My Daily Skincare Routine

My Simple Skin Routine

Many people have told me I have nice skin.  My skin is pretty normal.  For most of my life, I've found that my skin was better when left alone. I've always used cleanser specifically designed for faces, and occasionally used lotion, but that's about it!  Using fancy masks, scrubs, or deep cleansers irritated my skin or made it oily, and indulging in moisturizer gave me pimples.  Now that I'm older, I've started to care for my skin more.  So while my routine might seem pretty basic compared to all the skincare enthusiasts out there, its actually much more involved that it used to be!

Up & Up Deep Cleanser Cream

This is actually the Target store brand version of Noxzema.  When I was a preteen, Noxzema used to give out a lot of free samples.  I liked the cool tingly feeling, so I used it on and off into my teens.  The last time I needed face wash, this was cheap and I was feeling nostalgic.

Missha Super Aqua Marine Forest Toner and Emulsion

I got this set while in Korea.  It came with the full size toner and moisturizer, and also a travel size of each one, which is very convenient since I travel as much as possible.  I use this set at night after showering.  The toner makes my face feel fresh without drying out my skin, and the lotion is a light water-based formula that keeps my skin from getting dry yet it isn't too heavy or greasy for my easily annoyed skin.  Its perfect for the cold winter months.  I absolutely love this duo!!! 

SkinMedica TNS Eye Repair

At $95 for .5oz...this is the most indulgent skin care item I have ever owned.  I recently bought it because I was concerned about my under eye area and thought I definitely needed to begin caring for it better.  I had researched eye creams, but there are so many out there that it is hard to know what to get. I saw a report on Good Morning America about the skin products that were rated best by dermatologists.  This cream got rave reviews, so I decided to invest in it.  I have been using it for a few weeks now and I do see a big improvement.  The skin under my eyes feels firmer and less puffy.

CVS Oil-Free Eye Makeup Remover

This is pretty basic liquid eye makeup remover.  My sister actually bought this on clearance for 66 cents for the 2 oz bottle!  It works just fine! I usually use the Clinique version of this type of remover.  Previously, I was using a gel eye makeup remover from Missha, but I left it behind in a motel while traveling this summer.

Pond's Morning Refresh Wet Cleansing Towelettes

I picked these up one day at Ross and found them to be really useful.  On those nights when I'm feeling too lazy to take off my makeup before bed, I just use one of these instead.  They are textured so they do a good job of cleaning away any dirt or makeup and they leave your face feeling refreshed and smooth.  I liked them so much I picked them up a second time at Conway.

Nivea A Kiss of Moisture

This is my number one most important beauty item.  If I forget my lip balm, it is gonna be a baaaaaad day!  My lips are incredibly dry and crack easily.  I realized that, sadly, lipglosses make it worse, so I stopped using them altogether about two years ago.  All my life, I have obsessively slathered on lip moisturizers like chapstick or lipsmackers, but they didn't help much.  My best friend introduced me to A Kiss of Moisture and whatever is in this product soothes my lips better than anything I have ever tried! I'm so addicted.  Strangely enough, just this particular variety (the dark blue package) is magic for me.  I have tried various other Nivea "kiss of" products and they just do not have the same results.  I highly recommend this!!!

So, that is my fairly low-maintenance skin regimen.  Are you high-maintenance or do you keep it simple? What's the #1 skin product you can't live without?   

   

   

Big Bang Still Alive tour in NJ

Big Bang Still Alive Tour 2012

On Friday, I headed up to Newark, NJ with a few friends to see Big Bang perform.  Big bang is a really popular Korean pop, or "K-pop," group.  I discovered this band a long time ago. My sister's classmate from beauty school introduced us to their music around 2007, which was before I knew much about Korea.  It was love at first listen for me and I've been a serious fan ever since.  So, I thought I'd share one of their more recent songs that I really love.  It came out about a year or 2 ago, and sounds almost like late 1980's U2.  Hope you enjoy!

