Danahan Eco Pure Aloe Cleansing Oil Review

This cleansing oil comes from a relatively obscure Korean brand called Danahan. Ecopure is its organic skincare line made with pure natural ingredients and supposedly contains no paraben, no alcohol, no artificial pigment, no benzophenone, and no mineral oil. Sounds good! I bought it a local Japanese market but it is available from online sellers as well.

It comes in a 200 ml plastic bottle with a simple green design and a really convenient pump. 

The consistency of this oil is slightly different from the other oils that I have used: it is less thick and does not resemble cooking oils at all.

If you can see, it is pretty watery and ran down my hand immediately.

The oil needs to be massaged on a dry face with dry hands for a few moments, then water needs to be added to emulsify the oil and create lather. The oil picks up all the dirt, make-up and impurities from the skin and can be washed off really easily. It does not leave any trace on the skin. It generally does a really good job cleaning make-up off without stripping the skin's natural oils. I wear quite a bit of product during the day including a sun block, BB cream, concealer, powder and sometimes foundation.  This oil removes it all! I follow it up with a foam cleanser and I feel like my face is squeaky clean afterwards. I also feel since I started using it my skin  has become brighter and less prone to break outs.

But the best part of this oil is its smell! I usually don't care about smells because I just perceive them as artificial additives with no redeeming value, but this product smells so fresh and tasty that I look forward to using it every night. 

Honestly, I know if feels weird using oils on oily skin, but they are the best at cleaning your face. If you wear sun block, BB cream, foundation and such, normal cleanser is not enough! I found that out the hard way. Cleansing oils are perfect for all skin types and once you start using them, there is no going back.

I generally do not believe in spending money on cleansers considering that they get washed off, so I was happy to purchase this product for only $13. It is definitely money worth spent!

OVERALL: Highly recommended. Inexpensive and gets the job done.

Japanese Market Cosmetics Haul (San Diego)

After trying out some Korean cosmetics I have been slightly (a lot, actually) obsessed with Korean beauty products. I have been buying all my products online which can be really inconvenient because of the waiting time. I finally decided to find a store here, in San Diego, which might sell some Korean and Japanese beauty items. Luckily, there are several good stores here, some high-end, some drugstore quality, which can satisfy anybody's needs. My last trip I bought a whole bunch of products at a Japanese store called Marukai Living.

The store has a variety of drugstore Japanese and Korean make-up and cosmetics. It is very entertaining to go there as the selection is so vast that I can sometimes spend 10 minutes staring at one shelf trying to make a choice. 

While I do believe in spending some money on make-up and high-quality sunblock and serums, I think cleansing products do not require a big investment. This haul mostly involved me buying cleansers, my favorite mask and  coconut oil (amazing!).

Here is a list of what I got:

1. Now European Clay Powder (one of the stars of my skincare routine and my favorite mask!) I reviewed it here.

2. Now Coconut Oil (to use for hair growth).

3. Shiseido Perfect Whip Foam (got great reviews as a foaming cleanser).

4. Xai Phyto Collagen Peeling Gel (rice powder exfoliating gel).

5. Ecopure Aloe Cleansing Oil (trying out a new cleansing oil).

6. Deve Moisture Whip Facial Wash (another Japanese drug store foaming cleansing).

All these items were very cheap compared to going to Sephora and having already tried all of them I think they are of similar quality to Westerns brands or may be even better.

Naruko Tea Tree Oil Out Targeted Treatment Review

Long time, no see, readers! I have been busy working and trying new products to make sure I gave them enough time to work. In the meantime, I used up almost a whole bottle of Naruko Tea Tree Oil Out Targeted Treatment, an acne spot treatment from my favorite Taiwanese brand, Naruko.  I love Naruko products because they are cheap, natural and effective.

This spot treatment has been a mild disappointment though. Ok, I am not going to get ahead of myself, but will review the product properly. 

I ordered it from Naruko US website and it arrived very promptly. I really recommend getting Naruko products from their official website. It comes in a small, 30 ml, glass bottle that looks very medicinal. 

This spot treatment contains 2% salicylic acid and sulfur, Snow Fungus Extract, Calamine Extract, and the exclusively patented Phytoferulin® Complex to restore the skin’s moisture level, to refine pores, and to protect the skin from harmful environmental elements. 

The treatment is of a liquid texture with pinkish suspended powder that needs to be shaken before use. The bottle is very convenient to use as it has a nice dropper allowing a perfect amount of product to be distributed.

I used this treatment on affected areas after my toner but before the serum in the evening. It causes a slight cooling and minty sensation, but after a few seconds the feelings subsides.

After using it for a few months I have come to the conclusion that I will not be repurchasing.  I definitely made me feel good psychologically that I was treating my skin and doing due diligence, but in reality I do not think it makes any difference. It definitely did not work over night and I certainly did not notice any improvement in terms of the speed of heeling.

I am coming to the conclusion that spot treatments do not really work (or at least I have not found one that does) and the best way to have good skin is to cleanse thoroughly and moisturize while using good overnight cream with active ingredients. Disappointment, I know, especially because I love Naruko in general.

OVERALL: Not recommended. Did not make any difference.

