TCOB: Taking Care of Beauty

beauty that gets sh*t done

[tcobeauty]

Mix & Match Millennial Pink Regimens

Hi babes. I know it’s been a hot minute (all minutes feel hot these days tbh, and not necessarily in a good way), but work and personal stuff have been infringing on my skincare time, as they so often do. I wanted to share these two #MillennialPink regimens with you, because #aesthetics, am I right?

This first one was heavy on the brightening products, because I’ve been feeling dull and splotchy lately. Saturday Skin cleanser first, which I like, but I’m still not sure if I want to make a regular product, followed by the Huxley toner, and a super luxurious Polatam Sheet Mask. I actually didn’t need the Lotus essence afterwards, since the sheet mask was so emollient, so I followed up with the Saturday Skin eye cream and The Lotus sleeping mask. This felt like a really good combination of products, but ideally I’d like to get that essence in there too, maybe before the sheet mask?

Then I got a couple new Huxley products focused on brightening, so I figured I’d pair them up with the Saturday Skin products to see if I could level up my overall routine to that truly coordinated Millennial level. I cleansed and toned, and followed those with the Saturday Skin brightening sheet mask, which was more of a bio-gel fabric texture than the Polatam. It was hard to apply at first, but stayed on beautifully and soaked up for the better part of an hour.

Then I slapped on the Huxley brightening essence and cream, which seem to me to be basically two versions of the same product. They both have the same active ingredients, and the essence is more oil-based than I usually prefer, so it just feels like putting the same product on twice. I’m glad I got these on sale—so far I’m relatively underwhelmed by Huxley for the most part, but it might also just not be right for my skin type, either. I’ve been getting breakouts lately, so I need to focus more on exfoliation and pore cleansing than extra moisturization at the moment.

How are you babes adjusting to the all-over-the-place weather these days? It seems like winter just kind of came out of nowhere, so I’ve been experimenting and trying to adjust my regimen accordingly, but sometimes I’m lucky just to get my makeup off before I fall asleep at night. Y’all know how it is.

[tcobeauty]

Another Sunday night, another green tea multi-masking session!

Green tea remains one of my favorite ingredients for skincare: it’s so nourishing and refreshing, great for skin that can’t decide whether it wants to be oily or dry. I started out with my trusty Green Dr. Jart Dermaclear Trans-Foam for a quick deep cleansing and followed it up with Mario Badescu’s Aloe, Cucumber and Green Tea Facial Spray as a toner.

The only really new product I tried in this regimen was the H2O+ Aqua Defense Refining Matcha Peel-Off Mask, which I found deeply underwhelming. It didn’t take off the two layers of my dermis to reveal a magical new version of me underneath, and at $40 for that tiny-ass tube, I can’t abide anything short of magic.

The BioRepublic Green Tea Detox Purifying Mask was also fairly meh, if I’m being perfectly honest. I think I’m at a point in my Kbeauty skincare journey where I know which brands, products, and ingredients are my favorites, and I only really want to try something new if it meets, like, two of those criteria. Fortunately, my Innisfree Green Tea goodies always come through in the end to keep me feeling refreshed and moisturized just time for some much-needed beauty sleep before the work week gets going.

[tcobeauty]

Birchbox: Small End of Summer + Customer Appreciation Day Hauls

All of my dealers My favorite retailers started putting their summer shit on sale back in August, and sent me me multiple emails to alert me to this fact (FML I gotta unsubscribe [lol no]), and who am I to resist? With Birchbox, it’s always a question of what do I actually need that I can justify spending a small amount of points, plus whatever’s on sale, plus whatever bonus or code they’re often. It’s a lot of fuzzy math, to be honest, which I’m sure will surprise no one. 

I've been wanting to switch back to the Whish Shave Cream, since it's much more emollient and luxurious than the Shea Moisture one I've been using, regardless of the fact that “Vitamin K” is probably a made-up thing. And I was out of my 100% Pure Blueberry Mascara, which is great for weekends and natural-only makeup days, so I scored some of that one sale as well. The Mirenesse Mattfinity Lip Color in Ibiza is very bright but also very fun fun and I actually really like this brand for longwear matte lips–the first shade I got from them was in a Birchbox sample extra (still the best one I’ve gotten to this day tbh) and it’s Tokyo, a perfect blue-red that wears like gangbusters. I got Milan, a more neutral brick brown, for my sister’s wedding last year and discovered that it doesn’t last quite as long, which is weird, given that it’s the same damn product. We’ll see how this very bright cool coral holds up on a day when I’m feeling particularly bold. Everything in this teeny little haul was on sale with an extra discount on top of it, however, so I'd say it was definitely worth it at almost 50% off savings.

