Current Skincare Favs #3

Michael Todd has been my favorite skincare brand for quite some time now as they use organic ingredients for their skincare products, which I find to be less irritating on the skin and cause less inflammation. I've been using their skincare products for over a year now, and there has not been anything that I don't love from them.

Toner is an essential part of my routine, and lately I've been using the Cranberry Toner, which is packed with antioxidants that help to heal the skin, while the tea tree oil in it helps to fight bacteria and promotes clear skin. This helps to balance my skin pH without making my skin feel dry or stripped of its moisture.

Another product that I've been loving from Michael Todd is the Honey and Oat Cleanser, which is a gentle deep pore-cleansing cleanser that effectively removes any makeup and impurities from the face. This is a sulphate-free cleanser, and the honey in it helps to put back moisture in my skin so my face always feels clean and balanced after I use this.

A repurchase for me is the Avocado and Mango mask, which is my favorite mask to use to put back moisture into my skin while also chemically exfoliating my skin to help to fade any acne scars. It contains mango butter which is rich in vitamin C to help to nourish the skin, as well as salicylic acid which gets deep down into the pores to unclog them and remove any dead skin cells. This makes my skin feel super soft and look visibly more radiant after I use it.

Another product that I've been using to help to fade my acne scars is the Jurlique Purely Bright Mist. Jurlique is a brand that I've heard a lot of great things from over the years, and they also use a lot of natural and plant-based ingredients in their skincare products. I've been using this in the morning as an extra step after I've cleansed and toned, and I've noticed that it really helps to calm down any redness in my skin as well as provide a bit of extra moisture for my skin. I also like to spray this anytime throughout the day when my skin is looking a little dull or dehydrated.

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Lush Goodies

I recently popped into Lush with no intention of getting anything, but somehow I managed to walk out with these two things in my bag. Story of my life.

If you've been reading my blog for a while then you'll probably know that I'm a mask junkie, and I literally have a drawer full of just face masks. I've heard a lot of great things about the Mask of Magnaminty for a while, and it's supposed to be great for people with oily/combination and acne prone skin. It contains china clay which helps to draw out the impurities from your pores as well as pieces of aduki beans to gently exfoliate the skin. It is very deep cleansing yet it doesn't leave my skin feeling dry because it has honey in it as well to calm and soothe the skin. Apparently you can also use this on your back if you have acne there. It has definitely made it into my top face masks and what makes me love it even more is the fact that it literally looks and smells like mint chocolate chips ice cream! I just want to lick it off when I put it on my face!

The Big Shampoo is a clarifying shampoo made with sea salts that is supposed to get rid of any product buildups in your hair and give your hair massive volume. I love the concept of clarifying shampoos and I already loved the Bumble & Bumble Sunday Shampoo, so I decided to give this a go. It makes my hair feel so clean and soft, and my hair looks super shiny and voluminous after I use this! You need the tiniest bit and it foams up once you work it into your hair, so I can see this tub lasting me quite a while. It is definitely one of my all-time favorite shampoos and no wonder it's a best seller!

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Supplements for Healthy Skin, Hair & Nails

It took me quite a longtime to put this post together because it is a topic that I'm quite passionate about, so here it is. A disclaimer that I have to make is that I'm in no way an expert in supplements and all the information that I'll be sharing are just what I've found out throughout my own research throughout the years and the products I'll be talking about are what have worked for me.

Although skincare and makeup or any type of beauty products make a difference to the way your skin or hair look, I feel like supplements can make the biggest difference over a long term. As cliche as it sounds, I have to go with the phrase "you are what you eat" because if you eat healthily and you put good stuff into your system it's definitely going to show on your skin and hair. Since I'm not the healthiest eater I have to cheat this by taking supplements. I've definitely noticed that my skin looks clearer with less breakouts and just overall more radiant when I take supplements consistently.Unlike skincare or makeup that works differently for different skin types, supplements generally work for anyone withe any skin types.

