This episode is a slightly different take on the standard What's In My Makeup Bag review! Since I change the contents of my beauty bag fairly often, I wanted to create a seasonal Spring/Summer 2015 edit to highlight both trendy and classic products that I'll be keeping on hand for the next several months. I am constantly testing and reviewing the newest releases, but these 10 phenomenal goodies featured below are the best of the best! I am enjoying them so much. I hope you will give them a try, too!
This Favorites episode is launching a little earlier than usual because my twin sister is making a surprise reappearance! We filmed a monolid makeup tutorial a few years ago, but she is finally back and chatting about products instead of sitting in as my model. If you'd like to order the La Mer Skin Tint — which is not widely available online yet — from her Neiman Marcus store in Newport Beach, you can have one shipped to you! It is such a phenomenal tinted sunscreen, smooth and creamy without feeling greasy. Do call her at (949.220.3366) if you'd like to get shade matched. We may film some other hair and beauty tutorials together soon, so please feel free to share any video suggestions! Now, this April lineup is fairly simple and straightforward, covering most of my daily essentials. I'm turning 26 this week, and the older I get, the more I like to keep it simple when I'm not in front of the camera. Beauty is more about grooming and enjoyment v. makeup and glamour as you age (in my experience). Still, there's nothing more exciting than sparkly Tom Ford newness! Hope you enjoy the bloopers xo
Spring is the perfect time to update your skin care wardrobe. I have never tested so many new foundations and skin care products before, ever — which is saying a lot considering how many products I test every quarter — so my complexion has been congested and dehydrated and requires more TLC than usual. I've also been suffering from breakouts on my chin, so today's video will cover all varieties of skin care treatments! Because I am getting older and now fully understand all aspects of the arduous acne struggle, I take skin care very seriously. I never recommend or even feature something that I did not personally try, use, and feel is worth recommending.
Hence, the power players that I will be sharing today are some of the very best in their respective categories. I highly recommend you give them a try! Call my sister Patricia at Neiman Marcus in Newport Beach at 949.220.3366 if you need guidance with La Mer products. She can help you pick products that are suitable for your skin type and concerns, and there is no pressure as she does not work on commission. Plus, there will be a special (non-sponsored) giveaway launching on my Instagram page tonight, so please stop by to check it out!
2014 was undoubtedly the most tumultuous skin care year of my life, but it taught me a lot about the resilience of our body's largest organ. As painful (aka miserable) as my cystic acne experience was, it was incredibly valuable and truly eye-opening. I am constantly working on reducing the minor scarring left behind, but at least I know first-hand what acne products actually do work! I hope my recommendations from my skin journey entry have given you a better idea of what to try first, but today, I wanted to focus on the Best Skin Care discoveries of 2014! Hope you enjoy the lineup and look forward to the makeup edition next week! xo
Skin care is an intimate personal journey. I was raised by a grandmother who used nothing but Shiseido and Lancôme skin care for most of her life, so that is the foundation on which I built my beauty preferences. She started me off with Clinique sunscreen and Shiseido skin care when I was 13. I was blissfully unaware of price at the time, so I used what I was given and that was all I knew. Later on, I learned about skin care layering, and that is when I started experimenting. My skin is sensitive, but it can tolerate a lot of product because I have built up a tolerance over the last six years!
I was genetically blessed with clear skin. I had a couple patches of clogged pores and the occasional hormonal pimple, but my teenage years left me without a single scar. Then came university and plenty of sleepless nights, meaning the introduction of eye cream. I experimented with Shiseido, Lancôme, and random skin care discoveries (like Jurlique and Ole Henrikesen) from Sephora at the time. I was annoyed by a few red patches on my cheeks and broken capillaries around my nose, but if only I knew back then how incredibly lucky I was..