And here are some pictures of the show from our nose bleed seats

Nature Republic Botanical Fresh BB Cream Review

My Missha BB cream is officially gone! Oh no! Luckily, I have some new ones that I picked up in Korea last summer.  I will review them as I try them...  

One fine summer day, I set out with my boyfriend on a BB Cream mission in the small city of Cheongju.  I examined various bottles as over-attentive sales girls hovered nearby, bemused at the sight of a clueless foreigner in their shop.  My boyfriend's bad translations of the packaging all sounded like some variation of "made with flowers and essences to enhance charming beauty."  Not at all helpful! OMG, how was I going to choose one?  And why hadn't I done my research before going shopping?  With only a few days left until I returned to the US, I wouldn't have time to shop again before leaving.  I pondered a plan of action.  Most of the BB's I priced were somewhere in the $20 range, but I didn't want take my chances on products I knew nothing about.  Finally, I went with quantity over quality and searched for smaller or less expensive BB's. In the end I bought four bottles from three different stores. 

The first I am trying is the Nature Republic Botanical Fresh BB Cream

This BB was a great deal!  At about 7,000 won full price (roughly $7US), it was already less expensive than most of the other BB creams in Nature Republic, which ran in the $15-$20 range.  On top of that, there was a very good sale going on and many items were marked down.  I got it for only 3,500 won! (about $3.50)  What a steal!

I like this BB cream.  I did not see more than one color option, and this is slightly darker than my previous BB cream but still blends well with my skin.  It has very good coverage, possibly better than my last.  It applies nice and creamy, but it has a more matte finish, which I like.  It gives a fresh look.  Like my other, BB cream, it has a scent.  At first, the scent in BB cream bothered me, but now I like it.  Not that the scents are unpleasant, it was just unusual to me to use a skin makeup that was scented.  However, once I got used to the idea, I actually began to enjoy the scent of BB cream.  Overall, I like this product.  I think it is good for anyone who wants a fair amount of coverage and is not looking for an overly dewy finish.  I scored this BB cream for an amazing price, but it can be found online for about $10, which is still inexpensive for online BB cream.       

   

Feel free to comment and tell us about your favorite BB cream. 

Philly Bargains- 89 Cents Direct

Today I got one compliment after another on my earrings, which made me smile. Little did my friends know, I got them for only 89 cents! That's right, 89 CENTS! So, it inspired me to spread the word about one of my favorite places to hunt bargains, 89 Cents Direct, right here in Philadelphia.

89 Cents Direct is a store that sells inexpensive products imported from China.  They carry just about any type of item you can imagine, and everything is 89 Cents. Unlike DollarTree, you are not going to find much in the way of brand name merchandise at 89 Cents Direct.  However, what I like about the store is that they have a unique selection of products.  Some of the types of products they sell:

• Seasonal Merchandise- Decorations, holiday themed paper plates, Halloween bags, Costumes, Thanksgiving table decorations, Christmas Wrap
• Greeting Cards
• Party Goods
• Helium Balloons  
• Toys
• Food
• Housewares- Dishes, glasses, chopsticks, plastic containers
• Household Items- Cleaning supplies, gloves, aprons, home improvement
• Gift Items-picture frames, vases, knick knacks
• Clothing Items- Caps, bras, flip flops, scarves, hosiery
• Stationary- Stickers, books, coloring books, notebooks, pens, pencils, art supplies
• Hair Products- Shampoo, Styling Products, hair accessories for women and girls
• Personal Care- Soap, deodorant, makeup
• Jewelry- Earrings, rings, bracelets, necklaces, occasionally anklets, toe rings or body jewelry 

89 Cents Direct is located on Roosevelt Boulevard in North East Philadelphia.  It is in the shopping center nearby Target, so I usually check it out whenever I make a trip to Target.  There is also a DollarTree store, ShopRite, and Sally Beauty Supply in the same strip mall.  Because I only search for certain types of items, the 89 Cents store is hit or miss, so I like to stop in when I have another reason to visit the shopping center. 