Ingredients (from Naruko USA website):

Active Ingredients:
Salicylic Acid 2%, Sulfur 0.025%

Other Ingredients:

Purified Water (Aqua), Phytoferulin® Extract [Kalanchoe Spathulata Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract, Alpine Skullcap (Scutellaria Alpina) Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Masterwort (Peucedanum Ostruthium) Leaf Extract, Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract, Alps Wormwood (Artemisia Umbelliformis) Extract, Leontopodium Alpinum Extract, Alpine Willowherb (Epilobium Fleischeri) Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Chamolmilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract, Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea) Leaf Extract], Snow Fungus (Tremella Fuciformis) Extract, Allantoin, Panthenol, Witch Hazel (Hammamelis Virginiana) Extract, Butylene Glycol, Menthol, Calamine, Zinc Oxide, Zinc PCA, Ethyl Alcohol, PEG-7 Olivate, Camphor, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Methylisothiazolinone, Phenoxyethanol, Iodopropynyl, Butylcarbamate, Essential Oils of Tea Tree (Melaleuca Alternifolia), Orange (Citrus Nobilis), Spearmint (Mentha Viridis), Lemon (Citrus Limonum), Lime (Citrus Aurantifolia), Peppermint (Mentha Piperita), Grapefruit (Citrus Paradise), Niaouli (Melaleuca Viridiflora)

Etude House Darling Cream Review

This Darling Cream is quite special! It contains the latest craze in skin care - snail slime extract. It may sound weird, but it is perfectly safe and no snails are harmed in the process of making it. The extract is not made out of snails, but instead of a sticky slimy trail that they leave when they crawl around. Snail slime prevents a snail from being injured when it crawls over sharp surfaces because it has regenerating properties. There is some scientific research regarding effectiveness of snail slime in treating burns and wounds, and general word of mouth among beauty bloggers indicates that snail creams work quite well, sometimes even miraculously.

So what does it do? Snails creams are touted as being able to stimulate collagen, moisturize, and most importantly, heal acne and reduce post-acne hyper-pigmentation and red marks. They are an all-in-one type of product targeting various issues. My particular concern is acne and red marks. I am less concerned with wrinkles for now, as I have been using sunblock over the years and the sun has been kind to my skin.

For my starter snail cream I chose this Etude House Darling Cream, pretty much on a whim. I ordered it from Pretty and Cute, a Korean skincare store here in the US (not affiliated.) I can definitely recommend this store as it has a good selection of products and fair prices.  I have not read reviews prior to purchasing this cream, so I am not sure what other bloggers think about it.

Etude House is famous for its cute packaging and inexpensive products. This cream comes in paper box containing a 50 ml glass jar and a spatula for hygienic application.

This cream contains 73% snail slime extract and looks and feels like a normal night cream: white and thick.

I use this cream at night as the last step of my routine. It goes on smoothly and is absorbed pretty quickly. I do not use it every day, but alternate it with my AHA night cream. I have been recommended the AHA cream by my cosmetologist against acne, but I do not think that it is that great on its own. I have seen a considerable improvement in my skin over the last three months which I attribute to my new complex routine and constant moisturizing, including the addition of the snail cream.

I can attest that this cream does not cause any breakouts. When I wake up in the morning, my skin feels tight and the redness is always subsided. Sometimes I still get slight inflammation, which this cream keeps under control. Since I have not been using it every day, I cannot say that it is miraculous in clearing acne or whitening your skin, but it is definitely good as a moisturizer for oily, acne-prone skin.

OVERALL: Highly recommended for oily skin. Good moisturizer and does not cause breakouts.

Ingredients: Snail Secret Filtrate, Glycerin, Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olfefin), Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Betaine, Stearyl Dimethicone Ulmus, Davidian Root Extract, Amaranthus Caudatus Seed Extract, Prunus armeniaca (Apricot) Kernel Oil, Piper Methysticum Leaf/Root/Stem Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glycyprhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Soluble Collagen, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Paeonia Lactiflora Root Extract, Cnidium Officnale Root Extract, Pueraria Thunbergiana Root Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Hydrogenated Lcithin, Polysorbate 20, Sodium polyacrylate, Trideceth-6, PEG/PPG-18/18 Dimethicone, Cetyl Alcohol, Caprlyl Glycol, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Water, Xanthan Gum, Butylene Glycol, Panthenol, Folic Acid, Ceramide 3, Cholesterol, Raffinose, Tromethamine, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Fragrance

Kose Seikisho Mask White Review

My search for new masks continues: I tried clay masks, cream masks, sheet masks; now it's time for peel-off masks. Specifically, black peel-off masks popular in Asia. They are supposed to be good for cleaning pores and keeping your face exfoliated. They are not as absorbent as clay masks, but act more like glue that adheres to skin and peels off dirt, dead skin cells and other unpleasantness. After some research I chose this Japanese black peel-off mask which is ironically called Mask White: Seikisho Mask White from Kose-USA.

The mask comes in a luxurious 75 ml packaging with clear directions in the back.

 

The mask is charcoal black in color and is of a slightly thick consistency. 

It feels very gooey and can be messy if one is not careful. I apply it with one finger around my t-zone: forehead, nose and chin. My goal with this mask is to dry out my t-zone which can get a little oily and to clear the pores. I try to apply it in consistent thickness making sure it dries properly. I apply it on a clean face, prior to a toner. If I have time I will start with exfoliating in the shower, followed by this mask. If you want to be extra fancy you can finish with a sheet mask or a cream mask depending on your skin type. I use the mask once a week, but you can use it more often.

