THE GUIDE TO NOW

Thoughts|Opinions|Tips|Reviews

[sarasaii]

Victoria Tsai, Tatcha and Pure Skin

I’m back!

I’ve been pretty busy, and honestly hadn't had much inspiration for writing a new post lately... but, this is not the case today! So, I came across the book, ‘Pure Skin’ by Victoria Tsai while waiting for my sis by the dressing rooms at Urban Outfitters. The cover had caught my eye- it’s beautiful pink to purple bind and the little book sleeve down the center of the book-oomph so beautiful... I absolutely love books related to skincare, and this book was pure skin related, meaning natural based and traditions that go back to a totally different point in time were chemicals weren’t a thing you’d put on to your delicate skin. So, although I was right about to buy the book, I was rushed out of the store by my sis and friend, fast forward about a week or so later and I made a trip to Barns & Noble to find the book- there’s just something about physically purchasing a book rather than ordering one online. Shortly after, I became so enveloped in learning more about Victoria, her company Tatcha, the product and the beautiful skin culture of the geisha.

I’d seen her line in Sephora before and had always wanted to try, but didn’t know what to get or where to start. So, after reading the book and browsing the site, I went to Sephora and bought a travel size set to try out. I will say this, the fact that Tatcha has almost all the product in a travel size is perfect to give buyers a chance to try out, before making the official purchase of a full sized product, especially since it’s not exactly cheap... I’m not bothered by the price of the products... but we’ll get to that a bit later. 

Victoria found herself in Kyoto during a trip to find “a more evolved, holistic approach to beauty.” where she encountered a modern-day geisha, which changed everything. Sharing what she’s learned and is learning continuously, is wonderfully inspiring. Crafting her products with natural ingredients such as...

Pearl: Rich in calcium, magnesium and other minerals, crushed pearl luxuriously polishes and conditions skin.

Gold: Delicate flecks of this precious metal impart a naturally flattering, sensual gleam to any skin tone.

Silk: Extracts from natural silk are rich in amino acids, which help protect skin and retain its natural moisture.

Camellia Oil: Feather-light, fast-absorbing yet velvety, camellia oil has more hydrating oleic acid than olive or avocado oil.

Rice Bran: This dietary staple contains more than 100 skin-smoothing vitamins, minerals, enzymes, and antioxidants.

Red Algae: Renowned for its moisture-retaining properties, this algae is prized for diet and skincare benefits alike.

Japanese Indigo: A beautiful botanical beloved for its skin-soothing and calming benefits.

Green Tea: The world’s most popular beverage is also scientifically proven to help prevent signs of premature aging.

Licorice: Licorice root is a strong antioxidant that helps minimize the effects of UV induced pigmentation.

Japanese Wild Rose: A humble-looking bloom rich in skin-perfecting actives.

Peony: This flower provides superior moisturizing, soothing, and antioxidant benefits.

Abaca Leaf: One of the world’s strongest natural fibers with velvety soft and absorbent qualities.

Source: Tatcha 

These ingredients make for a brilliantly beautiful skin-aid. I mostly use Tatcha skincare at the moment, and I have had zero problems, no breakouts, no bad reactions or trouble at all with anything I’ve tried thus far. 

What I’ve used so far

Pure One Step Camellia Cleansing Oil 

Polished Classic Rice Enzyme Powder

The Water Cream 

The Silk Cream

The Indigo Cream

Luminous Dewy Skin Mist

The Deep Cleanse

The Violet-C Radiance Mask

Luminous Dewy Skin Sheet Mask

Ageless Revitalizing Eye Cream

The Pear (tinted eye illuminating treatment)

Silken Pore Perfecting Sunscreen

The Kissu Lip Mask (limited edition)

Original Aburatorigami (blotting paper)

*Again, I’ve had no issues at all with any of these, and mind you I have pretty sensitive skin. I’ll also do a more broken down review of the product at a later time.

The pricing isn’t bad, not cheap but not bad. It is definitely worth every cent you pay, and one of the best parts is that, with every purchase you make, helps brighten the future of a girl in a developing country. One full-sized skincare purchase = One day of school. Tatcha is partnered with Room to Read, which helps children in low-income countries by focusing on literacy and gender equality in education. I fell in love with this company, their story and how they’re giving back to not just a community, but to the next generation around the world in countries with low-income and lack educational materials. I love that I know where my money goes and what it’s doing for these young individuals.

There are only two companies I would ever want to work for, and one of them is Tatcha... I absolutely love the heart put into this brand, attention to detail and close community between company and client. So beautiful.

Happy to write this, I hope you’ll give Tatcha a try, and love it as much as I do. The rituals that go into skincare and self-care are made simple and it doesn’t take much of your time to do. 

Personal Note:

Between Charlotte and Victoria, they both make me so excited to learn and embrace self-care. It’s another form of self-love- taking the time to nurture the health of your skin, inside and out. I think being comfortable in your skin is so important. Once you fully love yourself-truly excepting everything about yourself, nothing anyone can do or say (negatively) towards you will hurt you as much-I’m also not saying that a harsh word is healed by skincare, and everything will be peaches and roses.. not by a long shot... but it’s a start to caring about yourself, in more ways than one. A little self-love and care go a long way. But it starts with you.

If you’ve made it to the end of this post, awesome! Thank you for taking the time to read through this. I hope you found this helpful to you, that you can take away something from this long, and of kind of jumbled post. I appreciate it very much.

Lots of love and hugs to each and every one of you!

Till next time loves!

Sarah~

[sarasaii]

NEOGEN: Green Tea Cleansing Foam

Salutations beautiful people!