The Amazing Grass Green Superfood is a nutritious powder that contains all the vitamins, minerals and nutrients that your body needs in a day. I often take this first thing in the morning as I find that it really helps to flush out the toxins from my system and make me feel full and energetic throughout the whole day. This is what I swear by to keep my skin clear and radiant, and it's also great for my body because it gives my body the nutrients that it needs since I'm not the healthiest eater.

EmergenC is another drink powder that is packed with vitamin C and electrolytes to keep you hydrated and your immune system strong when you're sick. Every time I get a cold or I feel like I might get sick I start drinking this, and it seriously makes me feel ten times better the very next day. When you get sick your skin often looks dry and dull, but when I drink this it keeps my skin looking hydrated and radiant.

Hydraluronic Acid and Collagen are two ingredients that are naturally found in your body and are the building blocks of your hair, skin and nails. I find that these are very helpful to take in the colder months because they really help to keep my skin moisturized and plump, as well as keep my skin from getting any dry patches. I also notice that my hair and nails look shinier and grow faster when I take these two.

Evening Primrose Oil is also said to be very good for the skin because it contains fatty acids which help to keep the skin hydrated and prevents any dry patches from forming. It's also supposed to help with acne as well as increasing the blood circulation to the skin to keep it toned and bright.

Acai Juice is not only super yummy to drink but is also pack full of antioxidants that help to reduce inflammation in the body as well as riding the body of any toxins, which essentially leads to clearer, more radiant skin. You can obviously substitute this with eating more fruits and vegetables, especially blueberries and cherries. Tart cherry juice is another delicious and healthy option that gives you a great amount of antioxidants.


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Brand Overview: Antipodes

I've been slowly transitioning my skincare routine to the more natural side and Antipodes is a New Zealand brand I discovered that makes organic and natural skincare products.

The Antipodes Manuka Honey Mask is probably their most well-known product and is what made me fell in love with the brand in the first place. Manuka honey is an antibacterial ingredient that helps to fight acne while still being nourishing for the skin. I find that a lot of acne-fighting and detox masks tend to dry out the skin; this one doesn't do that at all and is super gentle on the skin. Sometimes I get the under-the-skin pimples that are super painful and takes forever to go away, and this really helps to soothe my breakouts and reduce the redness while also giving my skin intense hydration. My face always feels super soft like a baby's bottoms after using this!

Antipodes Juliet Skin Brightening Gel Cleanser is what I've been using as my morning cleanser. What I look for in a morning cleanser is something that's gentle yet effective and won't dry my skin out, and this does just that. It contains the same acne-fighting manuka honey as the mask, as well as superfruit extracts that help to exfoliate the skin to reveal a brightener complexion. Definitely another favorite from Antipodes!

I recently ran out of my Caudalie Beauty Elixir and was looking for something cheaper to replace it, which is why I picked up the Antipodes Resurrect Facial Toner. It's a refreshing and hydrating toner that instantly awakens my skin and perks up my dull-looking complexion; great for mornings where you skin just looks tired and lack-lustre.

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Current Favorites #8

I've been obsessed with these NCLA nail wraps as they're so easy to use and they literally last for weeks on my nails. I got the floral ones first and I loved them so much that I picked up these limited edition ones. If you suck at doing nail arts or just don't have the patience to do them, then these are perfect for you as they have all sorts of patterns and colors! I've been wearing them as accent nails and I think that they give my nails a great pop of color for the summer time.

I can't believe that it took me so long to discover MAC All That Glitters as it's one of their best-selling eyeshadows. It's the perfect bronzy champagne color and if you love neutral shimmery shadows then this is a must-have for you. I've wearing this all over my lids with winged liners and it just looks super put-together without too much fuss.

I've been looking for a great summertime concealer that's sweat-proof and long-lasting for a long time, and a lot of Asian bloggers have recommended the Canmake Cover Stretch Concealer. It is seriously the longest-lasting concealer I've found, and it provides medium to full coverage while still looking natural. I have super oily skin and this literally doesn't budge until I go take my makeup off at the end of the day.

I got a BareMinerals Ready Foundation sample from Sephora, and I didn't have too high of an expectation when I tried it as I already found my holy grail powder which is the Laura Mercier mineral powder. This surprisingly gave my face a very similar finish to the Laura Mercier mineral powder. The coverage is bulidable and looks incredibly natural; no matter how many layers you put on your makeup never cakes up, and it just looks like a second skin.