The instructions say to wait for 20 minutes, but I never actually mark the time. I go read a book before bed or do something else, and wait until the mask is completely dry. If it is not dry completely it is not going to come off easily. While it dries it becomes rather uncomfortable because it tightens your skin, but nothing too terrible.

Now, I heard some horror stories that this mask rips off hairs and is extremely painful to remove, but I personally never experienced that. I guess my pain threshold is very high! However, I would advise to avoid the area around eyebrows or anywhere you don't want to rip out hair. This mask is very adhesive and does feel like a band-aid being ripped off. 

My skin has seen remarkable improvement recently because of my crazy extensive routine, so I am not able to determine if this mask made a significant difference, even after a couple of months of use. My face does feel cleaner right after use and I feel with continuous use it will improve even further. On the plus side, the mask is a lot of fun to use and would be an interesting addition to anyone's routine; on the opposite side, it is expensive showing no amazing benefit right away. I think for my next peel-off mask I will try this Shills Black Mask which seems to provide the same benefit but is much cheaper.

OVERALL: Recommended if you want to try something new. Good for oily skin. Expensive for what it is.

Ingredients: Water (Aqua), Polyvinyl Alcohol, Alcohol, Ascorbyl Glucoside, PPG 10 Methyl Glucose Ether, Titanium Dioxide, Angelica Acutiloba Root Extract, Artemisia Capillaris Flower Extract, Coix Lacryma Jobi Mayuen Seed Extract (Job's Tears), Coptis Japonica Root Extract, Paeonia Suffruticosa Root Extract, Bentonite (CI 77004), Butylene Glycol, Citric Acid, Diethylhexyl Sodium Sulfosuccinate, Dipropylene Glycol, Disodium Phosphate, Polyglyceryl 10 Laurate, Polyglyceryl 10 Pentaoleate, Silica, Sodium Hydroxide, Methylparaben, Phenoxyethanol, Fragrance (Parfum) (Parfum)

Chanel Inimitable Waterproof Mascara #37 Review

It has been a while since I posted here, mostly because I was in the process of looking for a new place/moving/going camping: all glamorous and amazing activities (sarcasm). I finally have free time to post about my new finds! My recent obsession is colorful makeup. I am not talking about purple or green; I am talking about bright neon colors for eyes and lips. My obsession started last year when I started going to music festivals and figuring out that expressing myself was a lot of fun. Coincidentally, neon colors are very trendy right now, so I generally feel like a kid in a candy store when I go shopping for makeup. My newest find is this Limited Edition Chanel Inimitable Waterproof Mascara #37.  It is an amazing waterproof mascara which comes in four different rainbow-hued colors. I chose this lime light color, but if it were up to me I would buy all of them. 

It comes in a sturdy and heavy container common for French cosmetics. It is a nice addition to your makeup bag if you care how your makeup looks.

The color is bright bright turquoise and looks very pretty even right out of the container.

My eyelashes are not amazing, so I need all the help I can get from a mascara. My requirements are good smooth application and its ability to give excellent length and volume without clumping (high standards, I know). I believe that the stakes are even higher if the mascara is of an unusual color: it needs to cover my dark lashes well while not weighing them down.

Now, the question is does this mascara deliver? YES! It works best if I use a white eyelash base like this one from Lancome. (review coming later.) Since my eyelashes are dark the mascara goes on easier if the white base color is used first. It does require several swipes of the wand to reach full coverage, but if you just want to use it on the ends for less dramatic effect, one time is enough. 

Now, I intended to use it for festivals and such, but after trying it a few times I wear it casually when I am out and about. It looks very festive and summery. You won't guess how many compliments I get when I wear this! People ask me where I got it all the time. 

Last point: I wore this mascara to a pool and a hot tub, and it stayed put the whole time: no running or smudging. 

OVERALL: Highly recommended! Easy application and stunning result.

Naruko Taiwan Magnolia Brightening and Firming Vitamin K Eye Cream EX Review

For a while I did not use an eye cream because I read Paula Begoun's article that they are not needed. Recently I have come to the conclusion that eye creams are indeed important, especially if your facial skin is oily. Generally, the skin around your eyes is much dryer and thinner than the skin on your face, so you don't want to use the same moisturizer formulated for oily skin around your eyes. You definitely need something richer and more nourishing, especially if you are older than 30. Being obsessed with Naruko cosmetics (seriously, try them), I chose their Taiwan Magnolia Brightening and Firming Vitamin K Eye Cream EX. It promises to "remove dullness, slackness and dry fine lines."

It comes in a 15 mg long plastic tube which is pretty hygienic. The amount is small, but I use so little that I think it's going to last a long time.

The consistency is light-weight, not heavy or rich at all. There is a light pleasant smell, nothing too strong. Upon application it is absorbed almost immediately which comes handy in the morning if you need to apply makeup after it. You are supposed to apply it twice a day, following with an eye night treatment in the evening. The instructions also suggest eye massage that is supposed to prevent circles under your eyes and generally protect from aging.

