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)]

Now Foods 100% Pure Montmorillonite European Clay Review

Clay masks are a godsend for people with oily or acne prone skin. They are supposed to remove dead skin cells, absorb extra oils and impurities from the surface of the skin and give a natural glow to your face. As acne is caused by clogged pores (among other things), it is very important to keep the skin really clean without drying it.

There are a lot of of clay masks on the market, some of them very expensive. For instance, InStyle magazine's best 2012 mask for oily skin is SkinCeuticals Clarifying Clay mask which retails for $49. I have not tried that mask and I am sure it is very good, but for those of us who are on a budget it might be too much.

On advice of a Korean cosmetics store owner in my town (San Diego) who is probably 60 years old but has perfect wrinkle-free skin, I bought this European Clay mask, which is nothing more than 100% pure montmorillonite (a natural mineral silicate). It has no fillers, preservatives, additives or artificial colors. It is 100% natural!

It comes in a 6 ounce plastic jar in the form of grey powder. In order to make a mask you just have to mix it with water and voila! Directions say use one tablespoon of clay with one teaspoon of water. I find this ratio hard to mix, so I use a little less of clay and a little more of water.

When mixed this clay has the consistency of store-bought clay masks. You can make it more or less watery, of course. Apply to your face avoiding the area around the eyes and mouth and let it dry. It usually takes around 10 minutes for it to dry.  It is generally advisable not to allow clay masks to dry completely, as it is possible for them to end up drawing moisture from your skin, and you don't want that!

Rinse thoroughly using a washcloth if you want. Your skin will look amazing! Clean, translucent and ready for your moisturizers and serums. Since this clay does not have any artificial ingredients, your chances of having an adverse reaction to it are very low. I use it 2-3 times a week for maximum results.

I forgot to mention the best part: this clay is between $3-5 from online stores!

OVERALL: Highly recommended. Cheap and produces clean and healthy skin.

Holika Holika Silky Veil Primer Review

In my 35 years on this Earth I am just now discovering the joys of primers. For years I just wore powder to mask the oiliness on my skin, without bothering with foundations. Granted, my skin was not that bad at the time. Now, however, it is in its worst state ever. I am not sure what the problem is, but it is pretty embarrassing to be a grown woman with acne problems. All I can do now is pray and try not to get wrinkles in the process.

Since I have to cover up the constant redness on my face, I have to use foundation. Mostly I just use it to cover up the troubled area around my chin and nose. Used without a primer the foundation usually runs down my face after a few hours. By the end of the day at work, I just can't wait to get home to take my make up off and forget about constantly touching up my face with powder.

After doing some reading about cosmetics, I decided to try a primer. It can't hurt, right? I am currently trying out a bunch of Korean products and I heard good things about Holika Holika primer. Holika Holika is a lower end Korean brand famous for its enchanting purple designs. I ordered mine from Pretty and Cute, my go-to online store for cheap Korean cosmetics (but not cheap in quality!).

This primer promises oil control, matte finish and longer make up adherence. It is supposed to cover up pores and wrinkles to create a sort of a canvas for foundation and powder. I personally think primers are kind of magical and I don't know why I haven't used them before.

This one goes on the skin very smoothly and feels very hydrating when on. At first I was a little bit concerned because when I put it on, it felt a little dewy on my skin. I was not sure how long I had to wait for it to dry. I was preparing for a music festival that would last for eight hours, so I had to make sure that my make up was perfect. I was not patient enough to wait for the primer to dry ( and now I think may be I am not even supposed to) and put foundation all over my face with a technique I just learned (a topic for another post).

I don't want to sound overly excited but my foundation looked perfect. I had a few break outs that day, so I had a lot to cover up, but I was very happy with the result.  I still looked like I had heavy make up on, but my face looked as close to perfect as it could get in years.

Now, you ask, what happened with my face during those eight hours? Almost nothing! Well, except all the fun I had. Despite all the dancing and tons of people around, my make up stayed almost untouched for more than eight hours. I did have to blot slight shine a couple of times, but I could easily have gone without it. I have never been more impressed with cosmetics than this primer.

I wore it a few times after that and it had the same effect on my skin. Do yourself a favor and buy this product if you want your foundation to look good!

OVERALL: Highly recommended. Will make your make up look perfect.

Naruko Tea Tree Oil Out Balancing Moisturizer Review.

If anyone ever told you that oily skin does not need moisturizers, do not listen to that person. Your skin has to be constantly moisturized, day and night.  Of course, people with oily skin should be careful about what kind of moisturizer they use, but that does not mean you can abandon it all together.

Case in point: I never used moisturizer because I was under the impression that my level of hydration was good enough without it. My skin at the time was the worst I have ever had: break outs and dry patches all over the place. I went to a cosmetologist who told me that my skin was very dehydrated and that I should start using moisturizers day and night.  After I started using two different types of moisturizers for the morning and the evening, I noticed a great difference in my skin tone and skin elasticity. Even though I still get break outs, I do not suffer from dry patches and my break outs are easier to cover up because my skin is smoother.

Fast forward a year, and I am looking for a good day moisturizer that can help keep my skin moisturized at the same time reducing oil production. I found Naruko Tea Tree Oil Out Balancing Moisturizer while I was doing research about Korean cosmetics. While Naruko is a Taiwanese brand, it is a well known brand in Asia that has great reviews from bloggers.

I ordered the moisturizer from Pretty and Cute, an online store specializing in Korean cosmetics. It arrived pretty fast and I was treated to a nice plastic bottle with cute colors:

This moisturizer is designed specifically for oily, acne prone skin and is promised to decrease oil production and make the skin less shiny. Here is the description from  the company's website:

The instructions of their website ask to use a cotton pad to pat the face with the moisturizer, but I don't use a cotton pad for this step as it seems wasteful to me. I just distribute a few drops of the lotion in the palm of my hand, rubs my hands together and pat gently on my face. 

As you can see, this moisturizer's texture is very watery, almost transparent. It is definitely a moisturizer meant for already oily skin.

Upon contact with the skin it feels extremely light-weight and leaves a slightly cooling sensation that I am assuming is due to the mint essential oil content. It is absorbed quickly into the skin and hardly leaves any trace. I have been using it for a couple of weeks and I think it is definitely making a difference in the oiliness of my skin. My skin feels moisturized and supple. I notice that towards the end of the day, it is just barely shiny and my make up stays on longer. 

I feel good about this product, especially considering that it has no parabens, preservatives or artificial ingredients. I will definitely use it in the future provided I dont get any weird break outs from it. I am not sure it would suit dry skin very well though as it seems like it is more suited to oily/combination skin.

OVERALL: Highly recommended. Keeps the skin moisturized while making it less oily.

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], Lens Esculenta (Lentil) Seed Extract, Witch Hazel (Hammamelis Virginiana) Extract, Tranexamic Acid, Phragmites Kharka Extract, Poria Cocos Extract, Cellulose, Propanediol, Silica, DImethicone, Zinc PCA, Ethyl Alcohol, Prioctone Olamine, 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)