Paid: $40 / Value: $78 Savings: $38 / 49%

And then Birchbox’s “Customer Appreciation Day” suddenly rolled around out of nowhere, so there were bonus points and sales and all kinds of madness I had to partake in because my soul is weak, so very weak. I decided to stock up on my BFF Dr. Jart’s Dermaclear Micro Water and try out some new hair goodies, too, since I’m growing it out to see what works with my new longer(ish) length.

These two bonus goodies were included by the Birchbox team, and while you all know I love a good exfoliation and can’t wait to give this Vasanti Enzymatic Face Rejuvenator, I’m still wary of the Oribe Supershine Moisture Cream, because I’m always worried about my hair getting greasy and weighed down. I’ve gotten several Oribe samples in the past, and I have to admit that I’m a little afraid to try any of them because they might work some kind of devil magic on my noggin and then I’ll be forced to spend as much on haircare as I do skincare, and that’s just not in my budget for now or the foreseeable future.

Enter the Off-Duty Hair Kit, which is pretty much every day for me because I don’t like to do a whole lot to my hair if I can help it. I’ve recently started blow-drying again in an effort to save some time in the mornings, but’s it been looking like I need to wash it at night and sleep on it for it to not look too poofy when styled. I’d been wanting to try both the Parlour Moisturizing Sea Salt and the Number Four Sugar texture sprays, and I’m intrigued by styling creams of all kinds, so we’ll see how the bumble Don’t Blow It and the R&CO High Dive creams do. I’ve been using a teeny tiny dab of the Moroccan Oil on days when I blow dry, but it might still be weighing me down a tad. We’ll see how it fares when things get drier int he coming months.

I loved the Brio Geo RosArCo spray I got in a previous Birchbox, so I figured I’d try out the shampoo and conditioner in this travel-size set to see how they do. I love the fragrance and they do seem nourishing, but I’m wondering if I need to use the spray as a heat protectant for blow drying and save the rest for travel or dry winter days to come. 

Paid: $41 / Value: $112 Savings: $70 / 62%

Not too shabby for two pretty random one-off hauls, right? I like to think that I’ve been getting a little bit better at maxing out my savings on these hauls, so I was not-so-secretly tickled to see how much I saved on so many goodies. I do think I’m starting to reach a critical mass again, so it might be time for a purge here before the holiday season picks up.

[tcobeauty]

DID YOU KNOW: That you’re technically supposed to wash/rinse after most cleansing waters? I only recently found this out, and my lazy ass is not pleased at this. However, I’ve found a pretty good workaround for those nights when I’m too lazy for more than four steps total, but still in the mood for some kind of skincare. It’s a delicate balance, truly.

Step 1: Remove makeup. Burt’s Bees White Tea cleansing wipes are my OG, all-time favorite. Non-irritating, almost all-natural, and really good at getting even the most long-wearing gunk off my mug after a tough day.

Step 2: Cleansing water. Dr. Jart Dermaclear has been my fave for a hot minute, but I picked up this May Coop White Birch Sap Water and I am really feeling it, especially when followed with some Raw Sauce. But before that…

Step 3: Rinse! The White Birch Water specifically states in the directions that you need to follow up with a cleanser or at least rinse. The water does leave a bit of lovely, tingly film behind, so I don’t think that a quick rinse with warm water and a light pat dry are unwarranted.

Finally, Step 4: Seven-Skin Method with May Coop Raw Sauce. This is clearly not my laziest late-night regimen, but I really do like using the Seven-Skin Method with the Raw Sauce before bed. It’s moisturizing enough to where I’m not worried about a night cream, especially after at least 5 layers (I tend to lose count tbh), but it also has wonderful little tingle that tells me it’s doing something good for my face while I snooze, right? I’ve also had two travel-size vials of Raw Sauce for literally ever now and I need to use them up.

I’ve done this semi-lazy pm regimen a couple of days now, and while I wouldn’t add anything else to these, they do give me the satisfaction of doing more for my face than just a wipe and a cleansing water (if that much, tbh). I was concerned that May Coop products might be for more mature, drier skin than mine, but so far this little duo has gotten me through the night and ready for a brighter day each time.