I follow Naruko's instructions religiously, including the massage, and I have to say it pays off. I don't really see any reduction in fine lines (you can't really get rid of them unless you are using Retinol), but the skin under my eyes feels moisturized all the time. My problem is under eye circles and puffiness (not sure what they are caused by), but I look less tired after I started using this cream. May be it is my imagination, but my skin looks brighter and tighter.

OVERALL: Highly recommended. I believe it has a brightening effect while keeping the under eye skin moisturized.

Ingredients: Purified Water (Aqua), Trioctanoin, Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate, Propanediol, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Niacinamide, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter), Cetearyl Alcohol, Tranexamic Acid, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Phytosteryl/Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate, C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside, C14-C22 Alcohol, Daucus Carota Sativa (Carrot) Extract, Magnolia Officinalis Bark Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Bisabolol, Phenoxyethanol, Dimethicone, Plantago Major Seed Extract, Taiwan Magnolia Grandiflora (Michelia Alba) Flower Water, Xanthan Gum, Arbutin, Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Magnolia Grandiflora (Michelia Alba) Leaf Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Phytoferulin® Extract [Kalanchoe Spathulata Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract, Alpine Skullcap (Scutellaria Alpina) Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Masterwort (Peucedanum Ostruthium) Leaf Extract, Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract, Alps Wormwood (Artemisia Umbelliformis) Extract, Leontopodium Alpinum Extract, Alpine Willowherb (Epilobium Fleischeri) Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Chamolmilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract, Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea) Leaf Extract], Cyathea Cumingil Leaf Extract, Argania Spinosa Kernel Extract, Carnosine, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Hesperidin Methyl Chalcone, Methylisothiazolinone, Solidago Virgaurea (Goldenrod) Extract, Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Dipeptide-2, Phytonadione Carbomer, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7

Lioele Bee My Honey Sleeping Pack Review

My blogging has been interrupted by apartment searching, which is almost a full time job here, in San Diego. But, finally, we found a new apartment and I am back to business!

This review is for Lioele Bee My Honey Sleeping Pack which I bought online at Pretty and Cute. Lioele is a low-end Korean brand available online.

Sleeping packs or sleeping masks are not really popular here in the States yet, but from what I gather they are a new cool thing in Asia. They are pretty much masks that you are supposed to put on your face in the evening, keep them on while you sleep and then wash off in the morning. They have a multitude of great qualities, mostly moisturizing, but also reducing inflammation and soothing.

This particular mask is supposed to absorb impurities from skin and leave your face smooth, soft and supple. It contains 20% honey extract and a few other plant extracts.

It comes in adorable packaging and the container itself is made of sturdy glass which I will probably use for something else when I am done with it.

The consistency of the mask is gel-like. It is transparent yellowish color and smells like honey a bit. I really enjoy both the consistency and the smell.

I use it as the last step of my evening routine, after the serum, instead of the moisturizer. Upon application it feels very refreshing and cool. I apply quite a large amount, so that my face is covered like a mask. It is quite sticky, but don't be scared: you are supposed to massage it until there is just a thin layer left on your skin. After a while it is pretty well absorbed and you can go to sleep without worrying about ruining your pillow cases.

Generally such masks can be used every day, but are particularly useful after a stressful day or when you feel like your face is in a bad shape. I usually use this mask after a night out, a long day exposed to the sun or the wind or just when I feel like doing something fun with my routine. 

I really like the feeling of waking up in the morning after using this mask: my skin feels refreshed, clean and surprisingly plump. It definitely doesn't break me out, and in fact, I feel like it actually keeps my skin cleansed. I recently used in on a camping trip and I felt that it did a great job of protecting my skin against the elements.

OVERALL: Highly recommended for oily skin. It does contain alcohol, so if your skin is sensitive or dry you might be careful. I generally advice you try Asian sleeping masks, as they are a great addition to your usual routine.

Ingredients: Water,  Honey Extract, Isopentyldiol, Clycerin, Alcohol Denat, Amorphophallus, Konjac Root Extract, Butylene Glycol, Arginine, Acrylates/C-10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, PEG-60 hydrogenated Castor Oil, Camellia Sinesis Leaf Extract, Citrus Limon )Lemon) Fruit Extract, rosmarinus Offcinalis (Rosemary) Extract, Aspalathus Linearis Extract, Betaine, Allantoin, PEG-90M, Glyceryl Acroylate/Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Disodium EDTA, Dipotassium Glycrrhizate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Carbomer, 1,2- Hexanediol, Sodium PCA, Ethlyhexyglycerin, Benzophenone-9, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben, Caramel, CI 17200,CI 19140, Fragrance

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Roasted Chicken Drumsticks with Potatoes and Kale

This is one of my most favorite dishes (and I have a lot). It comes from Food and Wine Magazine, which I always use for inspiration. It is extremely easy to make, fast, nutritious and oh so tasty! It only takes an hour to make, but the results are amazing. I generally love kale, but in this dish it truly shines, particularly the crunchy parts.

Ingredients:

1 1/2 pounds kale, stems and inner ribs removed 

1 1/2 pounds medium Yukon Gold potatoes, sliced 1/4 inch thick  

1 medium onion, thinly sliced 

1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil  

Salt and freshly ground pepper 

1 1/2 pounds chicken drumsticks

1 teaspoon paprika 

Lemon wedges, for serving 

Preheat the oven to 450°. Mix the kale, potatoes and onion with the olive oil, salt and pepper.  Spread the mixture in an even layer in a very large roasting pan.  

