Hello, everyone! I have finally started settling into 2018 and believe it or not, it look me three weeks to do so. Moving has kept me rather preoccupied lately. There are lots of changes happening for me this year, but despite how scared I feel sometimes, I can't wait to start blogging regularly again. It has taken me so much longer than I anticipated, but I have sorted most things out and back into a manageable groove.
My resolution this year is to vlog more to share more of me and my life, which is something many of you have asked for years. Quite frankly, I wasn't ready to share more about myself and open up my private life to judgment and scrutiny from strangers. Let's face it; the internet has become an intimidating place and I simply wasn't brave enough. Time and maturity have changed me for the better, though, so my insecurities never overwhelm me. I'm no longer at odds with who I am.
Although crossfit made me stronger faster and more well-rounded than ever, practicing yoga more regularly in 2017 is what changed my body, my perspective, and my mindset drastically. Sometimes I look back and I feel emotional because of how much I have grown as a human being. The last two years were a struggle for me because I was lost in so many different realms, wandering without direction and without meaningful intent. The stress started to manifest physically, with yo-yo weight gain/loss as well as hormonal acne, which hasn't gone unnoticed by my audience.
Every time I would walk by a mirror, I felt destroyed. I felt so much shame. I stopped looking into mirrors period and only looked at myself when I had to put makeup on or film. But as my dermatologist said, my body and my hormones were changing down to the DNA (every seven years) and it made a traumatic mess of my face. I quit taking pre-workout due to creatine which causes testosterone imbalances, and a combination of birth control with topical treatments like my Epiduo and chemical peels are making a huge difference.
But I am healing inside and out. My skin is so much better, my mental health is so much better, my life is so much better. I've never been so much in tune with my body and I've even made progress towards managing my anxiety. I feel more optimistic than ever. I'm still working on "real" confidence but I'm grateful to have rediscovered myself. Thanks to everyone for being patient and understanding, and I look forward to bringing you totally different types of content this year!
I'm back from my first road trip and feeling more refreshed and motivated than ever! I was feeling stretched to my stress limit so being out in the wild, without the constant distractions of social media, truly lifted my spirits. I was snapvlogging as much of it as I could, though! The lush forests in Oregon, the waterfalls in Canada, the view of the NorCal coast, it was nearly overwhelming in natural untouched beauty. I had to share it!!
So because I've been packing and unpacking a ridiculous amount of times and in general, because I've been trying to sleep earlier, I've kept things minimal. Being short on both time + space over the last couple weeks has taught me I really don't need all that much anyway. My evening essentials do include a couple sensory luxuries, such as my candles and perfume. But the rest of it is straightforward and practical, with a multi-tasking retinol and moisturizer combo that has helped heal my skin so much! I hope you enjoy this video, and let me know if you'd like to see a morning must-haves edition 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!
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.
Today's long post is dedicated to my acne story. Thanks to the magic of genetics and the influence of my skin care-obsessed grandmother, I never had insecurities about my skin and have almost always maintained clear, healthy skin. I never struggled with acne until last year, when I had a severe bout of cystic acne due to facial waxing. Lesson learned: NEVER EVER wax the face! I had waxed my brows successfully via the Benefit Brow Bar, so I figured I might as well wax off the little peach fuzz around my forehead and cheeks. I couldn't have been more wrong. My skin was fine for the first couple months, but then the cystic acne appeared. I immediately stopped waxing, but I suffered from active break-outs for nearly six months thereafter, wave after wave. Please continue reading and check out my product recommendations after the jump!
Some of you may have noticed, but I have been experiencing a bout of acne recently. There are many factors involved (hormones, lack of sleep, not removing makeup before sleeping, etc.), but the bottom line is that I have felt the pressure to resolve it. I have been using the new Clarins Double Serum, which can be found HERE, and it has been deeply hydrating and calming my skin. I demonstrate how I apply the serum to my bare face and discuss in detail the positive effects I have seen in the last week of use in the video below! I know it is working because it is the only skin care I have been using as of late. Hope you have wonderful weekend xo
Also, I will continue to discuss my hot yoga journey. I plan to write up a blog post soon discussing some of the equipment and towels I have been using! Let me know if you have any further questions :)
Makeup Worn:
Clarins Double Serum as base
Cle de Peau Powder Foundation in O20
Le Metier de Beaute PV Concealer in Medium
Cle de Peau Eyebrow Pencil in Natural Black
Tarte Amazonian Clay Bronzer in Park Ave Princess
Stila Sparkle Liquid Liner in Electric
Lancome Hypnose Drama WP Mascara
Dior Addict Lipstick for Spring '13 in Charmante
Chanel Glossimer in Constellation
Nails:
Chanel Sky Line for review
Butter London Slapper and Essie Trophy Wife for application