[tcobeauty]

Lovely ⚖️♎️Libra♎️⚖️ nails via @julepmaven

[tcobeauty]

This was a fun, quick and easy PM regimen, which sometimes, is exactly what you need in life.

I really like The Body Shop’s seaweed skincare line—it does a good job of purifying my pores and calming down spots without overdrying me, which is basically the gold standard for acne-prone combination skin. I wanted to do a somewhat sea-themed regimen, so I followed the cleanser and toner with the SkinFood Jellyfish Marine Hydrogel Mask, which was super moisturizing and soothing—I left it on for nearly an hour and it was still soaking in when I finally pulled it off and patted in the rest.

I wrapped up with a nice dollop of the Mario Badescu Ceramide Eye Gel, which always feels so nice on tired eyes, and sealed it all up with the J.One Black Jelly Pack, which I’ve been meaning to try to get into my regular nighttime regimen, but I’m still figuring out how best to layer it. It definitely goes best with other gel-based products, but I’m wondering if I could layer a cream on top of it as things get cooler and drier? To be continued...

[tcobeauty]

The Ulta Diaries: 20% Off  + 10x Points

Here's a rundown of a couple of big ole Ulta beauty hauls, as I am so prone to succumbing to. Once AGAIN my timing was terrible, however; either that, or Ulta has some kind of surveillance on me to send me even more good deals and whatnot immediately after I've just ordered something (in this case, it was 20% everything followed by 10x points for Platinum Customer Appreciation Day). Like, it's BAD, y'all, but somehow in the best way possible? If that makes sense? Which I know it doesn't, and I don't care?

I finally got my paws on the last two elements of my SkinFood Black Sugar collection: the Bubble Foam (which I love) and the Cleansing Tissue (which I don't). They have all have that lovely, slightly citrusy scent and soft texture of the other Black Sugar products, but the Cleansing Tissues themselves are somehow both rough and flimsy, and it took two to get a full face of makeup off and still left a ton of eye makeup behind. So far, there are no usurpers to the Burt's Bees face wipes throne, and I'm not sure there ever will be (which is why I picked up another pack of those, too).

Sea greens and luscious, scrubby, buttery body care? Uh, yes please! I bought this H2O+ trio of body wash, scrub, and butter these to take on a vacation that was supposed to be beach-bound but then multiple hurricanes happened. So I didn't get quite as tropical as I would have liked, but I did bring along nothing but sea botanical skincare and haircare and natural makeup and was able to relax a bit and at least pretend I was near an ocean. So along with stocking up on some supplies and some maintenance items on sale, overall I was able to get a pretty good deal on this whole first 20% off haul.

Then I just had to go and get shit with points, too, because it was Platinum Appreciation day like two days after I received that 20% order and Ulta was doing 10x points for one day only and I am weak and the wages of over-purchasing is psychic death and I don't care who knows it. I actually needed the Physicians' Formula MineralWear powder, and then I rationalized the Zanzibar Marine Complex shampoo and conditioner for my vacation self-care aesthetic, so at least I got that going for me, right?

Because I am a basic bitch at heart, and because they were part of the 10x Points selection, I had to get my mitts on these Julep colors: one for Libra, my sun sign, and my birthstone for October. We won't get into the fact "Pink Tourmaline" is NOT the real October birthstone. I was going to swipe this gorgeous pearly pink on my toes for my birthday, but I'm fairly certain I have a lovely fungus from wearing nail polish all summer long and refusing to wear socks with sneakers (THEY JUST LOOK BAD, OKAY), so I'm giving them a breather this month and dousing everything in tea tree oil twice a day. I think I'll still be giving the Libra a go regardless, given that I'm trying to grow out some real talons and need a little lacquer support to get there.

At last, the pièce de résistance: this H2O+ peel-off Matcha mask that retails at nearly FORTY FUCKING DOLLARS for TWO OUNCES of product. If I had read the description more closely, I would not have even bothered with it, but there was an H2O+ promo (hence the new hand cream as well), and it was obviously on sale. I haven't tried it out yet, but that shit had better peel away my entire face to reveal a new one at that price. Like, I laughed out loud in shock when I realized this is the full size and I pity the fool who actually pays full price for it. I haven’t tried it yet, though, so who knows? It may actually be magical.