Season the chicken with salt, pepper, and paprika and place on top of the vegetables.  

Cover the pan with foil and place in the upper third of the oven.  Roast for 20 minutes, then remove the foil and roast for 30 minutes longer. The chicken should be cooked through and the kale crunchy and roasted.

Make sure to serve with the lemon wedges - it adds a certain kick and the final touch to the dish.

Bon Appetit! 

Skin79 Sweet Honey Sugar Review

Aaaaah, the morning when you wake up and your skin looks luminous... I am getting this feeling more and more often now since I started using Skin79 Sweet Honey Sugar. It is a face scrub designed to not only exfoliate, but also to moisturize and provide nutrition to your skin. It is made by a Korean company Skin79. I bought mine from Amazon, but it is available from Pretty and Cute, located in the US.

It comes in a 100 ml hard plastic jar with a spatula for application. The spatula assures that you are not going to contaminate the scrub with bacteria. It is a nice touch.

It has a really nice smell of sweets and honey. The consistency most closely resembles honey mixed with brown sugar. I love how it feels right out of the jar.

I use it in the shower twice a week (the instructions say that it is recommended to be used 2-3 times a week). It is supposed to be massaged gently onto wet face for at least a minute. It starts out kind of rough as the sugar granules feel rather abrasive. I personally enjoy the feeling because it makes me feel that it is doing its job. However, my skin is very tough and oily and it can take a lot of abuse; I heard that other reviewers found it rough for their more sensitive skin.

After some massaging the sugar granules begin to melt and the scrub becomes sort of more and more honey-like until it is completely smooth and glides on the skin without any resistance. It feels quite exquisite at that point. I massage it for a while longer and then wash it off with warm water. I like to follow up with a sheet mask while my skin is clean and receptive to absorbtion of nutrients after exfoliation.

To be honest my skin feels amazing after this treatment, especially when I wake up in the morning. The skin feels clean, not oily but moisturized, and it feels like it is shining from the inside. I definitely started getting less breakouts since I started this regimen.

OVERALL: Highly recommended for oily rough skin. Might be not suitable for sensitive or dry skin.

Ingredients: Sucrose, Mineral Oil, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Glycerin, Olea Europara (Olive) Fruit Oil, Butylene Glycol, Isododecane, Polysorbate 20. Trihydroxystearin, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Ceresin, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Honey Extract, heobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Seed Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Propylparaben, Propylene Carbonate, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Extract, BHT, Fragance, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter), Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract.

Roast Chicken with Kimchi Smashed Potatoes

I love kimchi and try to incorporate it into my cooking often. When I saw this recipe on Epicurious I was immediately drawn to it: it has few ingredients, requires little chopping and is very quick. It quickly became one of the favorite dishes. It has just the right amount of spice and healthy goodness, and is very tasty.

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 pounds fingerling or baby Yukon Gold potatoes
• 4 tablespoons olive oil, divided
• Kosher salt, freshly ground pepper
• 4 large skin-on, bone-in chicken thighs (about 1 1/2 pounds total) (I actually used chicken drumsticks as I like them better)
• 2 garlic cloves, grated
• 1 16-ounce jar Napa cabbage kimchi, drained, 1/4 cup liquid reserved
• 1 tablespoon unseasoned rice vinegar
• 4 cups trimmed bitter greens (such as mustard, mizuna, or arugula) (I found that arugula works amazing)

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Mix the potatoes with 1 tablespoon of the oil and arrange them in a baking sheet. Add salt and pepper. Roast for about 10-15 minutes, stirring once until the potatoes brown a little bit.

While the potatoes are roasting, mix the chicken with garlic, salt and pepper. Make sure the chicken is rubbed with garlic really well. Heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil over medium-high heat in a large skillet. Place the chicken into the skillet skin side down and brown it for 8-10 minutes.

Place the chicken skin side up on top of the potatoes and roast it in the oven for 15-20 minutes until it is cooked through.

Smash the potatoes with a large spoon, place the kimchi over it and roast for another 5 minutes.

Whisk together the kimchi juice, rice vinegar and 2 tablespoon olive oil. When the chicken is done, toss it with the greens and pour half of the dressing on the dish. Serve with the remaining dressing.

Bon Appetit!

Etude House Wonder Pore Freshner Review

For the longest time I believed that a toner is unnecessary. That was until I actually used one and realized how much makeup and grime my facial cleanser was missing. After that I started using a toner religiously to make sure my face is clean after the whole day of wearing makeup and being exposed to pollution. I also learned that a toner is supposed to restore and maintain your skin's pH balance, in addition to a lot of other wonderful things.

I came across Etude House Wonder Pore Freshner while researching Korean cosmetics (of course) and it got overwhelmingly great reviews. I ordered it from an Ebay seller because unfortunately I couldn't find it here, in the US. It comes in a gigantic 500 ml plastic bottle and the cutest box which has all the information on it.

 

This toner promises a variety of miracles, including minimizing appearance of pores and moisturizing. Upon its arrival I realized that it contained alcohol which originally really scared me as it is supposed to be really drying and damaging to the skin. I decided to try it anyway and see what it does.

It comes with an amazing no-waste pump which is super convenient. 

