I Used Only Korean Skincare Products For 3 Years

~ I recently had to wish for a pimple, just so I'd be able to test the CosRX Acne Pimple Master Patch. What I'm saying is, I haven't had any serious, hi-fi pimples for the past 3 years. 

(Just 1 time: I was at a Watson's in Bangkok in May 2018, and I saw this Garnier Sakura White Serum. It was pink & pretty, so I bought a sample-sized tube. I applied it on my face that night, and next morning I woke up with a big cystic pimple on my forehead.)

~ I was gonna get fillers on 2 deep frown lines on my forehead. Now they look ironed out. Though I started making a conscious effort not to frown so much & wear sunglasses whenever I'm out, I know it's hugely due to the extra products I was using.

~ Pitted scars are smaller & those tiny white bumps under eyes (milia seeds) are gone.

~ Skin texture is smoother & more polished than when it was in my early 20's.

~ As for dark spots, lighter sun spots are gone. But deeply-embedded pigmentation patches have not changed much. However, I must say that I haven't used many heavy-duty Korean"Whitening" products yet.

*******

Those are some of the results I got from using only Korean Skincare products consistently for the past 3, or so, years.

I came across a quote, which says: "Don't sell a product, sell an experience."

My mind instantly traveled to all my Korean Skincare Products, because each and every product I've used have been an experience.

I started in 2015, and then it slowly became my BIGGEST OBSESSION. If I'm not using a K-Beauty product yet, I'm reading about it & researching the benefits of its ingredients.

Products I've used. *Derma Roller is another story.*

*Earlier products*

The K-Beauty 10 Step Routine (My Way):

STEP 1: DOUBLE CLEANSING. Using a cleansing oil/balm & then a foam/gel cleanser.

STEP 2: SCRUB or PEELING GEL

(Only 1-2 times a week)

STEP 3: TONER. 

STEP 4: EYE CREAM.

STEP 5: SHEET MASK 

(Only 1-3 times a month)

STEP 6: ESSENCE

STEP 7: SERUM/AMPOULE

(I never skip this step.)

STEP 8: MOISTURIZER or EMULSION

STEP 9: SUNBLOCK

(Only during day time)

STEP 10: SLEEPING MASK or NIGHT TREATMENT. 

*You skip STEP 10 during the day & STEP 9 at night.

To simplify it, here are the products I'm currently using most of the time.....

1. Double Cleansing: Banila Co Zero Cleansing Balm to remove makeup. Foam cleansers I've been using are: The Face Shop Rice Water Bright, Innisfree Volcanic Pore Cleanser & It's Skin Mangowhite Cleansing Foam.

2. Peeling Gel: It's Skin Mangowhite Peeling Gel (My favorite so far)

3. Toner: Son & Park Beauty Water.

4. Eye Cream: Etude House Pink Vital Water Eye Serum

5. Sheet Mask (not shown): Not a necessity for me, really. Though I've used most of the Innisfree ones.

6. Essence (not shown): I was using Innisfree Soybean Essence.

7.  Serum/Ampoule: It's Skin Caviar Serum (which I LOVE & will repurchase) or Klaire's Freshly Juiced Vitamin Drop.

8. Moisturizer: Etude House Pink Vital Water Cream. I need a moisturizer when I'm using a whitening serum, which is usually watery. But if I'm using a Snail serum/ampoule, which is slimy in texture, I skip moisturizer. This all also depends on the weather.

9. Sunblock: Innisfree Daily UV Essence Water Base SPF 50+ PA+++. This is not my favorite. I like Missha one. I prefer sunblocks in essence form

10. Sleeping Mask: Laneige Water Sleeping Mask. 

My absolute favorite skincare product of all time.

Do I do this full 9-10 step routine everyday? Yes, only at night. Then, in the morning, I use only foam cleanser---till Step 9. But, of course, I sleep with my makeup on quite often too. So the routine is done in the morning.

I had gotten bored of using the same products, coz they really do last a while! So I recently got some of the popular Korean skincare products right now:

Yes Style Haul:

Secret Key Lemon Sparkling Peeling Gel

Dear Klaires Freshly Juiced Serum Vitamin C & Centella Asiatica Extracts

Etude House Lash Serum

Missha Time Revolution Night Repair Borabit Ampoule

Koelf Ruby Bulgarian Rose Hydro Gel Eye Patch

Nacific Phyto Niacin Whitening Essence

Banila Co Clean It Zero Cleansing Balm

Son & Park Beauty Water

Skin & Lab Pink Clay Facial Mask

CosRX Acne Pimple Master Patch (Mentioned at the start of this post)

Klaire's Gentle Black Cleansing Puff (FREE with purchase, with a sheet mask)

*Yes Style shipped my package from Singapore & I did not have to pay Customs charges, coz they*

********

Myntra Haul:

The Face Shop Chia Seed Hydrating Facial Toner

The Face Shop Rice Water Bright Cleansing Lotion

*Myntra was selling The Face Shop products at discounted prices - upto 30% off.*

*******

♡

This is a topic that shall continue. This post has been sitting in my drafts for over a year, and I will click publish NOW, whether it's good/informative enough or not.

