My Updated Evening Skin Care Routine 2016

Hey guys! I'm finally back with another blogpost on my update Evening Skin Care Routine. Yep, I definitely changed most of my skin care products and I definitely purchased way more products for my skin.

Most of my skin care products I invested in are all the way from Seoul. I have a Japanese, German and American skin care product here. The rest are all Korean.

Just a reminder, this is my skin care routine. It might work for me, but it might not work for you depending on your skin type and how your body reacts to it.

My skin type: Normal to oily skin. (Oily on the T-Zone area and normal for the rest of the face)

Step 1: Removing make-up/sunscreen

I use this to remove my sunscreen (most of the time) because I don't wear makeup that often. Only when I go out or for an occasion (not to school of course because it's not allowed). This has a gel texture which helps to melt the makeup and sunscreen, stripping all of it away. Then I'll rinse my face with lukewarm water. It's very gentle on the eyes, as well.

Step 2: Cleansing my face

I actually have two cleansers (lol why) because I change alternately and both cleansers work well on my face/skin. I use Cellnique Paramedical Seaweed Cleansing Gel most of the time, if not, I'll use the Innisfree Jeju Volcanic Pore Cleansing Foam. I would use my Nature Republic 100% Jelly Cleansing Puff in Charcoal (the black round sponge/puff) to massage the cleanser all over my face with my Cellnique cleanser, not my Innisfree one (because the sponge would absorb the cleanser quickly). I use circle motions to massage around my forehead, then my cheeks, chin, nose and a bit on the neck for about 3 minutes. Really massage it into the skin so your skin is soaked with the cleanser. Well as for the Innisfree cleanser, I would just use my hands and cleanse it like everyone normally does.

Step 3: Exfoliate my skin

Take note that you should exfoliate only once to three times a week because the exfoliator can damage your skin if you do it everyday. I've been using this exfoliator for almost a year and still loving it. With dry hands and a dry face, I pump 3 pumps with this product and rub the product around my hands. After that, I would massage all over my face, concentrating on my cheeks, nose and chin area because oddly, I have more dead skin cells around that area but I still do massage the product around my forehead. I massage it for about 2-3 minutes until small balls or circles form around my face and that's when I rinse my face with lukewarm water.

Step 4: Apply foam mask

I only use this once a week. This foam facial mask helps to brighten my skin, tighten it and soften it. With dry hands and a dry face, I press the pump continuously until the foam/mousse turns into a ping-pong ball size and then spread it all over my face. I massage it for a minute, letting it absorb and seep into my skin because this also helps to moisturise my face. After it fully and completely seeps and absorbs into my skin (or you can wait for 20 minutes), I rinse it off with water.

Step 5: Apply clay mask

I also use this once a week. This helps to minimise the pores, clean the pores and absorb the sebum. Also again, with dry hands and a dry face, I use an old flat foundation brush, I dip into the clay mask and spread it evenly onto my skin, avoiding the eye and lip area. I like to apply a second layer for more obvious and better results. After it dries up for 15-20 minutes, I rinse my face off with water properly.

Step 6: Toning my skin

It's important to have a toner that works well, especially on your skin/face. This toner also exfoliates and does not dry out the skin like most toners do. I use a cotton pad and pour a good amount of the toner and spread it all over my face, including my neck and the back of my ears.

Step 7: Applying serum

Once of my holy grails of all time, this serum has a lot of antibacterial properties and ingredients. I pump the pump once only and spread it all over my face. Then, I use 4 of my fingers (forefinger, middle finger, ring finger and pinky) to massage my face in an up and down motion, like a spider crawling but your fingers are doing the job. It helps with blood circulation and gives you a more pink-ier undertone.

Step 8: Spraying mist

This is not really an important step to most of you. It's just an extra skin care product that I purchased because I never own a mist. I just spray this around my face 4 times because it helps in hydrating my skin. 

Step 9: Moisturising my face

I honestly believe that even if you have an oily face, putting on moisturiser helps to prevent oil from being produced on your face. I'm not sure if it's true but maybe the face is producing so much oil because there's lack of moisture in the skin inside. I just spread this around my face and gently press my face slowly, letting it absorb completely.