 

The toner itself is water-like. It has a slight alcohol smell, but, honestly, if I didn't know it had alcohol, I wouldn't be able to smell it I think. Generally, it smells very fresh. 

I use it day and night after cleansing my face. The directions say that you are supposed to wipe your face with a cotton ball dipped in the toner and then pat the leftover toner on your face for moisturizing purposes.  I find that this toner is not drying at all, and does not evaporate immediately the way other alcohol-based toners do. On the contrary, it evaporates slowly leaving your skin very moisturized, ready for the other steps of your routine.

I have been using it for about three weeks and do not notice any dryness or any adverse effects because of the alcohol. In fact, my skin feels amazing: fresh, moisturized and tight.  

OVERALL: Highly recommended. Leaves the face fresh and moisturized. Beware of alcohol though!

Ingredients:

Water, Chrysanthellum Indicum Extract, Alcohol Denat, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Glycereth-26 Betaine, Sea WAter, PEG-60 Hydrogenated CAstor Oil, Dosium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Citrus Medica Limonum (Lemon) Fruit Extract, Cycmbopogon Schoenanthus Extract, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Bran Extract, Prunus Mume Fruit Water, Uncaria Gambir Extract, Nelumba Nucifera Flower Extract, Cinnamomum Zeylanicum Bark Extract, Sanguisorba Officinalis Root Extract, Pelargonium Graveolens Extract, Taraxacum Officinale (Dandelion) Leaf Extract, Chrysanthemum Morifolium Flower Extract, Chamaecyparais Obtusa Water, Pulsatilla Koreana Extractm Dosdium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylglycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol 

Mexican-Style Chicken with Penne

This is my husband's favorite dish and I love making it for him (mostly because it is so simple). Chipotle chilies add a nice kick to this simple pasta, and the cilantro and queso blanco transform it into something special.

The original recipe comes from Food and Wine Magazine, my go-to place for recipes. I follow it directly and it always turns out perfectly.

Ingredients:

 

3/4 pound penne rigate 

5 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil  

1 pound skinless, boneless chicken thighs, cut into 1-inch dice 

Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper  

1 onion, cut into 1/4-inch dice 

1 large garlic clove, minced  

One 28-ounce can diced tomatoes, drained 

1 large chipotle in adobo sauce, seeded and minced, plus 2 teaspoons adobo sauce  

1/2 cup frozen corn 

1/4 pound queso blanco, coarsely grated (1 1/3 cups) 

1/4 cup coarsely chopped cilantro leaves 

 

1. Cook and drain the pasta.  

2. While the pasta is cooking, salt and pepper the chicken. Heat 3 tablespoons of olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat, add the chicken and cook for about 4 minutes. Lower the heat to moderate. Add the onion and garlic and cook for about 4 more minutes until the onion is softened. The chicken should be cooked through. Add the tomatoes, chili and adobo sauce and cook for about 2 minutes. Add the corn and cook for 1 minute more making sure the corn is warmed up.

3. Add the pasta, 2 more tablespoons of olive oil and 1 cup of queso blanco and toss together. Serve with cilantro and remaining cheese.

Innisfree Olive Real Cleansing Oil Review

I believe that the most important part of skin care is cleaning your face. If you have impurities or makeup still left on you skin, then all your other efforts will be pointless. Your skin will be clogged, rough and blemish-prone.

Keeping that in mind and always being dissatisfied with the state of my oily skin, I recently adopted a double cleansing method which is popular in Japan and Korea. It involves removing makeup and sebum from your skin first and then finishing up with a different cleanser for full effect. This method is supposed to keep your skin clean and luminescent.

My first order of business was purchasing Innisfree Olive Oil Real Cleansing Oil to be used as the first step of my evening routine. Innisfree is a lower-end subsidiary of Amore Pacific, a Korean cosmetics company. Innisfree is advertized as a natural brand, using only pure natural ingredients and eco-friendly containers. 

This particular cleanser in made of organic olive oil as its main ingredient. It is said to contain moisturizing ingredients and provide deep cleansing properties. It comes in a 150 ml plastic container with a pump for convenient use. 

The consistency of the cleansing oil is pretty much like olive oil. It is not as heavy as some other oil cleanser that I used, but it is definitely oil, so don't freak out!

It is supposed to be applied first on dry skin with dry hands and then massaged gently to grab makeup and lift it from your skin. I use a couple of pumps of oil to make sure it is enough to spread all over the face. Add a little bit of water and massage gently with your finger tips making sure you don't stretch your skin. The key here is to make sure you reduce the friction between your fingers and the skin on your face while at the same time work on dissolving all the makeup from your skin. Rinse it with warm water. It should leave your skin clean yet moisturized. I follow up with another gentle cleanser, a warm water rinse, and finish with a cold water rinse to close the pores.

I like this cleanser as it does the work properly of removing all the makeup, as I use quite a lot: BB cream/foundation, concealer, powder and what not. It even removes eye makeup when I am too lazy to use special eye makeup remover. After my skin is dry it does not feel stripped of its beneficial oils, on the contrary, it feel moisturized  and nurtured.

OVERALL: Highly recommended. Cleans all the impurities while leaving the skin moisturized.