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Disappointing Products #3

Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel did nothing for my skin. It felt very light on the skin but did not moisturize my skin at all, and was definitely not worth its price point. I much prefer the Clinique Moisture Surge Extended Thirst Relief over this, which does a better job at moisturizing the skin while still being oil-free and also light-weight on the skin.

I know the Laura Mericier Primer is a favorite of many people, but I found it to be just a mediocre primer. I feel like you could find primers with similar quality at the drugstore for less price. I don't hate it but I definitely won't repurchase it because I've found way better primers than this. At the moment, my favorite primer is the Hourglass Mineral Veil Primer which does everything I'm looking for in a primer; it keeps my makeup looking matte and natural throughout the day.

Makeup Forever Super Matte Powder definitely did not keep my face matte, neither did it keep my makeup fresh throughout the day. It is a translucent powder so to me it is useless because it does nothing for my face.

Dior Nude BB Cream was a letdown for me as it didn't cover anything on my face and didn't last on my face at all. It also felt a bit greasy when I put it on and actually broke me out. I've yet to find a western bb cream that works as well as my Korean ones. My favorite bb cream at the moment is the Dr Jart Water Fuse BB Cream which feels super light and moisturizing on the skin, covers all my redness while still being incredibly natural and lasts throughout the day.

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Brand Overview: Caudalie

Caudalie has quickly become one of my favorite skincare brands as every product I've tried from them have made it into my skincare staples. I also love the fact that their skincare products contain mostly natural ingredients which helps to reduce the inflammation and acne on my face.

Caudalie SOS Thirst Quenching Serum is a great serum for all skin types because it gives you intense hydration without feeling heavy on the skin. This is pack full of hydraluronic acid which is the miracle ingredient for plumping the skin. I've also noticed that this has helped to reduce the pigmentation and scarring on my face significantly over time.

Caudalie Lip Conditioner is a great basic lip balm that helps to hydrate and soothe dry lips. It is quite thick so I usually use it before I go to bed to let it do its job overnight, and in the morning I always wake up with super soft lips!

Caudalie Beauty Elixir is a quick pick-me-up for when your skin is looking dull because one spray of this will instantly brighten and tighten your complexion to make it look more fresh and glowing. You can also use this to set your makeup as well as take away the powderyness of your makeup. I go through this stuff super quick because I can't get myself to stop spraying this throughout the day!

Caudalie Divine Oil is a super versatile product as you can use it on your skin, hair, body and nails. It contains a mixture of essential oils that helps to nourish and hydrate you from head to toe. Definitely a must-try from this brand!

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Products to Achieve a Glowing Complexion - Skincare

I've been all about the glow lately and these products have completely changed the way I feel about my skin. I used to be so insecure about going out of the house wearing no makeup, but with the help of these products lately my skin has been looking ten times better without having to put on any makeup. I did a makeup edition of this post a while ago so feel free to check it out. But if you're not a makeup gal, these products will help you to achieve a brighter and more perfected complexion without the use of makeup.

Clinique Radiance Renewer is a gentle overnight exfoliant that helps to slough off dull surface skin cells and encourages the growth of new skin cells for a brighter and smoother complexion. The texture of my skin has improved quite a bit since I've started using this with smaller pores and less pigmentation and scars. It's not as harsh as something like the Alpha-H liquid gold, but the result is equally amazing.  My skin looks smooth, clear and glowing.

Clarins Beauty Flash Balm is one of the best-selling products from Clarins, and is a beauty bag essential of many beauty editors and professional makeup artists. It is a moisturizer and primer in one that serves as a quick pick-me-up for those mornings where your skin just looks dull and lack-lustre. It'll seriously transform your complexion in a few seconds to make your skin look more hydrated, fresh and luminous. The priming aspect of it is also pretty awesome as I find that it really does smooth out the appearance of pores and make my makeup last longer.