Gonna be getting into this lovely product by NEOGEN, how it’s working for me and what two other people had to say after using it. Let’s get started!

This cleanser’s top ingredient is fermented green tea extract and can brighten, calm, and hydrate your skin. The foam cleanser works to remove impurities like sweat and dirt effectively without stripping your skin of its natural oils. 

It’s Notable Ingredients Are:

Green Tea Leaf Extract 

Reduce acne, treat rosacea, prevent premature aging, shield against harmful UV rays, even out skin tone, fights against excess oil production and combat undereye circles.

While drinking green tea soothes the stomach, using green tea as a part of your skin care routine can soothe and calm inflammation with its key factoring ingredient, Polyphenols a molecule found in green tea which promotes healing, and fights against certain types of bacteria. The caffeine found in green tea can aid in tightening the skin, and since Polyphenols helps fight free radicals, which weaken the skin's elasticity. Spf is also important for your skin, while green tea won't be able to replace your daily sunscreen, studies have shown that applying green tea can help protect the skin from harmful UV rays. Green tea probably won’t magically photoshop away your scars or hyperpigmentation, but it can help to minimize and even out inconsistencies in your skin tone and help clear it up. While most acne products tend to suckup our natural oils, green tea stops the production of excess oils by reducing the production of sebum, while leaving our natural healthy oil production intact. 

Moringa Seed Extract

A flower native to parts of Africa and Asia. Packed with 90 nutrients including 46 antioxidants and an abundant amount of minerals. Moringa minimizes breakouts, wrinkles and helps guard against pollution. Full of vitamin A; which is what retinol is derived from. Moringa is also full of vitamin E, which is great for dry, flaky skin as well as other environmental stressors. Moringa is packed and rich in nutrients, such as; calcium, vitamin A, B, C, D and E. Minerals like copper, iron, zinc, magnesium, silica, and manganese. 

Papaya Fruit Water

Papaya Fruit Extract has skin whitening abilities due to the exfoliating and skin lightening effect of the enzyme papain. Papain enzyme restores the uneven-tone of your skin by accelerating the shedding of dead cells. It’s also good for repairing aged skin but helping reverse the aging of the skin by repairing, exfoliating and hydrating. Papain enzyme is seen to reduce wrinkles by modulating the collagen and elastic fibers. It’s also a good source of moisture and vitamin A.

Orange Fruit Extract

Jam-packed with a multitude of anti-aging ingredients, most importantly being vitamin E. Orange extract has a gentle astringent property that helps to relieve ance-prone skin, helping to reduce sebum, blemishes, dark or age spots. Any discoloration is helped by orange as it has a mild bleaching property. Orange peels contain a high amount of citric acid, makes for a good aid in skin brightening. 

Texture

The consistency and texture of this water-based foam cleanser are simple and fluffy as it should be for a foaming cleanser. In the bottle, it simply looks like water and green tea leaves, but once it’s pumped, comes out as a nice fully cloud of purifying brilliance. 

I absolutely love the scent of this cleanser, with hints of citrus and that wonderful clean smell of green tea, makes for a relaxing cleansing experience.

Pricing & Purchasing 

Prices differ depending on where you shop... but here are some good places to purchase and a few easy places to access

SokoGlam $19

For those who often read my posts, you should know by now how often I use this site to purchase my Asian skin care.

Sephora $19

This is sold at Sephora as a partnership with SokoGlam, so the price is the same.

Amazon  $20

The price on Amazon is surprisingly a dollar more than the two sites mentioned above.

Douglas 

Douglas is a website/store with more than 2,400 locations across Europe. So, if you’re concerned about whether a site will ship to Europe, it’s a nice option to have.

[florial]

[sarasaii]

NEOGEN PORE-AID SERUM

I’ve been undergoing a long process to clearer skin for almost a year now; while crediting my esthetician for helping me achieve good, healthy skin, there’s work you have to do yourself at home. What I found was Korean beauty, It really is so much different than Western cosmetics brands. One of my favorite K-beauty brands is NEOGEN, their products really aim to please and tackle the issue... now, I’m not saying products like this are going to solve all your skin related problems, however, it can help. As was the case in this specific product by NEOGEN.

This is said to reduce excess sebum production while imparting sheer hydration for oily and acne-prone skin (das me folks). This formula is paraben free, calms irritation and redness with herbal extracts ‘ tightening’ pores, while also being GREAT for sensitive skin types! whoop whoop!

TOP THREE INGREDIENTS 

Witch Hazel Leaf Extract

Breakdown dead skin

Cleans pores

Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract (Green Tea)

Reduce Inflammation

Slow down aging 

Reduce oiliness

Reduce blackheads and acne 

Grapefruit Extract.

Rich in antioxidants 

Reduce aging

Even skin tone

Promotes collagen production

Great for oily and acne prone skin

Increases the pH of skin

TEXTURE 

Gel/watery... and what do I mean by that? Well, it comes out looking more like a gel-like consistency, than as you pat it into your skin, you realize it’s more of a watery consistency and just gives off the appearance of gel.

GOOD FOR

Sensitive skin

Refining pores

Purifies skin condition 

Controls excess sebum  

PRICING

Sokoglam is definitely my goto when it comes to NEOGEN... but they do have a list of retailers on their site. 

Sokoglam 

Sephora Exclusives 

HSN

Selfridges

Douglas (European) 

And the pricing ranges depending on the product but the price for the Pore-aid serum is $37.00 on SOKO. For now, that is the only site selling the serum and provided as a place of purchase by NEOGEN. 