Total Paid: $191.51 / Value: $303 Savings: $111.49 / 37%

The first 20% off haul was a much better value overall, given the added discount,  but the total isn't too terrible compared to some of my more low-savings hauls. I'm telling you all: the points are my plague. I hate not having them, and I hate having to collect them to get any rewards anymore. I hate that in many cases having more points means you earn more points, which makes me want to hoard them to earn more, which means I never end up actually spending them, and then when I do, it's usually because I want to combine it with a sale or promo, and the companies have wised up to that shit and won't let you pull that anymore.

I just want to buy nice things that make me feel good, but for as much value as I can possibly get, and I don't think that's asking too much (which, of course it is when it comes to capitalist materialism and western heteronormative beauty standards, but that's why we have work to do, always).

[tcobeauty]

Hi, babes. I know it’s been a hot minute since I posted pretty much anything and I have at least a half dozen hauls and empties posts languishing in my Evernote drafts. I’m working on them, I promise, and lord knows my spending hasn’t slowed down, especially now that it’s my birthday month and I’m getting all the bonus codes and offers that come with it. The bottom line right now is that the world sucks and I hate just everything in it, not just because of the obvious ongoing radioactive waste dumpster fire that is 2017, but also because I’m in the throes of a (hopefully seasonal *fingers crossed* *light therapy lamp on max*) depressive episode that has grinding me down to the quick for last couple of months.

It’s all I can do to take my makeup off with a face wipe and maybe find the wherewithal to run some cleansing water over top, let alone do any kind of in-depth regimen, but the other night I mustered up the energy for a few steps before bed. I recently went back to my aesthetician for a pre-birthday (33 on Saturday) facial, and realized I have a lot of hyperpigmentation and splotchiness that I’m not a fan of, so I wanted to try some of my brightening goodies to maybe improve my mood as well as my complexion.

I had my lineup of usual suspects – Lagom and The Lotus – but I have a stash of “nice” (aka more than $3) sheet masks I’ve been needing to make my way through, so I figured the Peach Slices Lotus and Yuzu Brightening Sheet Mask  would be a nice addition to my faves. And HOLY SHIT, there was so much essence in this pouch, and very thick to boot. I was literally scooping extra bits and was able to leave it on for at least an hour while it soaked in, and I didn’t need to use the Lotus Essence afterwards, either; I just went directly to the sleeping pack once it all absorbed. The only downside was that the 100% cotton material was too stretchy as a result of being so soaked and tore in a few places. 

Other than that, it was a relaxing regimen that made me feel slightly better about myself, if not so much the world, and I guess that’s at least something, right? I know I could talk some about the importance of self-care for mental health, but you all know that anyway, and I’m starting to feel like the phrase itself has been co-opted by the Goop movement to make self-centeredness into a coping mechanism, which it has been basically since the dawn of humanity. I’m feeling a lot of things right now, in case you can’t tell. Maybe I’ll actually write some of them down and/or use some skincare products. Who knows.

[tcobeauty]

KBeauty Haul: A Peach & Lily Two-Parter

It's been a while since I had a Peach & Lily haul (okay, you got me: one month), so when I got an extra 20% off after completing a survey, I decided to splurge with some of my Peach Points as well. Unfortunately, P&L is well aware of all of our online savings tricks and I couldn't use both the 20% AND my $20 off Points code, so I made two separate purchases because I cannot let any deal go unwasted.

For this first part, I wanted to stock up on some more Lagom Cellus Mist Toner and I've been wanting to do a Baby Foot Treatment before I go on vacation, so I scooped those up along with a couple of new masks to try from Shangpree and Cremorlab. The May Coop White Water cleanser was on sale, and I've been on a cleansing water kick (let’s be honest, though: when am I not?), so I added that to my stash for when I run out/get tired of the half dozen I currently have in rotation.

I was hoping that if I held off on the 20% code, my beloved Lagom UV Sun Gel would be back in stock, but it's hot stuff, apparently, and it's been sold out for a hot minute. So it was with a heavy heart (lol), that instead I decided to treat myself to some new things to try out in the second half of this haul! In addition to (another) stash container of The Lotus essence and a Mizon sheet mask, I decided to give the Lagom Cellus Mild Moisture Cream a try, hopefully to help my mug transition to what is already shaping up to be fall full of ups and downs and weather of all kinds. 