Balance Me Radiance Oil is essentially glowing skin in a bottle. This award-winning product is pack full of nutrients that your skin will just drink up, and it always feels so luxurious to massage this into my skin. It works to decongest the skin a well as replenishing and rebalancing the skin, so it's great for all skin types.

Origins Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask is the bomb-dot-com when it comes to creating a more luminous and perfected complexion. Every time I use this I'm always surprised by how amazing my skin looks in the morning. It is just the best thing for your skin, period.


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Disappointing Products #2

I tried the Clinique SuperCity Block SPF 40 because it sounded like it would be good for my oily skin since it's oil free. Unfortunately it broke me out. On top of that, I also found that the slight tint did nothing for my skin and did not cover anything; it also left my face looking super shiny. My go-to sunscreen at the moment is the Allie Mineral Moisture Gel SPF 50, which is the lightest feeling sunscreen I found so far and leaves my face looking matte.

I love me some shimmery bronzy eyeshadows, and Bobbi Brown Shimmer Wash Eyeshadow in Rosegold was rated as a must-have eyeshadow for neutral shadow lovers. Unfortunately, this shadow had too much of a red undertone in it and made me look like I had pinkeye- not a flattering look on me. This eyeshadow had a good formula though, the color just didn't work out for me.

Illamasqua Cream Pigment in Hollow is another highly-rated item and is supposed to be a super subtle and natural-looking contour/bronzing cream. I don't have any bronzers/contours in a cream formula so I thought I would give it a go. Although I like bronzers with a neutral/greyish undertone, this was just completely grey and made me look sickly instead of healthy and sun-kissed.

I tried out the Estee Lauder Shadow Paint in Pink Zinc because it's supposed to be the longest lasting cream shadow on the market. When I swatched the color on my hand it seemed like a beautiful pinky champagne color, but when I used it on my eyes it was all shimmers and no pigmentation at all. The longevity of it was mediocre as well. I'd much prefer my Maybelline Color Tattoos over this, which are much more affordable and last way longer.


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French Pharmacy Skincare Haul & Review

I've always loved French pharmacy skincare brands such as La Roche Posay, Vichy, Nuxe, etc., and recently I found a site called escentual.com which sells a lot of French pharmacy skincare brands for really affordable prices. After doing a thorough research online, I made a list of a few French pharmacy skincare must-haves that people recommended and purchased them on escentual.com. The prices are significantly cheaper than what you would pay for in your local drugstores and the shipping was only $5.

Vichy Normaderm 3 In 1 Cleanser + Scrub + Mask is a multipurpose product that you can use either as a cleanser or a quick 5-minutes mask. The Normaderm line is targeted towards acne-prone skin, and I've tried a few things from this line before and loved all of them. This mask is clay-based so it helps to clear out the impurities from your pores while also being slightly exfoliating. This is great for days where I don't have the time to do a 20-minutes mud mask but still want to deep cleanse my skin.

La Roche Posay Cicaplast was mentioned in quite a few blogposts that I read and caught my attention. It is a pro-recovery gel that helps to accelerate the healing process of your skin, so it's great for people who use a lot of acne-fighting products which can be quite harsh on the skin and cause the skin to become quite sensitive over time. It contains ingredients such as copper, zinc and manganese which have been shown to speed up the regeneration of skin cells. Basically it helps you to build a new layer of skin. I find that it really helps to calm down the redness in my skin as well as making my pimples go away faster without leaving any scars. I've using it as a nighttime moisturizer and so far I'm loving it.

You guys know that I love my Dior crem de rose lipbalm, but I find that I go through it really fast and I just can't afford to use it everyday. So I picked up the Caudalie Lip Conditioner to use as my daily lip balm because it was significantly cheaper, and I think I'll save the Dior one for special occasions. I use it before I go to sleep because it is super thick and takes a while to absorb, but in the morning I wake up to super soft and hydrated lips. Definitely another love from Caudalie!

I had to get the Bioderma Sebium Pore Refiner because Lisa Aldridge mentioned it in several of her videos as her go-to primer for her clients with oily or acne-prone skin, and I always trust her recommendations since she's a professional makeup artist. It keeps my face matte throughout the day and works as a primer for my foundation to prolong its longevity. It also works as a skincare product to regulate sebum production and tighten pores over time. I find that a lot of primers can clog my pores overtime but this one doesn't and actually makes my pores look smaller.


