Tony Moly Product Review

Hello!

I've been obsessed with korean beauty products lately and just really trying to learn a bit about everything, the brands, the ingredients, the results they have, so as soon as I stepped into Sephora and saw that big shelf saying Tony Moly, I knew I would be dropping a few bucks that day. If you have any knowledge at all about the korean beauty industry you'll know that this is one of the biggest brands in the game, especially known for the extremely cute packaging. At the time, the ladies at Sephora were putting up the first stock of products so they didn't have as many things as they'll have in a couple of weeks, but I'm impatient and had to get anything as soon as I laid eyes on them. And thus I ended up leaving with only two products although I keep checking on my local Sephora to see if there's anything new (I really want to try some of their HydroGel Masks!). 

The first thing on that Tony Moly stand were eggs. Yeah, eggs! Or rather, facial masks with this cutesy packaging. I was intrigued, and chose this one from the Egg Pore line. This mask in particular focuses on pores and blackheads, although the others focus on pores too, they're more suited for people with larger pores, which I don't really have. 

So, getting into the product itself, when you screw the top you have this little container with an orange lid to mimic the inside of an egg. The smell is absolutely gorgeous, it almost makes me want to eat it. It's sort of citric-y without being overbearing, which I appreciate. The consistency is not that thick, it's more like jello, and it has little yellow-y beads that are meant to exfoliate. The first time I tried it, it worked wonders, I kid you not! You're supposed to put a layer of the product on your problem areas which for me is on the nose basically, and rub it gently into your skin for 2-3 minutes until the product turns into a more opaque white colour, and then simply wash it off with lukewarm water. The day after I used this I was constantly reaching for my boyfriend's hands so he could feel how soft my nose felt, because this thing unclogged all of the nastiness that may have been hidden. If you have concerns regarding large pores or blackheads, this line will work wonders for you, and it is fairly cheap (8 to 10 euros if I remember correctly) for the amount of product and the wonders it works!

 And next we have this. Isn't this. The cutest. Eye cream. Ever? I have been on a long search for a good eye cream for a while now, and I know I'm young but since I wear makeup a lot (now less than I used to because honestly I prefer to sleep in the morning rather than waking up half an hour early to beat my face), and eye makeup too, so I tend to tug at my eye area more than what a person would normally, and my eyes tend to look a bit puffy in the morning so I was searching for something that would help. For someone as young as me, it's a tricky task. There are tons of eye creams out there but 1.) they're super pricey, 2.) they're targeted towards more mature skin, and even if it doesn't say they're for older people, if you're young and use some of them, they may actually cause premature wrinkles since you're packing your skin with stuff that isn't needed. And then Panda's Dream came to the rescue, because honestly pandas look cute with their dark circles, but I don't!
The packaging is obviously a panda, and when you pop the top off, it has a protecting lid which I really really value because then I know the product won't be affected by the environment and won't get in touch with unwanted stuff. You then have to screw the blue stick out and it has a really light fruity scent to it and when it comes in contact with your skin it feels immediately refreshing and cooling so it's perfect to wake you up in the morning, and it also feels like it's hydrating the very thin skin around the eye without feeling greasy or too thick like those old people eye creams sometimes feel like. It cost me around 11 euros which is a fair price for the product if you ask me! As soon as I incorporated the product into my skincare regime, I noticed that my eyes have been looking less puffy and brighter which was what I was looking for!

All in all I must say I'm in love with these two products and am really looking forward to trying more from this brand. They also have the cutest lip balms and hand creams which are always a handy thing to have around in case you're not interested in anything to add to your skincare routine!

● Inês ●

Does Oily Skin Need Moisturizing? | Skincare Week

Hello!

As our Skincare Week is ending, today I wanted to talk about one of the most essential steps in a good skincare routine which is moisturizing. Moisturizers are a key product for hydrating the skin and locking in the much needed moisture. They also improve the texture of the skin which allows makeup to apply more evenly and allow serums and oils to penetrate more effectively in the skin. One of the biggest misconceptions that maybe our aunties or grandmothers have told us (not in my case, my grandma was also an oily person and she always gave me the best tips) is that if you're oily you don't need to moisturize! Listen, even if you have oily or acne prone skin it is still essential to moisturize as not doing so might actually be contributing to your skin overproducing oil. By moisturizing you're giving your skin a break in overcompensating since it believes it's drier than it is so it overproduces oil to combat that feeling. Moisturizers have tonnes of different benefits like I've listed, and no matter your skin type there is one out there for you. You should opt for a gentle, sulfate free foaming cleanser or cleansing oil and use a light, oil free moisturizer daily in case you're of the oily skin type. I have some recommendations for you, as always, I got you covered:

• Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel
• Shiseido Pureness Moisturizing Gel Cream
• Murad Oil Control Mattifier
• The Body Shop SeaWeed Mattifying Day Cream
• Paula's Choice Skin Recovery Replenishing Moisturizer 
• Neutrogena Oil Free Moisture
• Garnier Essencial Care Daily Moisturizing 
• Clarins UV PlusDay Screen SPF 40

For the best results you will want to rub a pea sized amount of moisturizer in between your fingertips and gently “pat” and “press“ the product over clean skin or on top of a serum. Some of these recommendations are more expensive just because I don't mind paying less for makeup since you can find really great stuff at low prices, but skincare is something in which you shouldn't mind dropping a few more bucks since it is something that is going into your skin and if you want it to be effective obviously you won't find amazing products for just a couple of bucks, or really transforming, life changing products for 4 euros (except if they sheet masks, probably). All in all I hope you got good references for moisturizers to try and never forget that no matter your skin type a moisturizer is an essential step in your skincare routine!

● Inês ●

Skincare Tips | Skincare Week

Hello!

So we've already covered lots of issues in this skincare week but I'd say they apply to more troubled sensitive skin, so what if you already got smooth skin but just want to maintain it and prevent any breakouts? Here are a few tips I use, although you should definitely formulate your own skincare regime depending on your skin type and products that are compatible with it.

Tips:

• Water, water, water. You have to drink water and this is such an important step to having clearer skin! You have to keep it hydrated and happy since you loose water through your breath, perspiration and for other obvious reasons. You should drink at least 2 liters of water everyday but of course this depends on your location and gender.
• You need to take care of your nutrition. I lack in this department sometimes since I love food and sometimes eat stuff that causes pimples. If you incorporate lots of vegetables into your diet your skin will be much healthier than if you were always eating junk food. If you love stuff like chocolate and soda, I'd suggest switching to dark chocolate and carbonated water.
• If you're a makeup wearer, especially if you use it frequently, you absolutely need to take it off as soon as you can. Makeup itself isn't bad for your skin, but if you leave it on for example overnight or if it hasn't been thoroughly removed and cleansed off it might do some damage. So make sure you give your skin a good cleanse and use a toner to regulate the pH balance of your skin each night (although the toner isn't 100% necessary) and you should be all good.
• Also, if you're a makeup wearer, clean your brushes often since makeup sits on them and they also collect dust and other things that can irritate your skin. 
• Clean or switch your pillow cases often, since skin flakes, sweat, dirt and grease from your hair or even hair products gets on it and you don't want that rubbed all over your face while you're trying to get your beauty sleep.
• If you have acne prone skin you should always wash your hands using an anti bacterial soap before doing your skin routine. Remember that your hands get in contact with a lot of dirt throughout the day and you don't want to further irritate the skin.
• If you're doing a clay mask you should steam your face by running hot water and putting your face next to the steam that will come out (not directly as this will obviously burn your face) what this will do is that it'll open your pores which will help the mask to better penetrate the skin and get rid of excess oils and dirt.
• If possible, you should see a dermatologist!

● Inês ●

Hyper Pigmentation | Skincare Week

Hello!

As I've mentioned in a previous post, although my skin has been clearing up, I still suffer from hyper pigmentation which is a common skin condition that causes certain parts of the skin to be darker than others due to excess melanin. Many things can cause your skin to be hyper-pigmented like acne, which was my case. So I’ve come up with this list of a few products, remedies and makeup tips to help in case you suffer from it:


Things that cause hyper-pigmentation:

• Hormonal changes;
• Picking your skin;
• Overexposure to sun;
• Inflammation and skin injuries (this includes acne).

How to prevent hyper-pigmentation:

• Wear sunscreen. I can't stress this enough! Some time ago I saw it as a waste of time and energy, something that I only did when I was at the beach and I thought I didn't even needed because I'm already tan. But the environment can still take its toll on your skin even if you’re not at the beach! Daily sunscreen use has so many benefits such as protecting your skin from free-radicals and environmental pollution, prevent sagging and loose skin (the sun breaks down the elasticity and collagen in the skin), and you guessed it, discoloration and sun spots. So you should wear sunscreen of at least SPF15 but I go a lot higher, the sunscreen I use is SPF50. It doesn’t matter what the weather is, or your skin tone, always wear sunscreen.
• Exfoliate regularly, as discoloration also comes from dead cells on the surface. If you have sensitive skin, I'd say, exfoliate once or maybe twice a week. If you have a different skin type, exfoliate 2-3 times a week. If you have a lot of acne, don't use face scrubs to exfoliate, try using a mild exfoliant.

