What is purging? Myths and truths

Hi, everyone. First off, sorry for my long hiatus from blogging, and I am so sorry if I have ignored your emails and comments. My email account that was associated with this blog has been hacked, and it has taken me this long to recover the email address, and to continue posting. I will try to improve my email security in the future so that this do not happen again. I have attended a few beauty seminars in Korean and Japan, and met with a few renowned skincare experts there. I couldn't stop nagging them with a lot of different questions, and I am bursting to share the new information with you! In addition, I have also tried a lot of new products, some of which are just genius/wonderful, and I really want to share all the reviews with you. 
One of the questions I get asked most often is whether breakouts after initially switching to a new product is "purging, and how long "purging" is supposed to last. I feel that purging is one of the most confusing skincare concepts, and often misused by sales assistants to persuade you to stick with a product that do not work. In this article, I wanted to share a few facts about purging to help you: 1. recognize purging; 2. know when to expect purging; and 3. debunk all the myths of purging. 

Skincare and Beauty Product Expectations

If you are a beauty junkie like me, you have likely tried many many different skincare products in your life time. You have products that you genuinely like, but you may decide to switch when the next new and great things come along, ignoring principles like "If it ain't broken, don't fix it". Sometimes, after spending a lot on the new products, you suddenly discover that it is nothing special, and did not deliver the results it promised, or horror of horrors, it made your skin worse. Do not return, throw away, or generally dispose of that product yet! One question we need to ask ourselves before deciding to give up on another product is: Have I given it enough time to work? In this article, I will answer a few FAQs about using new skincare products, and share the "product trying timelines" I use for each different type of product.

Tubing Mascara Review 6: Too Faced Lash Injection

Hi, I am sorry for not updating for a long time. I had a very stressful week last week, and I got really sick, even breaking out in bunches...everything is all right now. So anyhow, unsatisfied with spending 8 minutes on apply my beloved fiberwig mascara every morning, I picked up the too faced lash injection, another tubing mascara that is rather popular, and promises to give beautiful lashes full of volume and length. Unfortunately, the too faced lash injection is another one in a long line of mascaras that I have tried that did not work for me at all. I tried it for 3 days, and could not continue using even though I try to review products for a full week before reviewing as a rule...

However, I think this mascara may still work for many other people, even better than the fiberwig. Please read on for the full review. 

Arcona lineup introduction and brief review

I have mentioned in a prior post that I have not been using much makeup or trying lots of Korean skincare items, because I have been trying a new skincare line my Korean derm found for me that requires exclusivity. I have received a lot of curious questions from readers about this mysterious skincare line, and even a few concerned advices that tells me exclusivity is merely a marketing ploy. I kept delving the questions, not wanting to reveal what the line I am trying is. Well, today I'm going to tell you what I am using and my thoughts so far (having gone into the program for around a month now).

What is the proper way to wash your face?

Many of you have asked me about acne problems as well as many other skin problems. I actually think that the most important aspect of skincare is not actually the expensive moisturizers or serums, but cleansing. This is because cleansing is the foundation of a good skincare regimen and without it, all the rest of your efforts may tumble. A good cleansing routine keeps your pores unclogged, which prevents acne and lets other products (serums, moisturizers, etc) absorb better.

Tubing Mascara Review 5: Blinc Kiss me Mascara

The Blinc Kiss me Mascara is often said to be the original tubing mascara because blinc invented tubing technology. This mascara has also been said to be one of the formerly best selling mascara in Japan until Fiberwig came out. I don't know if either of those stories are true, but I do know that this is a great mascara for a lot of people (myself not included). In this article, I will give a detailed review of this mascara.

Biore UV Daily Care Gel SPF 28 PA+++

I know winter is generally not the time when people buy a lot of sunscreens, but being a anti-aging junkie, I love sunscreen and use it any time of the year. After loving the Sofina Perfect UV White Protect Sunscreen, I decided to try out some Biore sunscreens. Why? Because Sofina is owned by Kao, and so is Biore, and I thought that the formulations would be pretty similar so that maybe the Biore sunscreens would just be a drugstore version of the Sofina Perfect UV range. Also, I found Biore sunscreens to get high ratings on cosme.net so I thought I'd try some out.
There are five sunscreens in this range, and I decided to try out the one in the green bottle, because this one is relatively cheap at around $15 for 120 ml, perfect for everyday use on my body. And also because the bottle is green and I like the color green. :)
Well, did I like it and was it as good as the Sofina range? Please read on to find out.

The Big Beauty Debate: Is Toner Necessary?

I am sure most of you have heard this debate: is toner really necessary or is it just a big waste of money? I cannot resolve this question since many beauty experts cannot agree on this. However, I can put all the facts in front of you so that next time you are at a beauty counter, you can decide whether to hand your credit card over for that bottle of liquid for yourself. The fact is, toners actually do have many functions, but they are usually used to supplement cleansers and moisturizers. And the cleanser and moisturizers nowadays have become far more developed that their past counterparts, so much so that toners are not necessary with some cleansers and moisturizers.
In this article, I will share with you the several functions of toners, and whether they are still useful today.