Ingredients:

HERA Sun Mate Daily SPF35PA++ Review

I cannot overemphasize the importance of sunscreen. You HAVE to use it every day before you leave the house! I have even read that harmful sun rays go through windows and can reach you when you are in the office or home. For that reason I use sunscreen first thing in the morning every day. Sunscreen protects against aging, wrinkles and loss of elasticity. It really is a life saver. The only problem is that it is hard to find a good sunscreen that does not leave a white residue and does not make your face oily. 

After a long love/hate affair with La-Roche Posay Anthelios sunscreens which did make my face oily throughout the day, I decided to find something better suited for my already oily skin. After reading a lot of reviews I decided to try HERA brand sunscreen. HERA is a subsidiary of Amore Pacific, one of the major Korean companies. HERA is their high end brand but it is not ridiculously expensive. I ordered mine from this Amazon seller who delivered it really fast.

It comes in a big 70 ml tube typical of a sunblock.

It has a very nice smell right out of the tube, but when it goes on the face the smell dissipates really quickly. The consistency is very creamy and does not have any of the toughness of other sunblocks. The color reminds me of a tinted moisturizer.

However, when applied to the face the color disappears and it becomes completely transparent. It reminds me of a good creamy moisturizer in terms of how it feels on the face. 

I apply it all over the face, including my neck and around the eyes. I believe the area around the eyes is the most delicate and needs the most protection from the sun. However, my skin is rather tough and I never get any adverse reactions from products. If you have sensitive and thin skin around your eyes you might have some unwanted reaction. So, be careful.

It takes some time for this sunscreen to absorb, may be 10 minutes or so. I would say that it leaves a nice moisturizing layer on the skin. If I touch my face I feel that I have a product on. But it is not necessarily a bad thing - I like to feel hydrated. :-) It also gives the face a slight healthy sheen. It definitely does not leave my skin oily after a few hours like La-Roche Posay did. I do think, however, that this sunblock is more suitable for normal/dry skin, as opposed to oily one like mine.

I later found out that HERA has Sun Mate Airlight (SPF30/PA++) sunscreen which is specifically formulated for oily/combination skin. I might try it later to see if there is any difference. Meanwhile, I am very happy with this sunscreen and would definitely stick with it.

OVERALL: Highly recommended. Very moisturizing; does not make the face oily.

UPDATE: I don't think I will be repurchasing this product. First, I noticed that my face did get some color while I was outside wearing this sunblock.  This never happened to me when I used other brands. Second, it does give my face a feeling of being greasy, especially towards the end of the day. It does not necessarily make my face oily, but I just feel that this product sits on my skin without being fully absorbed.

Spaghetti in Garlic Gravy with Herbs and Lemon Marinated Chicken and Cherry Tomatoes

Who doesn't like spaghetti? It's versatile, quick and tasty. Even though I try to avoid eating pasta too often, I have a few recipes which I use when I can't come up with anything else for dinner. This recipe comes from Goddess of Scrumptiousness Recipes by Jeannie Maristela. It is amazing and I will definitely make this again.

Ingredients:

500 grams spaghetti pasta (cooked al dente)
1 pound chicken breast fillets (sliced into 1 inch chunks)

For the chicken marinade:

2 teaspoons fresh thyme, chopped
2 teaspoons fresh rosemary, chopped (if using dried, use half of the amount)
Zest of 1 lemon
Juice of ½ a lemon
2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon coarse salt (not table salt)
½ teaspoon fresh cracked black pepper
2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil (to sauté the marinated chicken)

-  Add all the marinade ingredients into the chicken and marinade for 20 minutes (if making this dish in pronto) or over night (if making this dish the next day… much better).

-  Saute the marinated chicken in extra virgin olive oil until cooked (about 4-5 minutes) then set aside.

For the garlic gravy:

½ stick (1/4 cup) unsalted butter
2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
4 large cloves garlic, finely minced
2 Tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 ½ cups chicken stock
1 Tablespoon fresh basil, chopped
salt and pepper to taste
¼ cup parsley, chopped (to sprinkle/finish the pasta)
½ cup grated parmesan cheese
2 cups whole cherry tomatoes

-  Place sauté pan over medium heat and add butter and olive oil.
-  Saute garlic until fragrant and soft.
-  Add the flour and cook for a minute.
-  Add chicken stock and simmer gravy until thickened then add the chopped basil.
-  Season with salt and pepper.
-  Add the sauteed chicken in the gravy then toss the cooked spaghetti into this  sauce.
-  Add the cherry tomatoes and finish the dish with the chopped parsley and grated parmesan cheese (serve extra on the side).

Makes 5-6 servings

Potato Salad with Champagne Vinegar

I am Russian, so potatoes are in my blood. I could just eat them all day every day. I particularly like a good potato salad. However, a usual potato salad is loaded with calories and fats. In my search for healthy recipes I found this potato salad from Food and Wine Magazine, which substitutes mayonnaise with canola oil. I do not use canola oil, so I, in turn, substituted it with olive oil. Champagne vinegar adds some acidity without the harshness of other vinegars.

Ingredients:

 

1 pound fingerling potatoes 

2 tablespoons Champagne vinegar  

2 teaspoons Dijon mustard 

1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons olive oil  

2 scallions, sliced 

1 shallot, minced  

Salt and freshly ground white pepper (I couldn't find white pepper corns, so I just used ground white pepper, which was just as good)

 

Instructions:

 

1. Boil the potatoes until they are tender. Please do not allow them to overcook. Peel them and cut into 1/4 inch round slices.