THOUGHTS & EXPERIENCE

During the time from when I started using the product and even just a few days after, there is a noticeable difference in my pores... I had rather large pores on my cheeks and nose (like most) HONEY LET ME TELL YOU... I can totally see a dramatic difference in my pores size. Sadly wasn’t able to get a decent before and after photos of my pores because none of my cameras capture it accurately (sigh) 

I have tried other pore serums before, I remember this one that kinda didn’t react well with my skin... I actually ended up breaking out. But this works so great and is so good for sensitive skin, I highly, highly recommend it and definitely repurchase worthy. 

Really hope you liked this post. As always, thank you for taking the time to read my review. 

Lots of love to you!

사라 

[softyyy]

- Softy’s Guide to Acids -

Different Acids & what they’re good for

The Most Common:

Salicylic Acid – acne!!! But veryyyyy drying so if you have dry skin and acne be very careful (only spot treat) or use a gentler acid

Glycolic Acid – brightening, smoothing, lightening pigmentation, helps with fine lines, treats acne; pretty much good for most skin types

Hyaluronic Acid – moisture moisture moisture! Soft, plump skin – helps strengthen & protect the skin’s moisture barrier

Lactic Acid – v. gentle, good for those with dry & sensitive skin (has a moisturizing element because it’s derived from milk)

Ascorbic Acid – aka Vitamin C! Great for fine lines and brightening

Other less common acids:

Azelaic Acid – most commonly found in prescribed skin care treatments, good for inflammation, redness & bacterial acne

Citric Acid – antioxidant; good for those with who have early signs of aging and sun spots

Kojic Acid – a skin lightening agent that can often be very irritating

Linoleic Acid – a lighter version of Oleic acid, so its a much better moisturizer for people with oily skin

Lipolic Acid – a “universal antioxidant”, anti-aging, fights free-radicals

Malic Acid – gentle & good for clearing acne – so if you have acne-prone skin that’s too dry for salicylic acid, try this

Mandelic Acid – has the largest molecule of all AHAs meaning it penerates the skin slower so its suuuuuuper good for people with sensitive skin

Oleic Acid – a fatty acid found in oils like argan, and olive oil, creates a moisturizing seal, might be too moisturizing for people who don’t have dry skin

Tartaric Acid – smoothes skin texture

*DISCLAIMER : alwaysss patch test when trying a new product/acid because you don’t know how your skin will react – also, only try one new product at a time so you know exactly what product is giving you which reaction/result!

[sarasaii]

IU Diet: Day 3

Day three went great! And you wanna know why? Cause it was my last day!! 

Those were the longest three days of my life in all honesty. Going from eating amazing, hardy and well-rounded food, to just eating an apple, sweet potato and a protein shake in a day is shock therapy for your body. I didn’t feel the weight of this diet until later in the first day as I said, every hour really felt like my body was slowly getting weaker and weaker, by midday I was drained and in need of a nap. When it came time to actually getting to bed, it was hard cause of the hunger pain I was feeling. I said in day twos post that it had felt as if my stomach was eating itself, which really is the best way for me to describe how I felt during these three days. 

Now, did I lose weight? Heck yeah! Was it worth it? Not really. Unless you’re crammed for time and really need to lose a pound or two quick, this is definitely the diet... however! This is most certainly not a healthy choice in dieting, nor would I ever encourage anyone to do this insane diet. *I can definitely see why IU is so incredibly slim. But a diet like this can really do some damage to your health if kept for a long period of time, even a short 5-14 days can put major stress on your bodies health. Yeah, you lose weight but at the cost of your health. I became so emotional and a little moody during the last two days, It was annoying and unnecessary and I always tried to snap out of it.

Would I do this again?

Honestly, three days of this was enough for me. I mean I just didn’t feel good about myself. Yeah, I was slimming down and losing fat in areas I have trouble with, but I felt unhealthy and basically starving myself felt stupid to achieve a goal. Now that I can eat again, I feel bad about it, which I think isn’t the best outcome of this so-called diet. If I were eating healthy and nutritious meals as a way of “dieting” (but that’s really just a healthy lifestyle. To which I prefer) that’s a whole other story of guilt over eating. Now I feel as if whatever I do eat, I’ll end up regaining what I lost. I’m glad that I don’t look too slim for my height and the weight I lost actually doesn't look horrible on me. But still, I wouldn’t suggest this form of dieting to anyone. I was lucky enough to not get any headaches during this whole process.

Could I have gone longer than 3 days?

I feel like I could go longer. But, I just don’t want to find out what toll that will take on my mind and body. If I feel like this right now, I can’t even imagine what kind of moods, pain, exhaustion, and hunger will come with holding the diet for any longer than I have.

Conclusion: 

I am really glad it’s over... but, I am going to have to get myself mentally okay eating meals instead of a single piece of food. All day I had to tell myself it was okay to eat now cause the diet was over. I mean it’s not crazy hard, it’s not like I was living on this diet for weeks... just three days. I don’t regret doing the diet though, I learned a lot and I am going to be making changes to my day to day lifestyle when it comes to how I eat.

Waist: was 26 now 25

Thighs: was 22 now 21

UP NEXT

NEOGEN Pore Serum!

As always, Lots of love!

You’re beautifully and wonderfully made! Do what makes you happy! LOVE YOURSELF!!! 

사라

[sarasaii]

IU Diet: Day 2

Day two of this madness, honestly, was not as bad as the first day. Not that it wasn’t bad... I felt like my stomach was eating itself. Once the initial hunger pain subsided, It wasn’t so bad, but I don’t get to fill my tank, so I still feel hungry (sigh). I really felt so ridiculous the second day and was so moody, waiting for that sweet potato to cook was one of the most mood activating moments, seemed like an all-day event... and in the end, it was still pretty hard at the center. 