Step 10: Applying sleeping pack

This is also not an essential product for our skin but it really helps in moisturising the skin throughout the night so if you have dry skin, this will help to moisturise your face a lot, not just by applying moisturiser. I also spread it all over my face and neck and then the next day, I'll rinse the product of with water.

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Yes, I admit, I am a hoarder for skin care and makeup products (okay, maybe not lol) but this routine really helped my skin in moisture, brightening, softening, tightening and not breaking out.

My Evening Skin Care Routine 2015

Hello guys! I am back with a new blogpost. It's my skin care routine!!

A lot of Beauty gurus and some female YouTubers have done their skin care routine video, so I thought it would be good to talk about mine in my blog.

DISCLAMER: We all have different skin types. I am not a skin care expert or a beautician/beauty consultant. I just use whatever products that work well for me, but may not work well for you.

Before Step 1: Wash Your Hands

I would usually wash my hands with hand soap, because you know, your hands are as dirty as you think they are. I wash my hands very often so it's a habit, you know (a really good and clean habit, I may add). Plus, you're gonna touch your face with your hands so if you don't wash your hands properly, you're basically transferring dirty onto your face.

Step 1: Make-Up Remover

Everyone needs a make-up remover, especially to those who wear make-up and sunscreen all day. I use this to remove my sunscreen (I don't use make-up), but I do use this as my make-up remover when I do apply make-up occasionally. It really removes all of the residue on your face, moisturise it at the same time (good product for people with dry skin since it's a cream to oil based product) and smells great. A good product always smells great unless they're unnatural. It has a nice but strong freesia scent which at first did bother me, but after using this for 2-3 months, I was immune to it. If you want to buy this brand, make sure to get the Marigold instead of Freesia. 

Brand: MISSHA Flower Bouquet Freesia Cleansing Cream

Step 2: Cleanser

Cleansing is literally the most important part of anyone's skin care routine, no matter if you're a female or male, it's very essential. Anyone and everyone can cleanse their faces, either using a drugstore product or a high-end product, as long as it works for your face and won't cause any break-outs, it's perfectly fine. Choosing the right cleanser is like choosing your prom dress/car. It's the most basic and simple thing to do, but it's important to find the right one that suits your skin like it suits your taste in prom dresses and cars. Anyway, this cleanser has a very subtle smell and texture which I appreciate a lot. It contains a green tea extract as well, which is perfect for everyone's skin and body. If you've got a really sensitive skin (tons of acne pop out randomly or break-outs or high-pigmentations everywhere) and you don't know which cleanser that will work on you, please consult a beautician.

Brand: Cellnique Paramedical Intensive Hydrating Gel Wash 

Step 3: Exfoliator

This is literally my current holy grail. Everyone needs an exfoliator (especially for the face). Right after you encounter some pimples here and there, you're gonna have to buy an exfoliator immediately. Pimples grow because of the dirty environment we live in and the food we eat or consume everyday. If you've got a good diet (fruits, vegetables, organic foods, etc.), your face must be clear and normal. But even if you've got a clear face, you'll still need to exfoliate your face once, twice or thrice a week. It's important to remove the dead skin cells in and on your face because that's the reason why we grow pimples, acne, blackheads, whiteheads, redheads, etc. The dirt can accumulate your face anytime so exfoliating is a must, even to guys. Make sure to get a good exfoliator that's highly recommended by make-up artists, beauticians and do a research about the product before purchasing it (like reviews from users/buyers and whatsoever). 

Brand: CURE Natural Aqua Gel

Step 4: Toner

A toner basically balances the pH of your face/skin. If your face is too acidic or alkaline, it may damage your skin cells and cause problems to your skin so a toner is very important. You can get a simple toner from the drugstore or a high-end store (depends on your preference). Get toners that are also highly recommended by a lot of people. Anyway, the toner helps to double cleanse my face and balances my pH level. It's a very subtle toner because it smells good and it's very cooling. There is the same toner but in tomato. Why I didn't pick that is because tomato is too acidic and strong for most skin types so I wouldn't recommend it unless your face can tolerate tomatoes.