Products that help hyper-pigmentation:
Kiehl's Clearly Corrective: I will forever rave about this product and recommend it to other people suffering from hyper pigmentation. In just two weeks of incorporating this in my day and night routine I saw major differences. You only need 3 drops of this so it lasts a long long time.
Mario Badescu Vitamin C Serum: This Vitamin C Serum reduces discoloration and brightens skin. It's also formulated with acids that retain the skin's natural moisture and collagen that enhances the skin's elasticity.
Aloe Vera Gel for hyper-pigmentation caused by acne, as I've mentioned in yesterday's post.
Neutrogena Sunscreen SPF 60: For those who need extra protection I've heard great things about this sun screen.
Rentin A-Gel: This definitely clears pigmentation and I've heard is one of the best medicines you can get without going to a dermatologist. It’s low cost, which makes it not as fast acting as the others, so I'd pair it up with other products!


Using makeup to color correct your hyper-pigmentation:

So as you might know I'm pretty much obsessed with makeup which helps me cover up these spots. I'm still very new to color correcting but people who wear makeup have been using this technique to cover up any blemishes or discoloration for ages! When you color correct you’re basically taking your under tones and correcting any blemishes you may have with with those colors. My under tones are peach, if you have darker skin they may be more reddish but you can always check and see which tones work for you. Here’s a chart to find out which colors to use. There are awesome tutorials on youtube that you can search for to find the best products and colours for your skin tone. To finish this post up, I'll leave you with some good colour correcting products:

• NYX corrector concealer palette $12.00
• Kiko Milano natural concealer 5,50 euros;
• MAC prep + prime peach lustre $26.00
• Makeup Forever radiant peach primer $36.00

● Inês ●

Things You Need To Stop Putting In Your Face | Skincare Week

Hello!

I’ve seen lots of posts all around the internet with a lot of misinformation about DIY skincare methods with products that are most often than not really abrasive and just bad for your skin, and the posts are blown out of proportion and I'm sitting here thinking about all the poor souls that might be trying that out while actually making it worse. So here is a list of things you should avoid putting on your skin plus a few better alternatives!

Lemon: I see everyone raving about lemon as a method to get rid of dark marks and oh my gosh... please stop. Lemons are very acidic, so they’ll not only irritate your skin but also disrupt the natural pH balance of your skin. Using lemon on your face may be especially dangerous because there is also something called photo toxicity, which means once your skin makes contact with the sun you could even get a burn.

Sugar: Sugar is very recommended as a good exfoliating method, but sugar scrubs are just too abrasive for your face. It creates tiny tiny lacerations in your skin, disrupts the lipid barrier causing dryness and flakiness. I've seen people with dry skin do sugar scrubs and I pitty them because their skin will only get terribly dry and unhealthy since the destruction of the barrier prolongs the healing process of the skin which obviously defeats the purpose of exfoliating which is having soft skin. 

Toothpaste: I'll admit to have used this method because it was so suggested to me. The idea is using toothpaste as a spot treatment where you have to put it directly on your acne. Toothpaste will actually strip your lipid barrier, the pH in toothpaste also affects yours. Toothpaste also contains lot’s of irritants, like sweeteners for example.

Baking Soda: I literally saw someone I follow on youtube doing this today, I can’t believe people still do this. All the problems I talked about about sugar also applies to baking soda, it’ll affect your pH and then strip your skin of the properties that defend it against bacterial infections.

You should also avoid putting these on your face:

• apple cider vinegar (even if diluted it's too acidic for skin);
• cinnamon;
• denatured alcohol;
• sodium hydroxide;
• sodium lauryl sulfate;
• essential oils like lavender, citrus etc;
• fragrances (called “parfum” in ingredient lists);
• extremely hot water;
• extremely hot steam; 
• basically anything very alkaline or very acidic;

"Okay but I still have problems so what now?" You should consider these alternatives!

• instead of using lemon for dark spots, try aloe vera gel, people have been using it for centuries to treat skin infections, burns, wounds and tons of other skin conditions. Aloe vera has anti-inflammatory properties, as well as helps your spots rid of dead skin, which reduces a lot of your acne scarring;
• instead of sugar or baking soda, try green tea;
• instead of toothpaste, try a clay mask, they always work wonders!