Laneige Water Sleeping Pack Review

This is probably one of the most famous Laneige products, having existed for almost five years, and recomended by the famous and beautiful Song Hye Kyo. Many of my readers have been surprised in the past that this is not one of my favorite Laneige products. This is not because the mask is not good quality, but because it does not exactly fit my lifestyle and I cannot find any need for it. Regardless, I kept repurchasing this mask for almost 2 years now. Why? Please read on for my review of this famous night-time mask. 

A review of the Clarisonic and who should get it

For my birthday last year, my hubby wished to impress me with how well he knew me, so he went on my computer and flipped through my browsing history (not exactly legal but oh well). He came across a lot of articles about the Clarisonic, and thought that I must have wanted this fashionable skincare gadget and so got me a pink one.
I had in fact only been interested in the Clarisonic and was trying to convince myself that it was just another extremely overrated gadget. I was deeply surprised to get the real thing and was pleased to actually be able to use it and resolve the mystery around this little gadget that everyone has been raving about.
It turns out that I was never able to tell whether it was pure hyper, and could only understand that this works extremely well for a certain group of people, and is useless or even harmful for others. After a trial period of six month or so, I was glad to give it to one of my aunts when she asked for it.
In this article, I will try to express to you the findings of my research and my experience of using it. I also hope to give you a clear understanding of who (in my opinion) this lovely gadget is appropriate for.

Skin79 Intense Classic Balm SPF 20 PA++

A reader friend reminded me that I haven't reviewed that many BB creams recently, and asked if I have stopped using them. Yes, I have not used BB creams for the last two weeks, but it was because I was trying out a skincare line, which interestingly asked its users to only stick to a few very basic products within the line for the first 4 to 6 weeks of use, and begged that one use no facial makeup (but eyes and brows and lips and blush are okay) for the first 6 weeks, so that you may experience the full effects sooner. I was hooked on this skincare line by my Korean derm, who loves all natural lines with minimum ingredients and no preservatives, and I won't say anything more about this line until I've finished my 6 weeks, and can give you a better idea. :P

Anyhow, that is why I have not used BB creams in two weeks and forgot to review them. However, my suitcase is packed with BB creams I bought in Korea, and this is just another BB cream I could not resist picking up at the skin79 counter. 

To be fair, I was somewhat acquitanted with this BB cream since I bought it from Korea almost a year ago, and planned on using it. However, my young teenage cousin (male) came to visit and was so sick of his acne issue so that no girls would talk to him. He snatched the most masculine looking BB cream on my vanity and used it. He liked it so much that I gave it to him. So this is actually the first time I'm trying this BB cream on myself. 

So enough of my rambling and on to the actual review. :)

My recipes for strawberry yogurt mask--with variations for different skin types

In my last post, I promised to share my recipe of strawberry yogurt mask, which replaced laneige strawberry yogurt pack for me. I am aware that there are many versions of strawberry yogurt masks online, and that it is hard to say that my version is original. So let's just say that this is my version of the recipe that I got from my mother, and later modified after asking my Korean derm for some suggestions. I have made different versions for different skin types as gifts to my cousins and friends, so I will include different recipes for dry skin, oily skin, combo skin and normal skin. However, I myself have only used the recipe for combo skin. All four recipes are considered to be good for acne-prone and sensitive skin types. Please read on for the recipes

Laneige Strawberry Yogurt Pack Review

This is a review for the Laneige Strawberry Yogurt Pack, which I liked to use after the Laneige Strawberry Yogurt Peel. I don't know if the two products work better together, but it has been suggested by the SA every time I bought this product, and I like to use them together because I like to indulge myself in the lovely strawberry scent. The two product combos were my staple for more than 2 years. Like I mentioned before, I have since stopped using the Strawberry Yogurt Peel, and I have also stopped using the Laneige Strawberry Pack with it. However, I continued using the concept of the Strawberry Yogurt Pack because I loved it, only a cheaper and "healthier" version. Hehe, my Korean derm have helped me develop a homemade recipe for this strawberry yogurt pack, with different variations for different skin types, and I wish to share it with you in my next article. This article will be a review of the Laneige Strawberry Yogurt Pack.

Laneige Strawberry Yogurt Peel Review

I don't know how I could have forgot to review this gem until a reader asked me if I had tried it. The Laneige Strawberry Yogurt Peel is a chemical peeling exfoliator that takes off the top layer of your skin with chemical enzymes, most of which were claimed to be fruit enzymes. Thus it is supposed to exfoliate your skin very gently, much more gently than physical scrubs and chemical peels (which usually gives a burning sensation, which this does not).
However, despite my love for this product, I actually no longer use it, and have replaced my exfoliator with the Cure Aqua Natural Gel. In this article, I will review this product and explain I have switched. :)