I wondered why I was doing this all in the first place the entire day. 

[sarasaii]

IU Diet: Day 1

So, I went shopping for everything I’d need for this diet on Friday. And when I say ‘evrything’ I really mean 3 apples, one for each morning I’m on the diet, 3 Japanese sweet potatoes for lunch and whey protein powder for my dinners.

I’ll be drinking water, of course, normally I would be exercising, but instead, I’ll be just dieting to see how much 3 days of just that alone will achieve and at what cost. I do take multivitamins daily, so I’ll continue taking those during the 3 days.

Breakfast

Apple for my breakfast

How I’m feeling:

Feeling pretty good actually, I don't normally have breakfast other than coffee with milk and sometimes toast and eggs. Just a cup a jo will do for me on the reg though. I haven’t felt tired yet like I thought I might and waiting for lunch has been fine.

Lunch

One Japanese sweet potato

How I’m feeling:

Okay, I’m still feeling good, just was getting a bit on the hungry side and waiting for the potato to finish on the grill seemed like forever. But wasn’t terrible or unbearable. We’ll see how the rest of the day fairs.

Dinner

Whey Protein Shake 

How I’m feeling

I’m okay. I had my protein shake, I’m hungry for a full meal though.

Overall, now that I've made it past all three “meals” I do feel a little unpleasant, I am actually pretty hungry, not having a solid meal all day. I’ve noticed now that it’s close to the end of the day, I’m feeling a bit out of sorts and everything is catching up to me. doesn't help that we had a barbeque today and all I had was a sweet potato. I’m really curious to see how I’ll hold up tomorrow or even day three. I went the entire day thinking this was going to be a piece of cake and realized while writing how slightly uncomfortable I feel right now. 

My thoughts and a little warning:

I do feel this is extremely unhealthy and not something you should do or should even want to do. I really was fine most of the day, however, it really hit me how crazy this was and is after my “dinner”. If you’re interested in another gals experience with the IU diet I’ll leave her link here if you like what you see, please subscribe ^^ she makes a lot of valid points as to why this diet doesn’t work long-term and why it isn't a healthy option. After only one day, I really do have to agree with her on how unnecessary and difficulty this diet is. I mean kudos to IU for being able to hold the diet for long periods of time and all the girls that attempt the 14-day challenge. I don’t know how I’ll handle the next 2 days of this is I’m being honest.

Thanks for taking interest in this crazy IU diet challenge I’m doing. I’ll be back with an update at the end of day TWO! 

Till next time! Lot’s of love!

Reference photos and measurements from start date

Waist: 26 inches

Right and left thigh: 23 inches

[sarasaii]

Daily Skincare Routine

So, to start, I’ll give you some insights and backstory. 

My skin type is mostly oily, but depending on the time of the year it can become combination. I noticed last year I tend to get tiny blackheads around my hairline around April-July, and I say 'tend to' because it happened again this year. They went away around Aug-Sep but after some research and digging on the reason behind the outbreak that would occur during this time after they resurfaced, I found confirmation to what I already knew was the cause. Around the more humid and hot months, my already high oil production goes into overdrive apparently, so recently I went on the hunt for more products to help tackle my oily skin. I hit up SokoGlam of course and went shopping under their Skin Type: Oily. *If you're unsure of what category you fall under and what products might work best for you head over to their Skin Quiz and find out; it's quick and easy, you'll also get a selection of their top articles relating to your skin from their sister site TheKlog along with suggested products. All very good and helpful stuff here. 

On to the true purpose of this post! 

Daytime routine

My day starts off in the bathroom of course and getting ready for my workout, I don’t wash my face before a workout, but I do wipe a soaked cotton pad of Son&Park Beauty Water and apply sunscreen since I exercise outdoors. I am currently using L’eau Claire Callus RX G7 BB, which is made to aid with blemishes, irritation and inflamed skin. After a good sweat, I shower and give my face a good cleanse.

To start I go in with SkinFoods Egg White Perfect Pore Cleansing Foam, which is excellent for oily skin. I’ve really found this product to work well on my skin and holding up to all the rave reviews I’d seen. I follow up with NEOGEN Real Flower Cleansing Water—Calendula on a cotton pad, then giving my skin a good exfoliation with SkinFood Back Sugar Mask Wash Off, after washing that off, I add a few drops of Son&Park Beauty Water to my palms and pat that in, then a pump or two or COSRX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence, finishing up with Easydew EX Repair Control Renewal Moisture and a tinted sunscreen *same as before* and sunscreen powder which is the Eminence Sun Defence in NO.3 Peaches & Cream which is also water resistant. after I’ve finished up with my face, I focus on moisturizing my body with 92% Aloe Vera by Nature Republic. There are all kinds of amazing moisturizers out there, this is just what I’m using at the moment. 

I normally try to retouch my suncare as often as needed, cause it's important to do, but also a challenge with a busy schedule if you’re not used to doing so regularly. Just try to make it a good habit to retouch your suncare.

Nightly Routine

Winding down at the end of the day, I start with a double cleanse with Innisfree Balancing Cleansing Oil with Green Tea, after working that into my skin and removing my eye makeup and sunscreen, I simply rinse with lukewarm water, then moving on to the second cleanse which is normally on rotation between, PURITO Defence Barrier Ph Cleanser or the COSRX Salicylic Acid Daily Gentle Cleanser working that into a nice foaming lather, rinsing off and then apply RE:P Bio Fresh Mask With Real Calming Herb *I rave about this and it’s incredible ability to reduce inflamation and redness. Okay, so after leaving that on for about 10 minutes, I pat on a few drops of the NEOGEN Real Flower Cleansing Water—Calendula as a toner, then going in with Advance Snail 96 Essence, then moving on to the serums and booters; I use NEOGEN Pore Refine Serum and PCASkin C&E Strength Max at this step, then a good moisturizer, Easydew EX Repair Control Renewal Moisture or the Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Pink Juice Moisturizer. Lastly as a once a week sleep pack I use the Glow Recipe Watermelon Sleeping Pack. 