● Inês ●

Treating Body/Back Acne | Skincare Week

Hello!

Today I wanted to talk about body and back acne and ways to treat it. Lot’s of people get pimples on their chests, backs and legs, it is perfectly normal and it’s not incurable but you do need to fight it harder than you would the acne on your face. I have to admit that for a long time I overlooked this issue as something that would eventually go away without taking the right measures! So here’s a list of mostly natural products that you can use to treat your body acne:

Exfoliating: This is the most important step in treating/preventing body acne. You need to exfoliate your body every day, so every time you shower you should be using some sort of exfoliant, be it a loofah or a towel when you dry yourself. These are physichal exfoliants that get rid of dead cells, while chemical exfoliants penetrate the skin which is a less abrasive method, from which most skin types can benefit. If you have dry, normal or oily skin you can try both methods but if you're acne prone you should stick to a chemical exfoliant.

Apple Cider Vinegar: the main cause of most people's body acne is the pH balance, and apple cider vinegar restores it, also killing bacteria and working as a mild exfoliant which is super important.

Avoid tight clothing: Tight clothing is one of the most common irritants for body acne especially if you sweat a lot since it holds sweat and oils against the pores of your skin. You should wear loose-fitting clothes and avoid tight straps from backpacks for example. These straps cause additional friction against your skin which might be sensitive, and once again trap oil and dirt against your pores.

So here are a few products with great agents that I've heard great things about:

• Touch of Renewal by Nivea
• Brown Sugar Body Polish by Fresh
• Clarifying Body Spray from Murad
• Coconut Coffee Scrub from Frank Body
• Raw unrefined African black soap
• Mask of Magnamity from Lush (this is also a facial mask!)

● Inês ●

My Skin Story | Skincare Week

Hello!

My skin and I have had a love/hate relationship ever since I can remember, for me it has always been a battle to get smooth, pretty skin like everyone around me had. 

When you go into your teens every grown up tries to convince you that having pimples is a normal thing at your age and although obviously some of my friends had them it was always that hormonal pimple or the "I ate 3 bars of chocolate by myself" kind of pimple. I had to struggle through very very sensitive, oily/combination skin with cystic acne and back acne for years and years while everyone around me had passed through their pimple phase and now had clear skin. When I say very very sensitive skin I mean... really the most sensitive skin I've ever seen, prone to breakouts, rashes, rosacea. Some products had explosive results on me to the point where it hurt if I laid my face on the pillow, so yeah, extremely sensitive skin. I went to a dermatologist but for years didn't see any results, the issue was always there. If you're acne prone or have cystic acne, you'll relate to my stress, anxiety and frustration with battling with this for so long because even if we're good at self acceptance, it's very difficult to ignore something that it's on our face all the time and not compare ourselves to our friends and acquaintances. It might sound dramatic or "1st world problems" but it's harsh to live in a society where your bombarded with what you should ideally look like and simply not looking like that and never seeing someone with whom you could relate with. 

Finally after years and years of no results (and 113271383 different products later) my dermatologist decided that it was better if I started taking these pills for a special, heavier treatment and my skin has never been better! This pill will first cause your skin to breakout and then dry it completely out, and I mean completely. It was weird on the first weeks of the treatment because since I had oily skin I was accustomed to at the end of the day be a greasy mess and now I get dry patches and flaky skin and even my lips feel a constant need of hydration which never happened, but honestly if this is the minor stuff I have to go through to have better skin, it's worth it, more worth it than years of the oily mess I was. The relief is indescribable, to touch your skin and it to feel smooth and not hurt, and feel confident to go out without any makeup feels like a huge weight has been lifted off me. I had to adapt to this sudden change of my skin type like readjusting my skincare routine and makeup products.

I have learnt to love my skin, even if now it is full of hyper pigmentation from all the breakouts I used to have, and I want everyone that is or has dealt with cystic acne to feel like they're worth it, that eventually it will pass. In this process of getting my skin to a better state, I have also picked up knowledge about skincare and skincare products which is a topic that just like makeup (and they go hand in hand) I'm very passionate about. So I thought of this: for a week, I'll be making posts with tips and recommendations relating to skincare; and why not start things off with sharing my own skin story to let you know that you're not alone in case you're going through what I had to go through, and to just let you know of my current situation. I hope you'll like these week's posts and get something out of them, see you tomorrow!

● Inês ●