As for the new stuff, I could no longer resist the pull of Saturday Skin. I am technically a Millennial, so I can enjoy my Millennial Pink product packaging sans guilt. The claims for combination skin and preventative care also sound pretty good, so I didn't JUST get this cleanser and eye cream for the pretty packaging, which I’m sure many a cosmetic curmudgeon has complained about. And I've discovered I really like P&L's initial grown-up trio of sheet masks, so I'm curious to see how the Peach Slices Brightening Mask does on my decidedly non-teen or -twentysomething complexion. Yuzu + lotus definitely sounds like it could be a very potent duo!

Paid: $190 / Value: $252 Savings: $62 / 25%

So, still not the best Kbeauty Haul, even when combined into one big one. Peach & Lily is elusive like that, so I'm going to keep saving my Peach Points and I'm not going to hold my breath for sales or discounts or anything, except for maybe when holiday deals finally start rolling in. 

[tcobeauty]

I treated myself to a pre-party midday sheet mask session before we headed out to a family anniversary celebration. There's a substantial part of me that hates to put makeup on overtop of a freshly sheet-masked mug, but I kept it pretty light and used translucent mineral powder as my SPF for the late afternoon/evening affair, so I think it worked out! I was feeling dull and splotchy, so I went with a Lagom Double-Cleanse and followed it up with the Mario Badescu Botanical Exfoliating Scrub for some physical brightening. It was one of those in-between weather days, cool enough to require a wrap, but still warm enough to ride with the windows down, so I kept it moist and plump with the Huxley toner and fresh cream, with the Polatam Brightening sheet mask in between. Overall, this midday regimen kept it light and luscious and helped me get prepped for a party that turned out to be just perfect. I love it when a plan comes together.

[tcobeauty]

Sephora Small Haul

Babes, I have a confession to make: I fell prey to Sephora's recent 4x Points promo for VIB Rouge members. I DON'T EVEN LIKE SEPHORA ALL THAT MUCH. I should probably unsubscribe from all beauty emails if I really want to grow the fuck up and not spend all my damn money on this stuff all the damn time, but then that would be too easy, wouldn't it?

The Makeup: Eyes and Lips

Sephora had a bunch of house brand makeup on sale, so I grabbed me some of that luscious turquoise cream Velvet Eyeshadow (no idea just yet what I’m going to wear it with, but I’ll figure it out) and a Luster Matte Longwear liquid lipstick. As much as I whine about house brands, Sephora's line has been pretty decent so far, so I figured grabbing some goodies on sale wouldn't sully my hard-earned rep as a bit of a brand snob too terribly. 

I also picked some deluxe samples of UD Vice Liquid Lipstick in Amulet, which I also have in traditional lipstick format and can attest that I actually like the liquid version better, and some Lancôme Monsieur Big mascara on reward points, and these were actually a pretty decent size compared to some other sample rewards I've seen around. Maybe one day Sephora will get their shit together and actually offer full-size/dollar value rewards, but who am I to be so bold... 

The Downside to eCommerce, pt Deux

Dammit, I’m now 2 for 2 on consecutive shipments with damaged products! I was really bummed about this one, too, because this Femme Fatale Collection is only available online and not in store, and I'd really been wanting to expand my selection of tiny, fancy perfumes and try out some Tokyomilk scents as well. However, Sephora also has a pretty great return policy, so I was able to return the damaged wares to my local store for a refund directly on my credit card. I know there's no use crying over spilt perfume, but hot damn, that bummed me out. I recently discovered, however, that the same set is also available on Birchbox, too, so that might be worth trying to see whose shipping game is more on point.

At Long Last, Laneige

This has been one of the bigger luxury kbeauty brands that has really eluded me lately, whether via budgetary restrictions or general lack of interest/utility from their products. I love little sample sets like this Hydrating Trial Kit, and Sephora is basically the motherlode for those, and where I got hooked on my beloved Belif, so I figured I'd pick up this little set for days when my skin starts to get dry as the seasons change. I love that this is a full regimen, too: cleanser, toner, essence, cream, and sleeping mask. These kits are really handy for trying out new, full product lines without worrying about wasting too much if it doesn't actually work out. I can't count the number of full-sizers I've bought on a whim and a prayer over the last 25 years of my life that didn't work out and just kind of sat around half-empty for probably a decade or so. These little trial/tester kits are a life- and pocketbook-saver for me.