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Current Favorites #6

I decided to add Trilogy Rosehip Oil to my bottles of facial oil collection after seeing it on practically every beauty blogger's blogs. Rosehip oil has become pretty popular lately for its ability to decongest pores as well as heal breakouts. It is rich in antioxidants and vitamin E which help to repair skin cells and fade any pigmentation. It feels super light on the skin and absorbs into my skin right away, and I find that I can pair this with my moisturizer without feeling like I have too much products on my face.

I've been looking for the perfect yellow nail polish to wear in the summer time for a longtime, and I finally decided to splurge on a Butter London nailpolish. Butter London Jasper is the perfect shade of pastel canary yellow that adds a great pop of color to your look. The formula of Butter London nailpolish are always super creamy and opaque.

I got the Benefit Watt's Up Luminizer as part of my Sephora Beaut Insider b-day present. It's been on my to-buy list for a while and the fact that I got it for free is even more awesome. It's a peachy golden highlight that helps to give a luminous glow to the skin, and I've been all about the glow lately.

I got the Etude House Cute Eyes Maker after hearing so many Korean beauty bloggers rave about it. It's supposed to help you to achieve aegyo sal which has been pretty popular in Korea and a lot of k-pop stars even undergo surgeries to get it. It has two sides with spongy applicators. One side is super shimmery which you're supposed to use in your inner corner, and the other side is a very subtle matte brown color which you're supposed to use underneath your aegyo sal to bring it out even more. Definitely try this out if you want that Korean ulzzang look!

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Current Skincare Favs #2

Borghese Fango Active Mud Mask is a long-time cult favorite and I've always been a bit skeptical when it comes to super hyped-up products like this. I finally bought it when strawberrynet had a sale a while ago, and I can't believe that it took me so long to try this mask because this is without a doubt the best mud mask that I've ever tried. Being a mud mask, it does more than just cleaning out your pores. It contains super gentle mud particles that helps to gently exfoliate and draw out any impurities. My complexion looks significantly smoother after using this, and it also helps to heal up my breakouts faster. The avocado and almond oil in it helps to give hydration so my skin doesn't feel dry or stripped of its natural oil after using this.

Lately I've been trying to go natural with my skincare because I found that my skin has gotten quite sensitive after using a lot of acids over time. I decided to try the PAI Geranium & Thistle Combination Cream since I already love their rosehip oil so much. Apparently this has gotten quite popular lately and is the moisturizer of choice for many makeup artists. This is not quite as heavy-duty as the Murad mattifier at oil-control, however I still like it on days where I won't be wearing makeup for a long time. This feels super light and non-greasy on the skin and leaves a beautiful matte finish on the skin; I find that sometimes I can even skip the primer with this one. It is also packed full of great ingredients such as essential fatty acids, jojoba oil, borage oil, etc. to rebalance the skin and keep it hydrated throughout the day. I'm definitely in love with the brand PAI at the moment.

Alpha-H is another brand that I've been meaning to try for a while after hearing so many British beauty gurus rave about it. I got a set from lookfantastic a while ago that came with a bunch of travel size products to try out; my favorites are the Daily Essential Moisturizer SPF 50+ and Liquid Gold. On my lazy days I like to slap on the Daily Essential Moisturizer because it is a moisturizer and a sunscreen in one, and it contains a lot of antioxidants which is always a plus. This feels super light, is non-comedogenic, and doesn't leave a white cast on the skin. Liquid Gold is another cult favorite and it claims to be an "overnight facial in a bottle". It contains 5% glycolic acid, and it's supposed to resurface your skin overnight to even out the skin texture, refine the appearance of pores and brighten up the complexion. I was skeptical at first about how this would work on my skin because I already use a lot of products with higher percentages of glycolic acid, but surprisingly this showed amazing results after just one use. This did everything that it claims to do and just made my skin look amazing. I'm definitely going to purchase the full size sometimes soon!


