.

PLAY! By Sephora: January 2019 Y'all know I go back and forth on whether or not I even want to keep this subscription, and this is another month where I am very mehhhhh and should I cancel?

[itsemified]

Top 10 K-Beauty Items From Althea Korea

I absolutely love Christmas. It’s the time of the year where people express what they’re grateful for. Truthfully, 2018 has been an amazing year for me. This year, I got to be part of the Althea Angel family. It’s a community that keeps on giving and sharing. Before the year ends, I want to share to my readers the perfect items for a K-Beauty lover.

Althea Korea is an online site where you can get your K-Beauty cravings satisfied. With various brands and products, one will surely have a difficult time in choosing what to buy. Since Christmas is upon us, why not get the people around you (or even yourself!!) some trendy Korean products? Don’t fret, I’m here to guide you! 

1. Laneige Two Tone Lip Bar

It is no secret that lipsticks are a girl’s best friend. They’re basically a girl’s portal to the beauty community. As such, the Laneige Two Tone Lip Bar is the perfect gift for anyone out there. Due to its moisturizing formula and spectacular shade range, anyone who gets to try this would be absolutely obsessed with gradient lips. Moreover, if you’re having a difficult time with the ombre lips trend, you can opt for this product so you’ll just swipe it and you’ll immediately get the ombre look you’re dying for.

2. Althea Contour Cleanser

Skincare is a must in a K-Beauty lover’s world because having clear skin would lead to a smooth base when applying makeup. This product is exclusively available in the Althea Korea site since they released it. What I love about this product is that it REALLY works. Not only it removes your makeup but it also cleanses the face. It’s such a staple for me that it’s always in my gym bag. 

3. Althea Petal Velvet Powder

When you’re living in the Philippines, matte products are a must. Going for a dewy look is a difficult option (especially when you have an oily face) because you’re battling against the intense sunshine. This is why loose powders are a must in the Philippines. Most Korean foundations are in liquid form so it’s important to invest on loose powders to make that liquid foundation last under the sun. We don’t want to look like greasy pans in the end of the day, do we?

4. Etude House My Beauty Tool Lovely Etti Hair Band

For me, hair bands are a must. They play an important role in my life because they keep my hair away from my face. Hair contains various germs and bacteria that can produce pimples when uncared for. Before I go to sleep, I always wear a hairband so that my face can stay pimple-free. Do remember that when you’re giving someone a hairband, it must be cute and trendy so this product is the epitome of that.

5. Too Cool For School Art Class By Rodin Blusher

Too Cool For School has amazing products that can wow any K-Beauty lover.  Their Art Class collection is absolutely meant for those who are beginning to dwell in the K-Beauty world. Since the collection is usually 3-in-1, what people spend is a well deal. Personally, I tried the Contour and Highlighter of the Art Class collection and both are amazing products.

6. Mamonde Creamy Tint Color Balm Intense

Crayon lipsticks are a thing and they’re here to stay. If you’re vying for feathery lip looks, give this one a try. The color is highly pigmented and it gives a blurry effect when lightly tapped on the lips. You can’t go wrong with this product.

7. The Face Shop Highlighter Beam

Everybody wants to glow for the holidays. For a natural and subtle glow, go for The Face Shop’s Highlighter Beam. Don’t expect blinding or over-the-top glow with this one though.

8. Etude House Hair Secret Bang Hair Fixer

I have a thing for hair spray. I mostly just apply it on the bangs though. I want my bangs in a certain direction so I always make sure to use a hair spray. You can’t go wrong when you give this a gift because not only it works but it also smells fantastic. K-Beauty isn’t just about makeup or skincare, it also includes haircare. 

9. Banila Co Clean It Zero Cleansing Balm

When I watched how Koreans removed their makeup with this product, I got instantly hooked and amazed. You can remove make up with this product without resorting to water! Cool right? This product definitely has an important role in every K-Beauty lover’s makeup kit.

10. Banila Co Prime Primer

I highly recommend Banila Co’s classic primer. It’s definitely my go-to primer ever since I got it from Althea Korea. I love how smooth my base is whenever I use this. Putting every make up product got a whole lot easier with this by my side. If you’re looking for a perfect primer in the market, go for this one.

There you have it folks. Those are my top 10 K-Beauty items from Althea Korea. Did you see anything you like? Share them in the comment section below! :)

[skincare-us-blog]

The Flight Attendant With A 5 AM Takeoff Time

New Post has been published on http://skincareee.com/the-flight-attendant-with-a-5-am-takeoff-time/

The Flight Attendant With A 5 AM Takeoff Time

The #ITGTopShelfie interview series focuses on the beauty routines of Into The Gloss’ lovely, accomplished, and loyal community of readers. Submit your own on Instagram—post your Top Shelfie (tag us @intothegloss!) and include the hashtag #ITGTopShelfie for a chance to be featured on ITG.

“Hi! I’m Skya Eiland (@s.eiland) and I’m a flight attendant based at LAX, here in Los Angeles. I’m a pretty junior flight attendant on reserve, which just means that I’m always on call and have my bags packed and ready to go. Crew scheduling can call me as early as 5AM or as late as 11:59PM for a trip, and I can be gone for up to 6 days or fewer. In case you’re wondering why we carry so much luggage, one of them is always a giant lunch bag that carries enough food for a weeklong trip.