Paid: $43  Value: $69 (nice) Savings: $26 / 37%

Full disclosure: the savings were more than 40% when I did the math and included the Tokyomilk set, so it hurt my soul even harder for a deal that good to go to waste. So, not a completely pointless haul (pun not intended), but I need to stop buying shit on the promise of extra points, especially if it's not on sale or has additional discounts/promos. The more you know, my beauties, the more you know... 

[tcobeauty]

A quick daytime regimen while slugging away at my home office the other day. Something about skincare and sheet masks in particular makes working from home that much more efficient and effective for me. My pores have been clogged and I've had a few breakouts lately, so I wanted something simple, gentle, and blemish-fighting without drying me out. I'm starting to get really into seaweed and other marine ingredients again (I don't think I ever stopped, tbh?), so I'm loving this Body Shop set of simple seaweed skincare treats, starting with the light cleansing gel and refreshing alcohol-free toner. Tonymoly's I'm Real Skin Purifying Seaweed Mask Sheet delivered a big shot of invigorating esssence and made my schedule of long conference calls much more enjoyable. I wrapped it up with the Body Shop Mattefying Day Cream, which felt nice and light and didn't dry me out like a lot of "oily/combination" products do, but I also didn't notice a whole awful lot of matte-efication, either. Regardless, it was a good way to break up a long work day with a bit of beauty.

[tcobeauty]

United In Beauty Instagram Challenge - Week 1

So this month I’m finally doing a big Kbeauty Instagram challenge in an effort to become a true #influencer and maybe get some momentum into setting up a separate social account for all my beauty/skincare #content instead of bombarding all my friends with my thirsty-ass brand bait in an effort to try to get some free stuff. I will fully admit it: brands, send me stuff! I’m tired of spending all my own hard-earned money on all this shit, help me out here! 

The United in Beauty Challenge is being hosted all month long by three international skincare and beauty ‘Grammers: skinbeyondborders, missteasa, and beautyinhanguk, which is apparently a bespoke Kbeauty box that I’m going to have to find a way to get my mitts on, immediately.  I’ll be the first to admit that I’ve been somewhat selective about which days I post, and combining some of the themes into single posts has been more efficient as well. Here’s a rundown of Week 1!

Day 2: Time Savers

Burt’s Bees Facial Cleansing Towelettes have been the unsung heroes of my skincare regimen for the better part of at least a decade now. Literally every day, sometimes as soon as I get home from work, I relish the sensation of wiping off the day’s stress and doom and pollution and smudges and the satisfaction of seeing it all on that little piece of cloth(? I’m not 100% sure what they’re made of, tbh). After some especially long days, sometimes it takes two to get rid of it all, and after that I feel refreshed and renewed, if not slightly more relaxed in knowing that I could pass out from exhaustion and not worry about having to take my makeup off beforehand.

But then I read that makeup remover wipes aren’t necessarily enough to truly get all the shit off your face at the end of the day, so I’ve been adding a cleansing water into the mix right before bedtime if I haven’t already done a nighttime routine (which is more often than not, these days). Dr Jart’s Dermaclear Microwater had been my favorite there for a while, but I had to try out some of this Son & Park Beauty Water to see if it lives up to all the hype. I don’t know that I’ve really seen all that much of a difference, frankly, and I might switch down to a less expensive drugstore cleansing water to save some $$, especially given that I tend to run through them pretty quickly. 

Day 3-4: Biggest Disappointment / Pleasant Surprise

I got this Dr. Jart Dermaclear Micro Milk Peel a little while ago in a Birchbox buying binge, and have been sadly underwhelmed by it. When I get a peel, I expect to fucking PEEL, but in hindsight, I guess it was somewhat unwise of me to expect a professional-strength peel in an at-home product. One day hopefully soon I will be financially able to get back into my regularly-scheduled aesthetician appointments to get my peel power back on, but until then, this particular peel does not do the trick.

The Graymelin Double-Strength Natural Eye Serum came into my life a year ago in a Mishibox, and it’s been a favorite of mine ever since. It layers so nicely under other serums and products for daytime wear, and it always feels fresh and cooling and soothing any time of year.

Day 5: Changed My Mind

When I first got this Earth’s Recipe Waterful Sun Gel I didn't really understand just how "waterful" it actually is, and I discovered (the hard way) that it didn't layer very well under makeup, which is kind of a must-have for any regular daily SPF for me. It’s HIGHLY emollient, which doesn’t bode well for combination skin and makeup. Lately, however, I've been trying to stop wearing makeup on the weekends, and I've discovered that this is a really great sun gel for no-makeup days. It absorbs nicely and doesn't have a heavy scent, but it also is really moisturizing and leaves a nice, plump glow without being too heavy or clogging my pores all up. And of course, you get that lovely SPF 50+ PA+++ UVA/UVB that pretty much every sun product, kbeauty or otherwise, should have.