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My Online Shopping Guide

Being a self-professed beauty junkie and shopaholic, I've shopped at pretty much every single online shopping site over the years. I love online shopping because it saves you so much time and money, and you can find some really unique pieces that you won't be able to find in stores. Today I'm here to share my online shopping experiences as well as share with you some tips and tricks and my favorite sites to shop at. Because there's no way that I can go through every single one of my favorite sites, I've created a page with a comprehensive list of sites that I recommend, including beauty, fashion and supplements. You can click here to go the page or simply click the online shopping guide button on the menu.

Tip #1 - Always compare the prices
Just because you have a favorite site to shop at doesn't mean that you have to get everything from there. A site may have one brand for really cheap prices but might jack up the prices for another brand. So before you purchase something, always compare the prices across different sites. Also, always check on ebay because 75% of the time I can find something for a cheaper price on ebay. I know some of you might be a bit skeptical about ebay, but as long as you always buy from sellers with high ratings you shouldn't have a problem. Personally I've never had a issue with shopping on ebay.

Tip #2 - Look for coupons
This is what I love about online shopping because there's always coupons floating around on the internet. Retailmenot is my favorite site for looking up coupons, and it's the only legit one that I found so far. Also, subscribe and sign-up for the website's mailing list because they often send out exclusive sale promotions to their subscribers. I've also added a new feature to my blog where I'll be updating on the latest sale and coupon codes on the top left corner, so definitely check in everyday for the latest sale in beauty and fashion!

Tip #3 - Calculate the shipping
Always look through the shipping information before you start to shop. Some sites charge you ridiculous amounts for shipping, so in the end it might not be worth it to buy it online.

Tip #4- Look for reviews
With online shopping, it's so easy to get ripped off sometimes. If you don't know whether the site is legit or not, look for other people's shopping experiences and reviews online. If you're buying makeup or skincare, look for reviews and swatches online to know whether if it's suitable for your skin type or skin tone. For example, if you're buying a foundation online, get your shade matched at a mac counter and then look for reviews online to see what shade of that foundation is equivalent to your mac shade because most people will have a mac shade. If you're buying clothes online, sometimes the site will allow customers to review the items online so you can see what the people who've bought the item think about the sizing or the quality of the clothing. As well, you can look at the model's height and weight and what size she is wearing.

Tip #5- Keep your purchases under $80.
I know a lot of you will have questions regarding taxes and customs. Customs won't check your order if it's under $20, but from my experiences if it's under $80 I usually don't get charged for taxes and customs. This is just my personal experience and it might vary depending on where you live.

Tip #6 - Get Cash backs
Ebates is a program that allows you to get cash back when you shop online. Simply go on ebates and click on the website that you want to shop at it. Ebates will track down how much you spend on that website and it will give you a certain percentage back every three months.

Now, time to talk about a few of my favorite sites to shop at. I love trying out beauty products from all over the world and I love the fact that online shopping allows me to do so. One of my favorite site to buy asian beauty products is sasa. It has so many brands on there that I've never heard of, and their prices are quite fair. Shipping is usually free with $100 purchases but they often have promotions where they give you free shipping for orders above $39. Roseroseshop has a lot of korean beauty products for super cheap prices; shipping starts at $5. For US & UK beauty products, beautybay, feelunique, and lookfantastic are three of my favorite sites. They all offer free shipping with no minimum purchases and their prices are so much better than sephora.

My favorite online clothing store is urbanoutfitters. They have a lot of unique brands on there and they always have amazing sales. Shipping to Canada is free with a minimum purchase of $50. I also love the fact that they allow customers to review the clothing pieces online so you know what's worth buying and what's not.

What's your favorite site to shop at?



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Products I Can't Live Without- Skincare

So it should come as no surprise to you that these products have made it into my holy grail skincare products list as I've mentioned them over and over again on my blog. These are my fail-safe products that I know I can absolutely rely on to get my skin better.