 

2. Whisk the Champagne vinegar with the mustard. Pour the olive oil slowly while whisking it until smooth. Add scallions, shallot, some salt and while pepper. Add the potatoes and mix everything thoroughly. Taste to see if it needs more salt or pepper. Let the salad sit in room temperature for 10 minutes before serving allowing the flavors to come together.

 

 

I served it with some sautéed chicken thighs and wilted kale. Bon Appetit!

 

 

If I Had Extra $747, I Would Buy...

one of these beaded skulls from artist Catherine Martin of Our Exquisite Corpse.

 (images via Honestly... WTF, originally from LN-CC.com)

I love anything Day of the Dead related and these beaded skulls are truly works of beauty. Having one at my desk would remind me that death is just a part of life and can be beautiful in its own way. 

What Are BB Creams and Why You Need One: Missha M Perfect Cover BB Cream SPF 42 PA+++ Review.

BB creams or Blemish Balms were originally developed by dermatologists in Germany in the 50s. They were used to help woulds heal, and after a few trials the dermatologists noticed that the balm regenerated skin making it look younger and more elastic. BB creams were used on patients undergoing facial peel treatments, and they made a huge difference in how the skin healed, decreasing redness rapidly and making imperfections less noticeable.

Fast forward a few decades, and BB creams are available all over the world, being the latest craze in America. However, it was Koreans who popularized BB creams in their strive for perfect skin. Korean formulated BB creams offer a great variety of benefits and are quite different from any other cosmetics like foundations and tinted moisturizers.

In fact, BB creams combine all the benefits of a moisturizer, sunblock and foundation. It acts first and foremost as a concealer, covering redness, discoloration, acne scars and any other imperfections. Unlike foundations, it is not heavy and does not clog pores; it also creates a sort of smooth makeup-free look. In addition to being a perfect cover up, a BB cream has sunblock in it preventing aging and protecting the skin from free radicals. BB cream also has healing properties to help with acne, regenerative properties to maintain healthy and youthful appearance, and it can even tighten pores and minimizer wrinkles. Doesn't it sound like a perfect invention?

Due to my red and inflamed skin, I always have to use something to cover up my imperfections, I mostly use foundation and powder on top of it. I always felt though that wearing so much makeup contributed to my acne. I wish I could just go bare-faced... 

After some trepidation, I finally decided to purchase my first BB cream. After some research I realized that I should skip American BB creams (their formulations are mostly different from Korean ones and they are usually nothing more than glorified tinted moisturizers) and go straight for Korean brands. I found out that you don't have to spend a ton of money on Korean cosmetics because even lower end brands are very high quality.

One of the brands that caught my eye was Missha, a well-known company that actually has an American website. They are particularly famous for their BB creams. I picked mine up in a Japanese market here, in San Diego. I got a small, 20 ml bottle, to make sure I like it before investing in a large one. It is called M Perfect Cover BB Cream SPF 42 PA+++. The packaging is very ordinary and looks like a typical concealer.

This BB cream comes in five colors. I chose No. 21, Light Beige. I don't tan and like when my make up is pale.

As you can see, it looks and feels kind of like liquid foundation, but to be honest, it is different than foundation on application. While foundation feels heavy and has to be blended very well to become less visible, BB cream is absorbed almost immediately and is almost invisible. Even though this BB cream contains sunblock, I do not think it is enough to protect me in the California sunshine, considering I use just a little bit of it. I usually moistirize, put sunblock on, and then put BB cream on, followed by some concealer (if I have active break outs) and powder. 

There are different techniques of applying it, but I just apply it with the tips of my fingers all over my face. It goes on very smoothly and I immediately see a difference in my skin tone. It evens out my skin coloring, covers up acne scars and makes it look like I don't have pores. I feel that I can leave the house with just BB cream on and not feel like I have to cover up my face in shame. It definitely does not make my face shinier or break me out.

It is not perfect though. If you have very big pores, it would be kind of visible in the pores. Luckily, I only have big pores in one area on my nose, and it is not too bad, considering how good my face looks when covered with this BB cream.  The coverage, however, does not last very long, I feel like four hours is a good time for it, after that it kind of has a tendency to disappear. Luckily it does not flake like some foundations do.

OVERALL: Recommended if your skin does not have very enlarged pores and you want a quick fix for your face in the morning.

Ingredients: Water(Aqua), Cyclomethicone, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Zinc Oxide, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Mineral Oil, Phenyl Trimethicone, Talc, Arbutin, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Dimethicone, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Squalane, Adenosine, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, PEG-10 Dimethicone, Polyethylene, Beeswax(Cera Alba), Glycerin, Propylene Glycol, Caviar Extract, Algae Extract, Rosa Canina Fruit Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Fagus Sylvatica Bud Extract, Ceramide 3, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Chloride, Fragrance(Parfum), Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Disodium EDTA, Hydroxyisohexyl 3-Cyclohexene Carboxaldehyde, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Benzyl Salicylate, Hydroxycitronellal, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Hexyl Cinnamal, Linalool, Citronellol
MAY CONTAIN[+/-; Titanium Dioxide(CI 77891), Iron Oxides(CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499)]