I based this on the Korean 10 step and my morning routine is based on Soko+Ipsy collaboration (Link). You can learn more about the infamous 10 step and read up on all things skincare from a Cali native turned K-beauty enthusiast, an incredible entrepreneur, and business owner. she is head of both SokoGlam and TheKlog. *I gush cause she’s my utmost favorite and someone who truly insfires me! I digress, thanks for reading and taking interest in my morning and night skincare routine. 

Thanks so much for reading! 

Lots of love!

ㅅㅏㄹㅏ

Up Next

I’ll be challenging myself to the IU diet for three days... But if I’m feeling up to it, I’ll push myself to finish off the rest of the week. I’ll try to post daily and give you updates on how it goes. I’ll be posting my starting measurements and some photos to reference what I look like at the start of this craziness. 

[sarasaii]

Update

I know I said in my last post I was gonna try and have a blog about my routine out for y'all this week. Something important came up, but I will have it up next Friday for sure! Thanks for understand!!

Lots of love, 사라

[sarasaii]

RE:P: Bio Fresh Mask with Real Calming Herb

I was seeing this a lot on my Instagram feed for a while, and after some research on it, I went over to SOKOGLAM and purchased this bad boy.

Safe to say after one use, I most certainly noticed a difference. I use this regularly in the evening before going in with a toner and following with the rest of my routine. *BTW I'll be posting my FULL routine sometime next week hopefully.

What are the claims of this product? Well, simple; it claims to calm and soothe irritated skin, redness, and inflammation. The fresh herbs gently whisk away dead skin cells and debris as you massage the herbs and clay into the skin. It's formulated for sensitive skin, free of mineral oil, sorbic acid, animal ingredients, surfactants, parabens and propylene glycol. ALSO, IT'S CRUELTY-FREE CERTIFIED!

Some fun and loveable ingredients!

Kaolin: Kaolin's gentle absorptive properties do not over dry or give that tight skin feeling during use (like bentonite clay) yet still gentle and effective for pulling impurities to the surface and gently stimulating circulation to the area of application. Kaolin clay can also be used to gently exfoliate your skin as you rinse away. Your skin is left feeling cleansed and wonderful. Perfect for sensitive skin.

Benefits of Kaolin

Calming

Doesn't over dry your skin

Removes dead skin cells

Has disinfectant properties which help in healing existing blemishes while also preventing new ones from forming.

Removes impurities from pores

Stimulates circulation which improves healing and nourishment for the skin.

Calendula: It has great anti-inflammatory and vulnerary action, making it helpful with stubborn wounds, acne, ulcers, bed sores, varicose veins, rashes, eczema and related conditions. It also helps soothe sore, inflamed and itchy skin.

Benefits of Calendula

Lessen Inflammation 

Provide moisture to dry skin

Soothe irritated skin

Melissa:  Anti-bacterial properties present in Melissa Oil are known to treat and inhibit bacterial infections, not only in skincare but other health areas as well (Link)

Benefits of Melissa

Eczema 

Anti-inflammatory 

Anti-bacterial 

Calming

Soothing

Healing

Tightening

Stimulate circulation

Full List of Ingredients : Water, Kaolin, Butylene Glycol, Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Glyceryl Stearate SE, Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate, Stearic Acid, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Behenyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Alcohol, 1,2-Hexadiol, Artemisia Annua Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Symphytum Officinale Leaf Extract, Helichrysum Arenarium Extract, Azadirachta Indica Leaf Extract, Glycerin, Zanthoxylum Piperitum Fruit Extract, Pulsatilla Koreana Extract, Usnea Barbata (Lichen) Extract, Melissa Officinalis Flower/Leaf/Stem Water, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Water, Calendula Officinalis Flower Water, Rosa Damascena Flower Water, Triticum Spelta Seed Water, Calendula Officinalis Flower, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Powder, Disodium EDTA, Xanthan Gum, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Tromethamine, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Safflower Yellow, Gardenia Red, Fragrance.

The texture on this is creamy and smooth, application is simple and easy. Almost like applying moisturizer and after 5-10 minutes just rinse away with lukewarm water to reveal comfortable, soothed, calmed and brighter skin. It also smells heavenly, fresh with a subtle hint of chamomile, which is really lovely.

Now, having used this for almost three weeks now; like I said, it has worked very well for me. My scars have been reduced by a great deal, a lot of my inflammation went down after the first use. I'm used to clay masks leaving my skin with a tight and slightly dry feeling; however, with the Bio Fresh Mask, leaving my skin clean, nourished and fresher it’s definitely a new found favorite right now. This is recommended for Sensitive and Dry skin types *although I have oily skin, I do find that it works well with for me and doesn't strip away essential oils, but does help in clearing out my pores.

Overall this clay mask is definitely top shelf and a great addition to anyone's collection. 

Here are some links!

RE:P Bio Fresh Mask

My Twitter 

My Instagram 

Sokoglam Twitter 

Sokoglam Instagram 

Hope this was helpful to you! Lots of love~ 사라

[feminineyou]

Why looking at other people’s fitness bodies is not a good idea for your own fitness motivation

To start off, the desire to be fit and healthy is a great thing to have. It can lengthen your life span and boost your self esteem. But I know on social media, I see other people’s bodies all the time and I just think man, this girl has the perfect body.