Brand: Skin Food Premium Lettuce and Cucumber Watery Toner

Step 5: Face Mist

This is 100% optional. A face mist helps to cool and freshen down your skin after a long and hot day. If you experience the hot and humid climate, this will be your best friend. It really nourishes the skin, leaving your skin feeling healthy and glowy. This is an alternative to a moisturiser. I personally think that I don't need a moisturiser, mainly because my skin is naturally oily. If you have oily skin, you don't really need a moisturiser. It's mostly used by people who have dry skin/normal skin. A moisturiser and face mist both cools down your skin and freshen it up (they almost do the same job) so a face mist is practically more useful for me. This depends on your skin type.

Brand: The Face Shop Argan Oil Mist

Step 6: Face Masks/Sheet Masks (optional)

This is also optional. This is like a 'pampering' session for your skin. It helps your skin to relax and cool down. If you are having your wedding the next day, or it's your birthday or a special occasion is coming soon, this will be very useful/helpful. 

Brand: Etude House Aloe Vera Mask Sheet

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That's all for today. Hope you guys enjoyed the post and maybe it'll inspire you to take care of your skin and pamper it. :)

[TIPS] How To Clean Your Make-up Brushes Properly

Hello guys! I am back with another blogpost and it's not a review, it's another tip blogpost (silent 'yay'). Despite my busy schedule and tests, I still am blogging.

Step 1: Grab a hand soap, make-up remover (cream-based, oil-based, water-based are all acceptable), a cloth, 2 or 3 handkerchieves/cloth,  2 plastic cups (that are not reusable) and extra virgin olive oil.

Before you ask, I'll explain them to you beforehand.

1. Hand soap basically kills 99% bacteria (unless not stated). Instead of using rubbing alcohol (which is definitely not suitable for your face even though it kills more effectively than hand soap).

2. Make-up remover (duh). You need that to remove the make-up residue on your brushes.

3. Cloths because (one) you need to place it underneath the plastic cups, (two) you need to wipe the brushes, (three) this is optional but you can place the clean and wet brushes on the cloth.

4. Plastic cups because it's easier to clean the brushes.

5. Extra virgin olive oil helps to moisturise your brushes, especially the bristles. They will feel much softer when you use it on your face.

Step 2: Pump 3 times of your make-up remover, hand soap, apply a few drops of extra virgin olive oil and spray a bit of water onto a plastic cup.

Step 3: Use your used make-up brush and stir it around the cup. The mixture will quickly turn into this unattractive yellow coloured-liquid, much like an uncooked egg yolk. Also, place a handkerchief or cloth underneath the cup to avoid spillage of water on the table.

You will notice that the colour residue from the brush are coming out. Just keep stirring until the colour has run out.

This procedure will take about 20 seconds (depending on how pigmented/dirty your brushes are).

Step 4: After that, fill in a half-cup of water and place it on top of the same handkerchief or cloth. 

Step 5: Grab your used make-up brush and stir it around the half-cup of water to remove the residue from the used make-up brush.

Make sure that all the residue has been removed from the brush completely. It takes at least 30 seconds.

Step 6: Wipe the wet/clean brush onto another handkerchief or cloth to dry it.

Step 7: Place the clean brush on another cloth or handkerchief to dry it.

OR another method is to rotate the brush into an upside down position and place it. 

The thing is that I don't have a placement or handle to place the brush vertically so yeah.

If you place it horizontally on a cloth, it takes a longer time to dry. If you place it vertically (upside down), it's less time-consuming.

Method 1: Placing the brush horizontally on a cloth.

Method 2: Place the brush upside down vertically. You can use a rubber band or an elastic and tie it around a rod or stick.

Another way is to use a gigantic clip and clip the brushes onto a clothes hanger.

If,

Your brush is too big (like the powder brush or blush brush), use the same method but instead of dipping the brush into the half-cup of water to remove the residue, simply just rinse it off with tap water (mainly because it is harder to remove the residue from a big brush so it's only right to rinse it with tap water). 

Make sure all of the residue has been removed. It'll take about a minute or so to completely wash off the residue.

I know this 'cleaning-brushes' method is REALLY long and time-consuming but if you wish to get the results you want, this is definitely the method for you. Your brushes will feel a lot cleaner, softer and it's a lot more moisturised compared to before. 

Do this when you have a lot of free/leisure time. If you're a full-time make-up artist or you're just busy, do this at least once a month. I will be posting another method for cleaning brushes in a less time-consuming way.