Day 8: Worth the Hardship

I’m not sure if “worth the hardship,” is really the right way to define my love and obsession with The Lotus on general principle, but it’s definitely the most expensive line of Kbeauty products I’ve ever purchased, and they so far have definitely been worth the overall cost. And honestly, compared to some other luxury brands, the price point for The Lotus is not all that exorbitant. The sheet masks are a little more than I would usually spend on a sheet mask, but they’re high-quality enough to for me to rationalize, especially since The Lotus Essence is one of my definitive HG products, always and forever, and I’ve definitely been appreciating the simplicity and efficiacy of the Sleeping Pack.

Coming up in Week 2 of the United in Beauty Instagram Challenge: I went HAM on cleansers, exfoliators, toners, moisturizers, sunscreen and makeup!

[tcobeauty]

I love planning out a full day's worth of skincare in advance! This is also a function of me having planned out a routine and leaving it out in the bathroom for several days in a row, much to my husband's very patient chagrin. I'd been need some exfoliation and some brightening, and there's nothing like some galactomyces to get that job done.

For daytime and night I went with the Mizon Rice Real Cleansing Foam – it’s a great deep-cleanser with scrubby bits that isn’t too drying. During the day, I followed it up with CosRX Galactomyces Toner, Secret Key Starting Treatment Essence, and the CosRX Galacto Whitening Power Essence, and firmed and brightened up my undereye area with Benton Fermentation Eye Cream. Slapped on some Dr. Jart BB Beauty Balm with SPF 45, and I was ready for the rest of my makeup and to take on the day.

For that evening, I upped the rice quotient for added exfoliation. The Botanic Farm Grain Ferment Cleansing Sherbet gets that spackle of makeup off in a jiffy, and then the Daltokki Sticky Rice Facial Scrub gets down in there to pick up any other bits that the first two cleansers might have missed. Spritzed on the toner and slapped on the essence, and then it was time for the Tosowoong Rice Paper Pack, which is super fun to put together and put on, even if it is a little sticky and tough to maneuver. It dries fairly quickly and firmly in about 15 minutes, so I followed that up with the Ramosu Galactomyces Ferment Ampoule to give the treatment one last final boost.

Finally, I decided to switch up my final regimen step, which I think everyone should reserve the right to revise their regimen at any given moment, depending on how your face is feeling; I went with the J.One Jelly Cream instead of the Botanic Farm Sleeping Pack. I wanted to seal things in a bit more and I didn't think the light pudding-y gel of the Sleeping Pack would really smooth everything out as well as the slightly more emollient Jelly Cream. I know there’s no way to objectively tell whether my skin is brighter in the morning, but I always feel refreshed and bright after a good exfoliating routine, so do with that what you will... 

[tcobeauty]

BEAUTY HAUL: Ulta Flash Sale

Saving up all those Ulta reward points is finally starting to pay off in dividends, but once again, my intensely poor sense of timing resulted in me getting a notification for the The Big 20% Off Everything literally like two days after I placed this order. Which isn't necessarily going to stop me from ordering more, but I guess I need to pay better attention to when the coupons usually arrive and also stop paying attention to all the smaller sale/promo emails I now receive from Ulta basically daily.

The Whole Shebang: I continue to stockpile my fave hairspray, TIGI Bedhead Masterpiece, when it's on sale. I think I have a small arsenal of at least five cans now waiting patiently under the sink in my bathroom, ready for me to continue clogging up air vents and adding to the thick layer of hairspray dust that permeates pretty much any space I use on the regular. 

I have also been wanting to try out some new hair products in contemplation of possibly maybe growing things out/changing up my look, which I've done a few times before and always ended up back in the short hair (don't care) camp, but I'm hoping maybe I can find some new products to make the process a little less painful. So far I'm liking the HealthySexyHair Soy Paste as my mop keeps getting shaggier before I get a trim, but I'm underwhelmed by the Matrix Air Dry Wild Boho (ugh) creme. That one might need to wait until things get really raggedy and/or I figure out exactly what I’m trying to do here.