When you look at fitness content on social media, there’s not much diversity with the types of bodies. Let’s say that these motivate you because you want that body. So you get into it and you have a lot of muscle and are very slim. That’s good right? Yes!

But chances are, you will end up getting disappointed because your fit doesn’t look like their fit. Maybe your shoulders are wider or you lost weight in your butt instead of your stomach. That already makes you look drastically different even if you both have the same weight. Even though you put in all of this hard work you feel like it’s pointless because you end up not looking like the “right” fit.

This situation has happened many times before. The best way to get motivated is not to look at others. An idea to get motivated instead is to have goals you can reach. Make a goal to do this much running per week or eat x amount of calories this day.

You can do it! Just remember we were all made different and your differences are what makes you beautiful.

[sarasaii]

So very true.

[sarasaii]

PCA SKIN: Chemical Peel

Let’s talk peels!

I’ve received about four PCA Skin Chemical Peels now; one light, one mild, and now two heavy peels. With the first heavy peel, I didn’t experience much peeling, but that was my fault; (refer to prior PCA review) incredibly stupid. Anyways, things have moved forward, and my skin is looking so much better! I still have some minor scarring, but nothing too crazy. My second experience with the heavy peel went much smoother, while there was a lot that was exfoliated.

The Light Peel was the first I received, evening out some minor discoloration.

The Moderate Peel helped in removing some scars and minor discoloration I had.

The Deep Peel is what made a difference in my skin. Removing about a layer or so of the surface, this peel reveals fresh new skin and promotes cell renewal.

WHAT IS A CHEMICAL PEEL?

Well, according to PCA SKIN, their CHEMICAL PEELS are said to be formulated with unique ingredient blends that work with your skin to allow for comfortable treatments, without sacrificing efficacy. The result is increased cell turnover, and fresh, healthy skin is revealed.

WHAT DO PEELS TREAT?

Chemical peels can treat, improve, and prevent a variety of skin concerns. This includes but is not limited to: discoloration, aging, reduced fine lines, and wrinkles. Chemical peels can even help treat rosacea and acne.

(source: PCA Skin)

LEVELS OF PEELS AND HOW THEY WORK

Lunchtime Peel: Alpha-hydroxy acid or another mild acid is used to penetrate only the outer first layer of skin for gentle exfoliation. The treatment improves the appearance of slight discoloration and rough skin, while also refreshing the face, neck, chest, and hands. The full healing process is said to be around a 1-7 day period.

Moderate Peeling: Glycidic or trichloroacetic acid is applied to penetrate the middle and outer layers of the skin to remove damaged cells. The treatment is used to improve age spots, fine lines, wrinkles, freckles, and moderate skin discoloration. It also can be used to smooth rough skin and treat some precancerous skin growths, I.E., actinic keratosis. Full healing for this peel is around 7-12 days.

Deep Peeling: Trichloroacetic acid or phenol is applied to deeply penetrate the middle layer of skin to remove damaged cells. The treatment removes moderate lines, age spots, freckles, and shallow scars. Clients will see a dramatic improvement in their skin's appearance. Full healing is estimated to be 14-21 days.

(source of information: ASDSA)

Chemical peels speed up the exfoliating process, encouraging cell turnover, which leaves the skin much more fresh and healthy as a result. For me, this process proved right. 

I’ve done Lunchtime, Moderate, and Deep peels now, and my skin has experienced different levels of peeling with varying outcomes for each peel. While the Lunchtime peel handled my smaller concerns, the Moderate and Deep peels were where I saw real improvements.

Peels are tricky, and the Deep Peels are not for the impatient; however, the results are impeccable and well worth the few days of gross peeling that come with the whole process.

The upkeep of peels depends on the level of treatment your doctor, dermatologist, or esthetician provide. For Lunchtime and Mild peels, maintenance is relatively easy by using a moisturizer. Deep peels require a bit more care and detail, however. You need to keep better track of your skincare, I.E., cleanser, toner, ampoule/serums or other products you would typically use on a daily basis. When applying moisturizer during a chemical peel, make sure it isn't full of fragrance and harsh chemicals that will affect your already sensitive skin negatively. You'll want to stay away from acne fighting cleansers and products during this process as well.

If you're still apprehensive about this form of treatment, I'd suggest going into heightened detail with a certified professional, dermatologist, or esthetician, and see if it's the right fit for you. Never just walk into a spa or clinic offering this treatment; do your homework first, there will always be risks and precautions when trying new procedures and products. Weigh out your options and see what works best for you!

I can only speak for myself on this; I'm no professional and have no real experience in medical skincare, just what I'm self-taught or learn through those in this field. As with anything, the choice is yours; I'm here to share what I've learned and experienced first-hand. Everyone reacts differently to chemicals and products, and consulting a professional is always recommended; find what sort of approach will best suit your skins current condition!

As always, lots of love to you. Hope this was helpful!

사라

[sarasaii]

Son&Park Beauty Water

Ah, I’ve been away from the keyboard a little longer then expected... my apologies. I’ve been super busy as of late, and also testing out products over a much longer period of time- rather than just first impressions. I don't want to prolong this review any longer with my little update here... so, without further ado...

Son&Park Beauty Water! This beauty water is certainly not your normal run of the mill beauty water... no my friends, it’s so much more. 

Formulated without the following:

Parabens 

Sulfates 

Phthalates 

Highlighted Ingredients:

Papaya, lavender, rosa damascene flower water, orange fruit extract, coconut, wheat, citrus grandis (Grapefruit) peel oil, cedrus Atlantica (willow) bark oil, rose follower oil, etc.

the natural fruit, oils and other scented ingredients used really give this beauty water such a lovely mild scent. It’s almost non-existent, but, also mildly present at the same time. I found it very pleasant and refreshing.