If I have a really early flight at the airport then I have no choice but to roll out of bed and get going. Morning rituals are so important for me or else I just feel out of place and grumpy. Lately I’ve been trying my best to drink a glass of lemon water paired with freshly squeezed grapefruit juice and Canyon Coffee. I brew that while I head towards the bathroom to cleanse my face.

I’m a true believer in the Korean skincare routine. My mother is Korean and she’s the type to experiment with it and she literally has no pores or wrinkles. I like to start off using a Jade Facial Roller just to give myself a massage. And then I use Banila Co. Clean it Zero—I use it take off excess oil and wash off makeup. I follow that with Glossier Milky Jelly Cleanserand always pat dry my face because vigorously wiping your face can cause irritation and redness…that’s a tip from my mom.

My older sister is also another big beauty influencer in my life. She’s an aesthetician who suffered from cystic acne, and she’s made this mask that all my friends are hooked on. It’s called Unmask Calm and it’s infused with honey, neem, cinnamon, turmeric and chamomile essential oil. It’s super hydrating and purifying, but I love it even more because I’ve seen the drive and hard work it took for her to make this skincare line on her own from the ground up.

After cleansing, I like to tone with Beauty Water by Son and Park, but in my suitcase I carry travel-sized Pixi Glow Peel Pads that I use on layovers. Both work really well for my oily T-zone and congested pores. I let my skin fully absorb it before I move onto my Missha Time Revolution Treatment Essence. For this product, I have to take the full size—I’ve gone through 3 bottles. The trick is to always also apply it on your neck in an upward motion and lightly dab with your fingertips on your face. I like end my AM routine with mixing Sunday Riley UFO Oil with Shiseido White Lucent All Day Brightener. 

Because I have oily skin, less is definitely more for me in terms of makeup. I like to wear Juice Beauty Tinted Moisturizer SPF 30 paired with either Glossier Cloud Paint or MAC Powder Blush in Peaches. I hate wearing mascara, so I only get eyelash extensions from this place called Stacy Lash off Beverly Blvd and Fairfax. If I’m not feeling lazy and want some extra bronzy glow on my face, I’ll apply Kevyn Aucoin The Celestial Skin Liquid Lighting around my jaw, cheek bone and hairline. But, I do like to wear a little highlight and lately have been obsessed with Fenty Beauty’s Killawatt Highlighter in Trophy Wife and Ginger Binge. These highlighters are so creamy that it almost doubles as a moisturizer on my cheekbones–a little goes a long way. After, I’ll spritz my face with Avène Spring Water or La Roche Posay Eau Thermale.

In my job, we’re required to wear red or pink lipstick or lip gloss at all times and let me just say, there’s real frustration in finding the perfect red. My makeup artist friend put me onto the Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencils, thank God. Since my lips dry up in the sky, I like to make them less matte with Hourglass Lip Treatment Oil—I’m a gloss gal. I carry so many lip products in my work bag–currently, it’s Fenty Beauty’s Gloss Bomb, this Japanese lip balm called Yu-Be, Dior Addict Lip Glow Pomade, and Glossier Rose Balm Dotcom. My absolute favorite gloss is the Duwop Venom Flash Gold because it brings out my natural lip color and plumps them.

My hair routine is pretty minimal. Since my hair is wavy, I like to let it air dry and later apply Oshimatsubaki Camellia Hair Care Oil to leave it silky and soft. For shampoo and conditioner, I LOVE Aveda’s Invati line. It’s perfect for when I have wear my hair in a sleek bun at work or when I do my usual half-up half-down pony as my go-to.

When I get back, I absolutely love taking baths with Dr.Singha’s Mustard Bath. I suffer backaches and this really just helps me unwind and it smells amazing to me. Since I was a kid, I’ve been using Korean body scrub mitts to exfoliate my body. Depending on my mood, I lather myself with Jeju Volcanic Body Soap, Nuxe Multi-Purpose Oil or Honeysuckle Aura Glow. Being in heels for up to 14 hours at a time really takes a toll on your feet by the end of the day. I get my hands on any type of Japanese foot mask I can find and moisturize with Egyptian Magic. For my face, it’s similar to my AM routine except I also use this Japanese product called Natural Aqua Gel Cure. It’s gross, but I love that it feels like a science experiment since you can physically see chunks of dead skin on your fingertips. After that, I’ll tone and exfoliate with NeoGen Bio-Peel Gauze Pads in Lemon. I’ll moisturize my face with Missha’s Times Revolution Night Repair and Mizon Snail Eye Cream and I’ll go to sleep with Laneige’s Lip Sleeping Mask on so I wake up with my lips feeling baby-booty soft.

Adjusting to this lifestyle has definitely caused me to be more aware of the changes to my skin—not just to my face but also to my body, spiritually and physically. I’m still learning, but some of the best tips I’ve learned so far is to drink plenty of water, take vitamin C and drink ginger tea every day to prevent yourself from getting sick. I always carry a mini face mist, hand sanitizer, sheet masks and rice blotting papers. Also, I’ve learned to heed every single beauty tip from all the ‘senior mamas’ that I’ve met or flown with. Some have flown for up to 40 years–they know what the heck they’re talking about.”

—as told to ITG