Last year, I endured an unfortunate and very painful bout of severe cystic acne. I had heard from friends and subscribers about how awful acne was, but I never grasped the full impact of the trauma until my own experience. From having nearly flawless skin to pockmarked "pizza face" within six months was mind-boggling and frustrating. As most of you know, I live and breathe beauty, which made me feel even more ashamed about my skin's situation. I did not share my feelings when the acne occurred because ultimately, I had no idea how to open up and talk about it. So, please learn from my mistake: DO NOT WAX YOUR FACIAL PEACH FUZZ. Almost two years, plenty of tears, and thousands of dollars later.. redemption. My skin isn't 100% quite yet, but by July 2015, I truly believe it will be!
If you want to know why I believe SK-II, Cle de Peau, 3LAB, and the rest of these phenomenal skin care products really DO work.. check out my video from July 2013 here, where you can see my acne at its worst. It was even more awful to look at in person and once the healing process started, my face was blue and purple all over. Quite frankly, I couldn't decide whether the active blemishes or the scarring process was more depressing. The bruising was much harder to hide! Either way, it was an unpleasant ordeal and I'm grateful that my acne journey is almost over. I've garnered more skin care knowledge and regained my confidence along the way!
Now, here are some of the most valuable skin care lessons I've learned over the years:
1. WEAR SUNSCREEN (all day, every day).
2. Thoroughly remove every single trace of makeup every night.
3. If you have acne, DO NOT pop your pimples. Go to an aesthetician.
4. Use a serum and/or moisturizer every night, even if you have oily skin.
5. Start using eye cream at 18, if not earlier! Nothing ages a person more than eye wrinkles.
6. Drink at least 6 cups of water daily, and try to clock in at least 7 hours of sleep.
7. Treat yourself to a treatment facial as often as possible. Try micro-needling!
8. If you don't have time or money for professional facials, use a SHEET MASK at least once a week.
9. Exfoliate with a treatment/mask at least two times a week (once if you have very sensitive skin), even if you're using a Clarisonic or Foreo or whatever device is trendiest.
10. Invest in quality skin care. It's not always about the price, but luxury skin care has never failed me. Pick up plenty of samples and experiment to find the best products for your skin!
And as promised, here are more product recommendations based on skin type and skin concern. I know many of my subscribers have oily/combination skin, are suffering from acne, or have super sensitive skin. Please keep in mind that products that work (and have worked) for me may not work as well for you. Again, skin care is personal and all about preference, so keep an open mind and don't give up!
ACNE + BREAK-OUTS:
I used a lot of Juice Beauty during the worst of my acne, and it did seem to help the purging process. I highly recommend the Juice Beauty Green Apple Peel (Full Strength and Blemish) as well as their Clearing Mask and Blemish Clearing Serum. Do not expect overnight results, as purging takes time! Also try Jurlique (natural/herbal) and Ole Henriksen products to calm the skin.
For those targeting the occasional hormonal blemish/break-out, I recommend the SK-II Skin Refining Treatment as a spot treatment. I dab it on morning and evening, and my pimples shrink, slowly but surely! No dryness or flakiness like that which can occur with those popular pink clay treatments. I also use the Refining Treatment to keep my blackheads in check (applied all over the face 2x a week).
Additionally, find a talented aesthetician for facials and extractions to minimize scarring, and keep your daily skin care regimen on the minimal end. Try cleanser, toner, serum, eye cream, and moisturizer. Don't forget your sunscreen in the morning, and try to reapply, as it will go a long way in reducing acne marks! Most importantly, wash your pillow cases and makeup brushes WEEKLY, at the minimum!
OILY + COMBO SKIN:
Although not all alcohol-free products perform well, do stop using products that strip your skin completely dry. Your skin will overcompensate by producing more unwanted oil! Wear a hydrating sunscreen like Eve Lom's and skip moisturizer during the day if you must, but that means you absolutely NEED to use a hydrating serum and/or heavier moisturizer at night.
I highly recommend the products in the Ole Henrikensen 3 Little Wonders Bonus Collection, particularly the Truth Serum and Sheer Transformation Moisturizer. I used OH when I had combination skin and loved it! The brand is fairly affordable and offers plenty of awesome travel-sized kits if you are a skin care junkie and/or afraid to commit to full-size products.