Being a multitasking toner, mild exfoliator and cleanser, this particular beauty water is definitely not on the list of average beauty waters. It comes highly recommended by many far and wide-in fact, it was recommend to me by Ainsley (another product recommendation by such a wonderfully beautiful human being) I much say she wasn't exaggerating when describing this product to me during my treatment. It is really great for all skin types.. normal, oily, combination, dry and even sensitive skin; Dealing with Dullness, uneven texture, dryness and uneven skin tone. 

It certainly leaves the skin smooth and ready for the rest of my routine. My morning and night routines differ, and sometimes, my day to day routines do as well. It all depends really. This beauty water has a pH of about 4.5 which effectively balances the skins natural pH levels after cleansing, which is great! Love me some good ole pH balancing products~

Natural Origin:

Natural ingredients leave skin refreshed and revitalized, even for sensitive skin.

Cleansing:

The skin is cleansed thoroughly and gently with natural ingredients derived from coconut, corn, potato and wheat.

Moisturizing:

Formulated with lavender flower/leaf/stem extract, rosa damascena flower water and orange fruit extract to deliver intense hydration.

Light Exfoliator:

Protease, carica papaya fruit water renew the skin surface by lifting impurities and removing dead skin cells for smoother skin.

(Son&Park)

I’ve found this beauty water to be quite the game changer in my routine, and what started as a mere product test, turned into something more. I love this product and it will definitely always have a spot on my shelf for as long as it’s on the market-and if ever it is discontinued I’d most definitely stock up... no doubt about that. I use this as a standalone cleanser in the morning/after my workouts, following up with whatever may come next. I've recommended this to many, and they’ve actually fallen in LOVE with it after one use. This product is true to its word and highly favored by many-not just in the K-beauty community, but also the Western, and European beauty communities as well. 

How to Use:

Moisten a cotton pad and gently sweep across your face, starting from the center and working outward. 

Side Note:

It’s also great to use throughout the day to freshen up the skin-I’m not one to wear makeup much other than special occasions, so I tend to use this when I feel it necessary.  

[sarasaii]

Salicylic Acid Daily Gentle Cleanser by Cosrx

I’m just gonna jump right in here and say, this cleanser has really made a huge difference in my skin during the two weeks I’d started using it. And heres why…

This product was referred to me by someone while I was up in N.Y.C, I literally spent about the whole day out on W 32nd street stocking up on my k-beauty supplies, as I was basically out back home. Repurchasing and finding new products during my excursion. I was on the hunt for specific ingredients and products suggested to me by Ansley (the esthetician I’d met). One of the ingredients she said would be super beneficial for my skin was Salicylic Acid and Hyaluronic Acid. Sadly I had a bad reaction to Hyaluronic Acid awhile back. I’m beginning to spot test again with it, so we’ll see how that goes. With my list made, and plenty of room for other products that weren’t on said list, I was off. 

Now back home and testing out everything with decent trial periods. This Salicylic Acid Daily Gentle Cleanser is definitely by far my favorite purchase within the new year by far. I made a lot of well worth it purchase during this trip, but the results I was seeing within the first few days of trial alone was jaw dropping. I was truly impressed.

Now, what is Salicylic Acid you may ask? 

Well, BHA that is a natural exfoliant that helps to remove dead skin cells from the face and clear pore, and is used in many acne treatments because of it- it also works to stimulate new cell formation.

Top Ingredients :

Salix Alba (willa) Bark Water, Saccharomyces ferment, Salicylic Acid, Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) Leaf Oil.

Salix Albs (willow) Bark Water: It works to minimize the appearance of pores. It draws out skin impurities such as excess sebum and regulates the skin’s oil production. There are tannins found in willow bark, which are high in antioxidants that have astringent properties that help to tone and calm inflammation.

Saccharomyces Ferment: Fermented yeast extract helps diminish the signs of aging by improving collagen synthesis. In addition to easier and quicker absorption, fermentation also works to increase the nutrient density, making the product's natural ingredients more powerful. It’s a fermented ingredient that works to encourage cell turnover, leading to brighter, more even and hydrated skin.

Salicylic Acid: Salicylic Acid is a beta hydroxy acid (BHA) and one of the most common acne fighting ingredient on the market. It works as an exfoliator to increase cell turnover to shed excess dead skin cells, it also works to unclog the skin’s pores of any leftover impurities.

Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) Leaf Oil: Tea Tree has antimicrobial properties to fight against acne and the bacterias that cause it. It also works to soothe inflammation and is known to be gentler on the skin than most other acne fighting ingredients.

The Claims

Helps combat against blemishes

Remove dead skin cells

Buff away blackheads 

Remove whiteheads 

Smooth skin

Ideal for all skin types 

Gentle on even sensitive skin

Usage:

I only use this at the end of the day after oil cleans. (full routine coming soon)

After squeezing an adequate amount onto moistened palms and lathering with water. Massage the cleanser into skin using circular motions and throughly rinsing off with lukewarm water. Then following up with a toner.

Thoughts

I’ve tried so many cleansers throughout the years since discovering Korean beauty products, and this one has become my new favorite. My skin has changed a lot since I started using this specific cleanser. My pores are less noticeable, I have little to no acne and my skin is looking brighter and smoother. This is a product that follows through on its word. But you should take note, that, like always— not all products work the same for everyone. We all have different needs... even if our main concerns are the same. Our genetics are far different— so what works for your favorite beauty Youtuber may not work the same for you. So just keep that in mind when trying out new products.