In the next posts, I'll list down The BEST MUST-TRY Korean Skincare Products I've tried so far, and in another, I'll share my weekly/monthly routines and how I rotate between ALL the products - because I'm about to buy more ;p

This. 

This is where I'll try everything, if I could. 

This is where I'm going ALL IN.

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It's Skin ~ Now In India

Remember when the brand Lush pulled out of India? Honestly, I'd never been that big a fan of the brand, but a whole lot of bath bomb addicts were crushed!

The other brand that has become elusive in India is Bourjois. I just don't know where it went! And you guys know it's my favorite! 

So now, I've taken it upon myself to support all the new brands that are testing the waters here in India. Especially Asian/Korean brands that I'm all about lately (skincare), in the hope that many others will see we are very happening & India is the place to be =D

Etude House, Missha, Laneige, Tony Moly...  Are you listening??!!

Back in May, when I'd dropped by New U to get a new tube of mascara, I saw a new counter- It's Skin. I got acquainted with this brand on Ebay when I was browsing Korean skincare stuff, and I only bought an eyebrow gel mascara before. That day I went crazy! I couldn't even. 

14 types of serums to pick from, for starters.

So  here are all the products I've got and been using so far....

Ted Baker Bow Bag DUPE ~ For FREE!

Hola! How are you all doing? I'm back from my mini vacation. But more on that in the next post. I wanted to get this post up first.

Seriously, the best things really are FREE! I hauled quite a bit, but this particular haul's the one that got me the MOST excited! This.Bag. I can't even! If you've been haunted by the bow-tiful, but pricey, Ted Baker bags, go get one of these ASAP before they sell out!

Ted Baker bags are available in India at a store called 'The Collective', which has a few outlets in Delhi/NCR, like at Ambience Mall Gurgaon. The bag similar to this one costs Rs.3500. I crossed it off my wishlist, now that I have this free version =D

 

The Best Cleanser I've Ever Used ~ Baby Smooth Skin!

Remember in my interview with Cosmo I said I would never dedicate an entire blog post to a face wash? Well, this one is an exception, because this face wash, or scrub, is outstanding! I rarely finish a tube of cleanser. I get bored of them easily, and I always keep around 3-5 in my bathroom. But now I think I'm ready to commit to one ~ Clean & Clear Morning Energy Skin Brightening Daily Facial Scrub. Look how much is left in the tube. I don't know what I'd do without it! Sometimes I'd use it just so I can smell it and feel it's goodness on my face, and that translates into a disciplined night time cleansing routine, no matter how tired I am.

About: MORNING Energy Skin Brightening Scrub is formulated with BURSTING BEADS and a unique blend of caffeine, lemon and papaya. It invigorates your senses and helps brighten your skin’s appearance. Skin appears instantly refreshed and leaves you ready to face your day. Oil-free.

 

NEW! Pond's White Beauty BB + Fairness Cream

Another BB Cream has hit the Indian market, and it seems to have all the benefits & sun protection we'd need during our scorching summers.

First of its kind Pond’s white beauty BB+Fairness Cream that instantly covers spots and lightens skin from within to give you radiant skin all day.

The evolution of BB Cream:
BB cream, also known as Blemish Balm cream, was originally formulated in the 1950s by German dermatologist, Dr. Christine Schrammek, to protect and provide natural light coverage for patients’ sensitive skin, who had just undergone laser treatments and surgery. Recently, it was introduced in South Korea and Japan and it has been named “the secret of Korean actresses” for their fair and flawless skin.

The science behind Pond’s white beauty ™ BB+fairness cream 
With the Pond’s Institute’s dual-acting sophisticated skin lightening GenWhite™ Cover Formula and SPF 30 PA++ advanced sunscreen protection, Pond’s white beauty™ BB+ fairness cream not only improves skin texture and effectively lightens skin from within but also provides Natural looking instant glow for Indian skin. Clinically proven to lighten skin tone and reduce dark spots, GenWhite™ Formula is enriched with a powerful mix of Vitamin B3, Vitamin E, Allantoin and advanced superior sunscreen protection.

• Vitamin B3 - Pond’s signature ingredient, helps to reduce and control melanin accumulation on the skin
• Vitamin E – A potent fat soluble anti-oxidant to neutralize the harmful effects of free radicals which can trigger melanin production which leads to darker skin
• Allantoin – Recognized as an anti-inflammatory by US FDA found in the comfrey plant and helps to reduce processes that can lead to increased pigmentation
• Advanced Superior Sunscreen Protection SPF 30 PA++  SPF 30 PA++ - Helps to protect against skin tanning and photo ageing.

Lakmé Perfect Radiance 4 Week Intense Whitening Capsules Treatment Review

Here's a "Personality Test" I made up while writing this review:

Look at the capsules in the pic above. What else do you think they look like?