Sofina Perfect UV White Protect Review

About two months ago, I bought this sunscreen in Japan because I was going to the beach for a 7 day vacation. I normally wouldn't have defected from my beloved Laneige sunscreen and sunscreen powder, but then I rationalized that since I was in Japan and Laneige products were hard to come by there, and the Sofina Perfect UV line has such a wonderful rating, why not? In fact, I had been dying to find some excuse to try the Sofina Perfect UV Lucent, but couldn't find any till now :P

Anyway, a little brief about the Sofina Perfect UV lineup. This line has actually existed for about five years, and they changed the name of the line about two to three years ago to Perfect UV. The line has three products, all of which has SPF 50 PA+++:

1. Sofina Perfect UV Lucent--supposedly the most original sunscreen in the line

2. Sofina Perfect UV Nuance Up--the sunscreen is supposed to provide a makeup effect besides providing the sunscreen abilities

3. Sofina Perfect UV White Protect--this sunscreen should provide whitening effects and offer the maximum protection. It was said to fade freckles and be very water proof.

The former two products were discontinued last summer, leaving only the White Protect. I was not sure whether I would have chosen the Lucent or the White Protect if they had both been available, since minimalist and maximum protection both sounded extremely appealing to me.

However, I tried out all three at the counter, and am glad to say that I would have picked the White Protect anyway. :) In this article, I will mainly review the White Protect, and very briefly review the other two sunscreens since all three are very similar, with only slight differences. 

Merry Christmas and an update!

Hi, I am so sorry I haven't been updating my blog that much recently...Yes, I'm stuck in Korea for the Holiday season, but luckily my hubby was flown over by my company. I miss my family and friends back home, but it is a nice experience spending Christmas and New Year with a loved one in Korea. There are so many festivities and special events in the beauty industry there!
My old computer, macbook pro was broken while typing up a report (it probably burnt out after I used it for 36 hours non-stop), so I had to wait for hubby to bring my new macbook air (a.k.a. my Christmas present)... :) That was why I couldn't update for weeks. I'm finishing up the report even now as we speak, and hopefully, will get some new product reviews up before the new year. There are so much I want to review:
1. Sofina Perfect UV White Protect
2. Laneige Strawberry Yogurt Peel
3. Laneige Strawberry Yogurt Pack
4. Laniege Water Sleeping Pack
5. Laneige Multiberry Yogurt Peel
6. Laneige Multiberry Yogurt Pack

I also wanted to write an article on antioxidants, what to look for in serums if you do decide to use antioxidants on your face (as opposed to eating it), and how to apply the serums.
Lastly, I wanted to wish you all a Merry Christmas! I'll wish you Happy New Year in my next product review :)

CURE Natural Aqua Gel

Today I am reviewing an skincare item called Cure natural aqua gel. This is a very popular exfoliator sold in Japan. I think the official record is that a bottle is sold every 20 seconds, which is pretty good (not  as impressive as those classic American products like a certain maybelline mascara, but you have to consider to size of Japan and the fact that this is only officially sold in a few parts of Asia). This is supposed to be a very special product because exfoliators are usually a little harsh (either containing acid meant to burn off the top layer of skin or small particles meant to scrub down the top layer of skin), and this one is very gentle, containing 90% water content. I have to say this is very similar to Laneige's Strawberry Peel, which I will review soon.

Son Bahyu Horse Oil Review

I recently got a comment from a reader that a product I really love doesn't have a good ingredient list and even have some ingredients she termed "poison". I would like to thank her for this comment because it has reminded me to review some of the "all natural" skincare items that I have been using, and surprisingly like.
First off, I should say that I have tried to go all natural in terms of skincare for a long time. I dread the "potentially carcinogens" in ingredient lists, but I rarely stick to any item of natural skincare, since they do not work for me that well. They are usually pretty irritating and make me breakout. However, every now and then, I still cannot resist the temptation of all natural, guilt free skincare. This horse oil is one of those products I found in those endeavors. If there is a lot of interest, I will gradually review the 22 kinds of oil I have tried to use on my skin. :)

Sofina Jenne Milky Cleanser Review

This cleanser is advised to be used in the mornings and at night following Sofina Jenne's cleansing oil/makeup remover. I got this in Japan along with the rest of Sofina Jenne's lineup. To be honest, I wasn't sure I would like the cleanser since my current cleansers function well enough. But I like to use all the products of a lineup to satisfy my perfectionism/compulsion, so I got it anyway. I had to say I'm not sorry.

Sofina Jenne Makeup Remover Review

This is a review for Sofina Jenne's "makeup remover". I found the name bit misleading because the first thing that comes to mind is a makeup remover for lips and eyes. However, this is actually something like a cleansing oil, for your face, though it doesn't act exactly like a cleansing oil.
A cleansing oil is basically oil with a bunch of emulsifiers mixed in so that the oil binds with water when you splash water on your face, which makes it easier when you rinse it off. This is a bit different. This has oil ingredients in it, but when applied on your face, it doesn't have a greasy feeling, and can actually be rinsed off without emulsifying, even though I still always follow with their cleanser. Did I like this better than regular cleansing oils?
Well, I don't like most cleansing oils in general, but I can use this...