Another must-have is the Lancôme Visionnaire Skin Corrector. I used it when I had combination skin, and it tightened the skin to help my pores look invisible. The pearly effect also makes the skin look smoother, clearer and brighter. I introduced this product to my friends with combination and oily skin, and now all them swear by it!
NORMALIZING SKIN:
As a teen, I had oily skin. During my college years, I had combination skin. Now at 25, I have normal to dry skin. That came about as a result of (simply and inevitably) aging, natural hormonal changes, and good skin care habits. I credit the SK-II Facial Treatment toner with making the most noticeable difference in my oily T-Zone. Since then, I have used it interchangeably with other toners to prevent a plateau, but it still remains my favorite. The lightweight yet powerful 3LAB Super H serum also kept my skin nourished and hydrated, further balancing my skin's condition and sealing in the effects of the SK-II toner.
ANTI-AGING:
When I started my YouTube channel in 2010, lot of women used to give me grief when I explained I first started using eye cream at 18. The truth is, it's all about prevention, and starting early is encouraged nowadays due to environmental factors like sun exposure, pollution, and lifestyle stress! FYI: You don't have to start with a heavy or anti-aging eye cream when you're 18. Try something lightweight and more basic, like the SK-II Facial Treatment-Eye or Fresh Lotus Eye Gel.
ASIA EXCLUSIVES:
Two of my favorite moisturizers, the SK-II Cellumination Day Surge SPF 30 and SK-II Facial Treatment Lotion SPF 15, are only available abroad. If you have a friend that travels often, request these! The CDS is best for dry to combination skin, and the FTL is ideal for normal to oily skin. The Lancôme UV Expert XL-Shield SPF 50 is also a fabulous sunscreen for normal/dry to combination skin.
ULTRA SENSITIVE SKIN:
My beauty blogger buds with incredibly sensitive skin use the SK-II Facial Treatment Repair C serum, in case any of you are looking for a very gentle anti-aging treatment! SK-II skin care is potent, so start with the Repair C just to be safe.
Another month, another haul.. tons of skin care, makeup, and lashes! I included updates on my hair color by Guy Tang as well as my new obsession with leather jackets. Also, I'll include clips from my trip to Beijing in my Favorites video next week for those curious about what I experienced there! Hint: scorpions.
P.S. Today (Nov 19) is the last day of Shu Uemura's best promotion of the year, the VIP Event! Score 25% OFF with code SHUXRAE ♡ My Top 10 Recommendations can be found HERE!
October has been a successful haul month! This episode has a little bit of everything from drugstore skin care to flattering fitness clothing to Chanel Holiday makeup, so I hope you'll appreciate the variety! I tried my best to incorporate only the best and most memorable from my loot. I also wore a couple of pieces from Anna Beck (see above), the new jewelry line I have fallen head over heels for! AB jewelry is beautiful, comfortable, and totally collectible. Rounding out this month's haul, however, is Chanel Holiday 2014 makeup which includes the elusive Reve d'Orient eyeshadow palette and the phenomenal new Rouge Allure Lip Glosses! Hope you enjoy xo
I love toners. Some women think toner is an unnecessary step, but it has always made a world of a difference in my skin's condition. Many cleansers leave my skin feeling parched and others leave traces of makeup behind, so toners have become an essential step in my skin care routine. Toning lotions rebalance the pH levels and prep my skin for treatments. Note: Just keep in mind that toners must be applied with cotton pads to properly remove makeup residue and gently lift away dull or dead skin cells. Now check out the break down of my favorite three toners after the jump!
As many of you are aware by now, I have incredibly sensitive lips. If my lips are not scrubbed and exfoliated at least twice a week, they will crack, dry, and/or peel. This means I am extremely particular about which lip colors, and more importantly, which lip balms I use. In the past six months, I have expanded my horizons and tried just about every popular and praised lip balm on the market. I will be sharing the most memorable ten here in this post. Check out my favorites after the jump!