A. You think they look like bowling pins.

B. You think they look like dead bodies.

C. You think they look like hibernating robots.

D. All of the above. 

***Pick only one. Results at the end of this post.

My Shopping List: Hello Kitty Makeup, Lashes, Caviar Nails, Etc

We won't call it the wishlist anymore, okay? We'll call it The Shopping List. You know the overwhelming feeling we feel when shopping? I figured if I note down exactly what I want, I will feel calmer when my brain is hit with temptations all at once.

So here the products I've been eyeing this week and I'm going out to get them today.

Hello Kitty Makeup at Superdrug! I couldn't stop thinking about them ever since I saw them on British Beauty Blog. Oh my bows. Nail polishes, lipsticks, etc. Look at ze lipstick....

Bourjois Faux & Fabulous False Lashes ~ Lady In Black!

Pond's White Beauty Daily Spot-less Lightening Cream Review

If you see a new dark spot every 2-3 weeks, like I do, every whitening/lightening cream will call out to you.

"Try me! Yes, try me! I will change your fac..... life! C'mon now, why you walking away from me??? Hey!" That's the frickin' pricey one talking (the one in white packaging). You flee from it before you succumb to it's seduction, because you know it'll never measure up to your expectations, especially if you have to shell out more than the what you'd have to for 2 MAC lipsticks for it.

You usually settle for something that will still leave room for lipsticks, like my current hope-inducing lightening day cream- Pond's White Beauty Daily Spot-less Lightening Cream. It is a brand new formula, and different from the one launched a few years back, which I did not like at all. This one claims to 'work with your skin'

A Little About It:

It works with your unique skin to inhibit the production of melanin, reducing dark spots and lightening skin from the source. The GenWhite formula is also unique because it is our first ever vanishing cream formula that is proven to be SPF20 PA++ sunscreen system. It provides protection from more than 93% of UVB rays that burn skin when directly exposed to the sun and UVA rays that your skin doesn’t feel oily and heavy with sunscreen. The GenWhite technology was formulated by selecting over 1000 whitening ingredients and contains special ingredients that are scientifically proven to work with your skin. 

WANTED: Green Tea Skin Care Products

I hate the taste of Green Tea, but I am obsessed with Green Tea Beauty Products! OBSESSED! Right now, I'm c-r-a-v-i-n-g Green Tea beauty products like a pregnant woman craves sour (or sweet) foods. Btw, did you know that when a pregnant woman doesn't get what she's craving, the baby will drool more? Yes, it's true. My pregnant relative didn't get the mutton she wanted to eat during pregnancy, and her baby was always unnaturally wet around the mouth area. Poor thing.

These days, I'm searching for Dove Go Fresh Cucumber & Green Tea range, which I have used before, but I can't find them in my local supermarkets! I think I'm going a bit crazy....thinking 'Green Tea....Green Tea....'

Why Green Tea?

Green tea is rich in anti-oxidants & has anti-inflammatory properties which ward off wrinkles & acne. Studies show that it reduces sun damage & fights skin cancer. You can google for detailed explanations, but that's all I need to know.

*Most importantly: It smells nice & refreshing!

I know one brand - Ginvera, and it has a variety of Green Tea products. I saw them everyday at Watsons when I was in Kuala Lumpur last year. The brand is only available in Malaysia & some other Asian countries, I think. 

I have only used one products by the brand so far- Green Tea Intensive Whitening & Spot Corrector.....

I finished it. I remember it didn't visibly clear up any spots, but  it's a small tube. I'd buy it again.

New Launches ~ Pond's, Faces Canada, Fair & Lovely

Below are some of the new skin care products in the Indian market. They are all calling out to me, especially the ones at the very end.

Fair & Lovely Advanced Multi Vitamin Daily Fairness Expert- This premium variant addresses skin concerns such as marks,  sun tan, dullness, dark circles and skin darkening. It enhances fairness, protects from free radicals, nourishes and rejuvenates the skin.

Pond's New Age Miracle - The Pond’s Institute combined the power of up to 6 bio-actives to create the youth-enhancing miracle that is New Intelligent Pro Cell Complex™. The 6 bio-actives work in combination with each other and with the natural processes of your skin, to comprehensively ensure that age simply cannot catch up.

• CLA: Miraculous ingredient that stimulates skin cells, thus promoting faster cellular turnover. 
• Retinol: Best proven ingredient that works within skin, influencing and enhancing skin’s ability to produce collagen and repair itself.
• Two Retinol Boosters: Work with each other to boost the efficacy of Retinol, accelerating and enhancing skin’s ability to act younger, through epidermal rejuvenation.
• Alpha Hydroxy Acid (AHA): Gently exfoliates skin by accelerating removal of skin-dulling dead cells. Skin appears smoother and clears the way for renewed skin cells from within.
• Glycerine: Restores and enhances skin’s moisture level for softer, visibly plumper and younger looking skin.
• 12HSA: Works deep within skin to renew skin cells and adapt to the unique genetic framework of skin.

- Pond's Age Miracle Cell ReGEN™ Day Cream SPF 15 PA++ (50g at Rs.399/-, 35g at Rs.299 & 10g at Rs.99/-)

- Pond's Age Miracle Deep Action Night Cream (50g at Rs. 399/-)