It  is essential that your face is completely clean without any trace of makeup at the end of night, and no matter how expensive of a serum or moisturizer you use, if your face is not clean before you put them own, they would just be useless. The gentle vibrations of a Clarisonic help to get deep down into your pores and remove any impurities from your face. Even if you don't wear makeup, a Clarisonic is still going to benefit you because it physically exfoliates the skin to stimulate cell turnover and creates a clearer complexion overtime.

I don't think I need to say more about the Peter Thomas Roth Max Complexion Correction Pads because you're probably tired of seeing this. This is my go-to product when I'm breaking out or when I have uneven skin texture. Click here to see a more detailed review.

Another product that you're probably tired of seeing is the Origins Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask. This is just a miracle in a bottle because I see amazing results just after one use. It feels like a moisturizer and I leave it on overnight, and in the morning my skin  just looks more perfected and glowing.

The King Olive Sebum Care Mask makes getting rid of blackheads so much easier. I haven't been getting a single blackhead on my nose since I've started using this. It's like a black goop that sinks deep down into your pores and after 15 minutes it dries up and you can just peel it off. It is super gentle and doesn't hurt at all. Follow my blog with Bloglovin

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Current Skincare Favs

If you've seen my skincare routine posts, then you'll know that I have a pretty extensive list of products that I use. So instead of posting a whole new routine every time I change something in my routine, I thought I would just do these current skincare favs posts where I review skincare products that I've been trying lately.

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Brand Overview: Clarins

Clarins is a brand that I've loved and adored for years, and every single product that I've tried from them have never disappointed me. The price point is also quite good for the quality of product that you're getting.

Clarins Instant Smooth Perfecting Touch is one of my favorite makeup primers of all time. It is non-comedogenic and helps to smooth out any unevenness in my skin, making my makeup go on so much better. It also helps to camouflage my pores and makes my makeup last all day.

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My Skincare Routine: Masks Part #2

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I love moisture masks because they seriously load up my skin with all the hydration and nutrients that it needs to repair itself, and my skin always feels super smooth and soft after using them.

Antipodes Manuka Honey Mask contains manuka honey which draws moisture to your skin while also being antibacterial. I find it just really calms down my skin, and reduces any inflammation or redness from any breakouts.  It is super gentle yet effective on the skin, and makes my skin feel like a baby's bottoms.

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Latest Skincare Obsession- Facial Oils

As promised, I'm dedicating an entire post on facial oils because I'm absolutely obsessed with them. They're great for all skin types, especially for oily skin because people with oily skin typically have dehydrated skin and an imbalance between the water and lipid content in their skin, causing the skin to overproduce oils in order to compensate for the lack of moisture in the skin. So using facial oils will help to replenish the oil in the skin and help to regulate the oil production in the long run. There are good oils and bad oils for the skin. Mineral oil is a bad one to avoid because it is comedogenic meaning that it clogs your pores. Plant-derived oils, such as rosehip oil, almond oil, sunflower oil, etc. are good for your skin because they help to replenish the hydrolipid barrier of the skin which protects your skin from all the environmental toxins, as well as providing your skin with the nutrients that it needs in order to repair itself. So long story short, if you haven't tried a facial oil before, go and get one now because it will do wonders for your skin!

Clarins Lotus Oil is what I use when my skin is being super oily or acne-prone. It helps to regulate my oil production and also makes my skin heal itself faster. I find that it really helps to fade acne scars, calm down any breakouts, and minimize the size of my pores.

Just like its names says, Balance Me Radiance Oil helps to enhance radiance of the skin and gives your skin a boost in the moisture department. I know that a lot of people with oily skin might think that their skin is already oily and shiny and so they don't need any more radiance, but having radiant skin actually helps to blur out any imperfections that you may have and make them less noticeable, and just generally makes your skin look healthier.

Caudalie Divine Oil is a multi-purpose oil that can be used on the skin, hair and body, although I only use it on my skin because it is quite expensive. This contains a lot of antioxidants which helps to increase the blood circulation to the skin and repair the skin overnight.