A few other one-offs were on sale for this particular haul, so I snagged a Revlon HD Metallic Matte Lip Color, which is a little too nice and subtle (I WANT ROBOT LIPS THX), and also not as long-wearing as I've been lead to believe most matte lip products should be. There needs to be some kind of naming convention for these products, because this is a "liquid" lip color, that goes on like a light cream and wears about as long as a standard old-fashioned lipstick. I'll give H2O+ the benefit of the doubt for this Waterbright brightening hydrogel sheet mask, the latest in a long line of Western brands trying their hardest to get at that sheet mask market. 

The Body Shop Rose soap I got just because it was on sale, and I love rose stuff. #TreatYoSelf mode in full effect and I regret nothing.

The Freebs: In addition to stuff on sale and multiple points, this trio of Tarte eye products were free gift option. I've been a fan of Tarte for a while now, so when I saw this free gift that included 2 full-size products ON TOP of sale prices, I was all over it. Much as I love my Kbeauty eyebrow pencils, I need to find something that can take their place when I finally run out of my already-dwindling stash. This Arch Architect looks a little more brown than I usually prefer (more of an auburn or reddish brown shade works better on me so it's not so harsh), but I'm intrigued to try the pencil and gel combo and see how it does. 

Y'all know I love eyeliner, and self-sharpening is always my fave way to go, so I’m pumped to try this Maneater eyeliner. We'll see how this Tarteist Last Paint mascara does – my sad little lashes need more than just paint to get them to where I like them (big and dramatic, even for daytime). The It's a 10 Miracle Finishing Spray was a bit of a redundant freebie given that I was stocking up on hair spray in general, but maybe I'll try it for travel someday soon.

The Downside of eCommerce: One thing I have been noticing on several recent shipments from various retailers is the lack of packaging and protection for some of the more fragile products inside. I've had some items leak and arrive half-empty, and then there's always the heartbreak of getting a powder that's been pre-crumbled. Fortunately, my local Ulta stores are extremely awesome and let me swap out for a fresh, non-crumbled one with no questions asked. Physician’s Formula Mineralwear Airbrushed Pressing Powder is one of my favorite SPF makeup products, great for super lazy days when I still want to look polished and prevent sun damage.

The Camera Shy: I kind of forgot to add this to the full haul shot because I had already busted it out to quench my raggedy cuticles and dry knuckles that have re-reared their wretched heads in my life. I've been getting into more Argan oil products thanks to Sally Hansen's Color Treat line, so adding this new Body Shop Wild Argan Oil Body Lotion into the lineup makes me feel much more coordinated and grownup, and I don't care who knows it.

Paid: $55.81 / Value: $213 Savings: $157 / 73%

Y'all. YOU ALL. This is my biggest savings haul of all time! I finally broke the 50% barrier and then some, thanks to points and freebies and sale prices, and I still feel like this is a momentous occasion. I think I'll celebrate by trying to top it with the 20% Off Everything coupon this weekend... #sorrynotsorryatall.

[tcobeauty]

A Sunday kind of regimen: green tea to get ready for the week! I wanted to keep it light since it's still somewhat summery, so I went with my favorite cooling products and gels for moisture. The Organic Purist Green Tea cleanser is made for more oily skin, but it feels so refreshing and preps really nicely for further toning, treatment, and moisturization. The Mario Badescu spray is one of my new favorite products, and I followed it up with my old faves from Tosowoong and Innisfree. All in all, it was an easy late afternoon session that lent itself very well to a lazy Sunday where I didn't feel like doing much of anything at all.

[tcobeauty]

Still haven't been 100% back on my evening regimen game, but I'm getting there! The other night I wanted to do a sugar and fruit themed routine, but it turned into more of a mishmash, and I'm okay with that! I really love the rest of the SkinFood Black Sugar cleansing line in addition to the wash-off mask, so I've been trying to use those together more often. I forgot how emollient the mask is though, but it worked out because the Innisfree Acai sheet mask turned out to have more of a milky essence than a watery essence, so I followed it up with the Beauty of Joseon Dynasty Cream instead of the J.One Sleeping Pack. It was a little gummy at first, but it absorbed really nicely and seemed to deal in all those other goodies for a good night's sleep. Sometimes you just have to change your plans in the middle of your regimen, and I've found that it usually works out for the better, especially if you're trying a new product and it ends up being a different consistency than you expected!