All in all, for me this is a definite 5 star foam cleanser and is now up in the Holy Grail status in my k-beauty arsenal. It just worked out really well for me.

I truly hope this was helpful to you.

As always, thanks for reading!

Sending lots of love~

[sarasaii]

Ainsley of Les Vacances Skincare

So, incredibly excited to share with you the amazing opportunity I had this weekend!

Today I'll be discussing my experience and the treatment preformed by the wonderfully amazing Ainsley of Les Vacances Skincare. So, grab your handy cup-a-joe or any other drink of choice and lets get this show on the road!

First off, I'll let you know how I found Ainsley, or rather how Ainsley found me. I had posted awhile back on my Instagram regarding Cosrx Triple C Lightning Liquid, I had mentioned Charlotte Cho’s The Little Book of Skincare and just so happens she's a fan of the book as well! I received an email inviting me to visit her small boutique esthetics practice, however, I live in Miami and she is based in New York City, which isn't exactly my neighboring city. I love N.Y.C, so I booked a flight and set up a date with Ainsley, and a about a month or so later I made my way to New York.

Upon my arrival, I was buzzed in and took the lift up to the 9th floor, *I was super excited and anxious about the whole thing.. I was greeted by the front desk, seated and asked to fill out a quick health form. Which as you know, is totally normal. 

A few minutes later, Ainsley came to greet me and take me back to the room. After showing me to the room, she left me to get ready and lie down... 

When she came back she made sure I was comfortable and relaxed, which I was. She then began to explain what we were going to do in terms of treatment, we discussed my skins health, my concerns, she recommend specific ingredients to look for and products to use... we also talked about, (TMI) how I tend to get dry and brake out mid cycle, which is very common due to our hormone fluctuation.

She cleansed and prepped my skin for treatment... and let me tell you, before Ainsley I wasn't really aware of this particular treatment... and what is said treatment exactly? Well, I will happily tell you.

Microcurrent facial, and what is that exactly... well, a Microcurrent facial emits extremely low-voltage electrical currents, which mirror your own body’s electrical currents, on a cellular level to repair damaged skin and stimulate collagen and elastin production. I personally thought of it as an A.E.D for your skin. I asked her how often one should receive this treatment, and she informed me that, it depends on their age and damage or lack there of. While younger woman would come in monthly to maintain their skin, more mature women would come in weekly for a recommended period of time to help reverse the effects of aging wrinkles and fine lines.

If you’re wondering, “does this hurt?” I can definitely say, it does not. For me honestly I didn't feel anything pain related. It felt very relaxing and wonderful. Ainsley was wonderful and I can't wait to make another trip out to her practice again.

So, whether you’re looking to reverse signs of aging or interested in preventing them, I would HIGHLY recommend booking an appointment with her... and if your not in N.Y.C area, just do some resreach on local spas that offer this “natural botox” and “face lift” treatment. 

Ainsley was incredibly informative throughout the whole experience, and answering any of the questions I'd asked.. It was a lot to take in, but all the information she gave me was amazing. One of the things she had told me was how our skin changes every seven years... so around 14/15 when we tend to start getting acne, and then again at around 20/21, and so on. Which, around 21 is actually when my skin started to get really bad again. 

I had asked her for product recommendation and boy she came through. I was able to pick up tons of her recommendations over on 34th St. which is Ktown by the Empire State Building. Also, she has a first time guest discount - 50% off treatments. 

I hope to apply what i’ve learned from Ainsley and help others achieve their ideal and natural healthy skin.

I’ll leave all the links below for you all.

Thanks so much for taking the time to read and I hope it was helpful to you. Love yourself always beauties!

Lots of Love 

사라

Email: [email protected]

12 West 27th Street, Ninth Floor (1,086.03 mi) New York, New York 10001

Hours:

*She is only open on Saturdays 

Instagram

https://www.facebook.com/LVSkin/

[sarasaii]

It Can Happen To Anyone~

Salutations, 

I’ll be discussing my unfortunate mishap after a chemical peel. Shall we...

Okay, so I recently went in for my latest chemical peel treatment and it went great. We moved up to a stronger peel which means sensitive skin... sigh.. so, the night of my peel was good and everything seemed normal. The following morning and early afternoon was also fine... fast forward to me arriving at home after spending Saturday afternoon and evening out, I went to wash my face and got a clear picture of myself.. my chest, shoulders, jawline, cheeks and sideburns had had an allergic reaction.My face was a little hot and a pinky red. At the time I hadn't thought it was the peel, until I realized the only affected areas were where we applied the peel to.

*please note that having a negative reaction to certain chemicals happens. I myself have semi-sensitive skin.

Continuing on... I completely forgot like an idiot, how sensitive your skin is during the peeling process, and I ended up using a cleanser that was much to strong while my skin was vulnerable. Means my skin was extremely sensitive, and would be for at least 7 day after application. Now with knowing what I do, I should have paid better attention... however, I made the mistake of using a highly affective and strong cleanser during this process. After realizing my mistake (a little too late sadly) I started using my light cleanser and only  moisturizer. 

I also forgot to mention this reaction to Mindy over the phone when it was happening... goodness so many mistakes this week. Anyway... I’ll be seeing her soon and discussing what went wrong. Please, please please know I have never had any problems with any of the products used by Mindy, and this wasn't due to the peel, but my negligence. 

But you should know that with trying any product, there can be risks. *kinda why we have discussions during consultations and personally when I schedule my next appointment(s).

Don’t be discouraged with the little hiccups life has, those won't last forever. Don't let it stop you from moving forward!

Lots of love to you always!

사라~