What do I buy there? 

I stick to the accessories, because they have a fun assortment and it is sooo cheap! 

I especially love the jewelry.  For 89 cents, it is not high quality, of course, but I enjoy wearing fashion costume jewelry.  I just want something cute, trendy, and now, it doesn't need to last. I have seen some of the very same pieces that 89 Cents Direct carries for sale in juniors stores for much higher prices.  So the quality is not necessarily poorer than other retailers. They sell cards of stud earrings containing 9 pairs for 89 cents! That's only ten cents a pair!  Often, they carry large zirconia studs, so I always grab them when I see them.  Last summer, when arms full of bracelets were so hot, I got some really cute ones at 89 Cents Direct. I also got a few really nice long necklaces. I don't use hair accessories too much, but they sometimes have some pretty ones.  Also, I occasionally buy their stationary supplies such as envelopes, stickers, etc.

This is the store.

It is located at 11000 Roosevelt Blvd back in the corner under the World Gym sign.

Here are a few of the items I purchased there.

These are the earrings that many of my friends liked today. They are little silver tone pearl encrusted bows, about as wide as a dime, with a few rhinestones in the center.

  

My long silver owl necklace. I got him quite awhile ago, but I still love him!

A book of Hello Kitty stickers.

 This is a fleece Burberry-esque scarf.  Can't beat that for 89 cents!

A cute little plastic comb and mirror set.

The comb pulls out and it opens to a mirror....and these random Chinese ladies!!! Hahaha...I think its showing that you can add a picture in there but I left the Chinese ladies because they make me laugh.

This is another mirror compact. It opens to two mirrors inside. It has a cute little doll on the front.

She is one of those moving pictures, her eyes open and close. I saw this very same compact at Joyce Leslie for $3.99.

I hope you enjoyed my introduction to 89 Cents Direct. It is a place I visit regularly hoping to score some good and inexpensive things.  Check it out and see if you find anything!

Click here to visit 89 Cents Direct's Website. 

Do you have any fun shopping stops like this? Share the love, leave a comment below.

Lookbook.nu-Real Fashion

Lookbook.nu is an amazing style resource!

How it works:

I stumbled upon lookbook.nu while searching fashion online.  It is a site where users can post their looks of the day. Anyone can browse the looks posted to the site.  You can choose whether you want to view guys, girls, or both.  If you belong to the lookbook.nu community you can also comment on looks or give them "hype," which is a rating system lookbook.nu uses to rank looks by popularity.  There are a few ways to browse the site:

• Hot looks are ordered by a combination of newness and "hype." 
• New looks are posted newest first, but there is also something called a "Karma filter" which you can use to show only members who regularly contribute to the community, or you can turn off the filter to see looks posted by any member, including newbies.  
• Top styles have the most "hype" so they are the best rated looks on the site.
• Leaders is a tab that you can use to view the top contributors from the past day,week, month, or of all time.

Why Lookbook.nu is so awesome:

Lookbook.nu features "real" fashion.  Ok, granted, most of the top contributors are somehow related to the fashion industry...Many times they are fashion retailers, merchandisers, students, bloggers, artists, wannabe models or photographers.  However, that is what makes lookbook.nu so amazing.  The photographs are usually stunning and professional quality, the people are generally very attractive, and the fashion is up-to-the-second.  No fashion magazine delivers such a variety of fashion perspectives at once.  And since someone is always contributing, the looks are endless and the styles are fresher than just about anywhere else.  Browsing the page, you can easily pick up on the hottest trends of the moment.  I usually take some time to flip through lookbook.nu each day and bask in all the fashion goodness!   

Here is a sampling of some of the styles posted today:

(all photos are from taken from lookbook.nu)

This is a video compilation of various lookbook looks, it is a little old, but still gives a nice view of what lookbook is all about:

So, fellow fashionistas, do you have a go-to fashion source? Please comment and share the love!