Pai Rosehip Oil is one of my recent purchases after hearing so many good things on rosehip oil. Rosehip oil became super popular ever since Victoria's Secret model Miranda Kerr mentioned it as one of her beauty secrets. Rosehip oil is full of vitamins, antioxidants and essential fatty acids that help to nourish the skin, repair any environmental damage and has a lot of anti-aging benefits. I love the formula of the Pai rosehip oil because unlike the other three oils I mentioned earlier, this one is super lightweight and absorbs quickly so it can be worn during the day. I find that it helps to calm down the redness in my skin, fade any acne scars, and just makes my skin look like it has a glow from within.

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Current Favorites #4

Sexy Hair Healthy Soy Renewal Beach Spray is beach hair in a bottle. It acts as a leave-in conditioner and a texture spray in one to give my hair volume and tousled waves as well as nourishing it at the same time.
I find that a lot of texture or salt sprays make my hair crunchy and dry, this doesn't do that at all. I love the fact that it does two things at once because who wants to put on a bunch of hair products in this hot and humid weather?

I can't believe that it took me so long to try out Hydraluron as this has been the most raved-about product by bloggers and youtubers recently. It is basically a serum that contains purely hyaluronic acid which penetrates into the deep layers of the skin to restore moisture and elasticity of the skin. Consistent use of this will help to increase cell turnover, reduce skin roughness and boost the action of other skin care products that you put on top. Again, as I've mentioned countless times in my previous posts, moisturization is the key to solving any skin problems, so I highly recommend this to any skin types.

I got the Innisfree Vivid Tint Rouge on Ebay recently because I heard that it's apparently a dupe for the YSL glossy stains. I have it in the shade #4 Refreshing sweet orange, which is an orangey red color. It is surprisingly pigmented, and lasts really long on my lips without being drying. I've the tried the YSL glossy stains before, and I have to say that I like the Innisfree one better.

If you read my previous post on cream shadows, then you'll know that I'm obsessed with them and I pretty much wear them everyday because they're great for everyday natural makeup and stay on my eyelids without creasing in the hot humid weather. Daiso Cream Eyecolor in Rose has been my recent favorite. It is a rosegold color that is super pigmented, easy to blend and lasts forever on my eyelids, and it is super affordable too. You can find it on Ebay for around $6.

Here are the swatches:

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My Skincare Routine: Masks Part #1

Masks are something that I use religiously every week as I found that they make the biggest difference to my skin. I often like to use a few different masks in conjunction, starting off with a detox mask to give my skin a deep cleanse, I then usually follow up with a radiance mask to exfoliate the dead skin cells off my skin, lastly I try to put back moisture into my skin by using a hydrating mask. I found that this routine has really improved my skin and has become a crucial step in my skincare routine.

Since I have a lot of masks to go through, I've decided to split it into two parts. Part one is going to be all about detoxifying masks, and part two will be about radiance and hydrating masks. I like to use detoxifying masks right when I get out of the shower, as the hot water in the shower really gets my pores open and facilitates the detox masks in getting deep down into my pores and getting all the gunk out.

Michael Todd Kaolin Clay Mask has all kinds of clays in it to help absorb excess oils, dirt and toxins deep down in your pores to create a clearer complexion. It also has sulfur in it, which is a natural ingredient used to treat acne. As you wash off this mask, the tiny clay particles help to gently exfoliate your skin without being harsh and drying.

Origins Clear Improvement Charcoal Mask uses active charcoal to dissolve and draw out the the gunk that's clogging your pores. I find that this one is really effective at getting out those stubborn whiteheads, and I've noticed significant smaller pores every time I use this.

Elemental Herbology Facial Detox is something that I've recently discovered after reading so many good reviews on blogs, and I'm completely in love with it. It's gentle yet effective, and it's just a quick pick-me-up when my skin is looking dull and congested. While the clay helps to decongest the skin, the manuka honey helps to calm and hydrate the skin as well as providing antibacterial benefits. This is a must-have for oily, congested and acne-prone skin!

I've mentioned the King Olive Olive Sebum Care Mask before as my go-to product for getting rid of any blackheads. It is the only thing I found that completely gets rid of my blackheads while also being gentle on my pores, unlike a lot of traditional nose strips which can be harsh and even make your pores larger in the end which leads to the formation of more blackheads. You can get this from sasa.com for around $10.

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