Universal Love

Today I would like to share my favorite meditation.  I ordered a CD of guided Zen Buddist Meditations back around 2006, and that is where I first discovered Metta Meditation, which focuses on universal loving kindness.  I have used it ever since, although I won't lie and say I am consistent in my meditation practice.  Still, I can see the impact it has on my thoughts and my mood when I do it.

The first step is to relax, and wish yourself well.  Next, you wish well to someone you love and care about, then you wish well to someone you don't know very well.  The next step is the most difficult, where you wish well to someone you don't like.  Finally, you expand your well wishes until they include the whole world.  It is very calming and makes you feel great!

I love that it is short and simple and something that can easily fit into my busy day.  If you google Metta Meditation or loving kindness meditation, you can find a number of versions and also information regarding the practice.  The video I am including is the one I use.  Since I am on the computer often, I like it being on YouTube rather than the audio track I used to use.  I hope you enjoy and find this beneficial.  I'm interested to know about the meditation, mantras, prayer, or other spiritual practices that are a mainstay in your life. Please comment!

Makeup Essentials

What's in my makeup bag?

These are my makeup must-haves that I use everyday or almost every day.

Missha Signature Wrinkle Filler BB Cream

This was my first ever BB cream. I bought it a year ago in Korea.  It is just about gone now, but it lasted really well considering that  I use it everyday.  I like the medium coverage and smooth application.  It also has a super pretty bottle, and a slight scent. I didn't like the idea of scented face makeup at first but it has grown on me.

MAC Studio Finish Concealer

This is a creamy concealer with good coverage.

                           

Clinique Perfecly Real Compact Makeup

I love the clean and basic feel of this compact.  It is like a thick and smooth pressed powder.  I use it during the summer because I find that BB cream makes my skin too shiny during the hot summer months.

Missha Under Eye Brightener

I grabbed this at the Missha store in Seoul because it was really inexpensive.  I didn't like it at first but I gave it another try, and I have been using it a lot lately.  It covers dark circles pretty well (although not as well as my MAC concealer) and it gives a brightening effect.

L'oreal True Match Blush in Innocent Flush

This is the only blush I own, but it is a very sweet, light, and natural color that doesn't overwhelm my pale skin.

MAC Mineralize Eyeshadow in Family Silver

I've had this shadow for quite a long time. It is worn down to one little strip where the two colors meet in the middle. 

I've worn shimmery whitish beige colors like this since I was a teenager because its a perfect everyday shade that adds a little polish to my look without a lot of color or smokiness.  It really opens up your eyes. 

Mac Travel Compact Kit-Warm

I like this palette because it has some of the fun colors I wear often.  The coral, mauve, olive green, and gold colors really flatter my light golden brown eyes.  The lightest color is another one of those shimmery light colors that I so adore...so that one is all gone!  I use the dark brown to shadow the corners of my eyes almost every day, unless I want a smokier look and opt for black.

Clinique High Impact Mascara

This mascara doesn't wow me, but it is what I'm currently using. I always have some random black mascara in my bag...I like some more than others, but I'm not picky.  You can't go wrong with Clinique.

Estee Lauder Eyepencil in Soft Smudge Black

Black eyeliner is my most essential and dramatic makeup tool.  All the rest of my makeup is light and subtle, but I wear lined eyes, and it really makes a difference.  When I'm spotted not wearing makeup people always say, "Wow your eyes look tired!" due to my lack of liner. I like this liner because it works well to create either a heavier line or a smudgy smokier effect.

Urban Decay Naked Palette

I was looking to invest in a good palette so I read a lot of reviews and watched a lot of makeup gurus on YouTube and there was one name that stood out: The Naked Palette.  I fell in love as soon as I saw it. Every single color is one that I would wear regularly.  There is also a Naked II-and it is amazing too- but I went with the original. I love this palette and use it every day! I bought mine on Sephora.com for about $50. It also comes with a shadow primer.

Here is a video comparison of the Naked and Naked II palettes:

So these are my must haves. What is your favorite makeup product and why?