The Ordinary 100% Organic Cold-Pressed Rose Hip Seed Oil
The Ordinary 100% Plant-Derived Squalane
The Ordinary Amino Acids + B5
COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid
COSRX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence
The Ordinary Glycolic Acid 7% Toning Solution
How I use these products: Double cleanse, eye cream, BHA liquid on my nose as a toner, Glycolic toner all over my face (except for the eye region), then I mix Amino Acids liquid + Snail mucin + Squalane + Rose hip oil into an emulsion and apply all over my face and neck.
I usually use a sleeping pack as my last step but tonight has been rough and I didn’t bother with one.
I mean it when I say 98% of my skincare is from The Ordinary. I love their aesthetics, I love the product’s efficacy, and most importantly, I know what I’m getting.
I don’t like purchasing products with actives mixed in with fillers. With The Ordinary, I can pick and choose which actives I want and there are no hidden fillers.
Plus (and I wish I could scream this at the top of my lungs), the products WORK. Some take time ,and some are almost miraculously instant. Aaaaannnddd all of TO’s offerings are affordable, almost comically so.
Now, enough of me rambling on about how much I love TO, and let me tell you about this toner.
Alongside glycolic acid, there’s aloe vera, ginseng, and amino acids. There are more ingredients, but I won’t bore you by listing them all here.
This toner lasts me more than a year with regular use and for $8.70 CDN, it’s worth it. I get instant results whenever I use this product. My skin becomes radiant and bright, my skin’s texture is smoother, and my stubborn fine line on my forehead isn’t as pronounced.
I know when I use this toner that any red or new acne pigmentation will be reduced. I pick at my skin when I’m anxious (I know, such a bad habit), and I get angry scars, but with regular use and a bit of patience, they slowly fade because of this toner.
Though the glycolic acid in this toner is strong, it is also hydrating, and I find the aloe vera soothing on my skin.
Be warned: if you are new to AHAs or have sensitive skin, I don’t recommend this product. It’s THAT strong of an acid. Also, if you have any blemishes or scratches you are unaware of, you will know it after using this toner. Even after two years of regular use, I still feel a slight acidic heat on my face when using it.
I love this toner. I really do and am already halfway through my second bottle. It’s effective, affordable, and you get instant results. What more could I ask for?
(And no, I don’t work for The Ordinary or Deciem (The Ordinary’s parent company), and this is not an advertisement for them. However, if they do want to sponsor me or hire me, I would love it. Thanks.)
A year or two ago, Cannabis Sativa seed oil/cannabis oil was all the rage in skincare. Known for being an anti-inflammatory and filled with antioxidants, it’s a good choice when looking for a skincare product that can help blemishes and reduce redness.
During Christmas, I was lucky enough to snag this oil, along with its cleanser counterpart in a kit that was for sale. I had been eyeing it for some time but finally bit the bullet and purchased it.
I’ve been using this facial oil when I have blemishes or my skin is sensitized and inflamed from actives or hormonal disruptions. I can’t speak for the reduction in redness claim as I don’t have a ton of redness on my face.
Kiehl’s claims that this oil also helps improve one’s skin barrier, calming and soothing the skin. Alongside the cannabis seed oil (that is hemp-derived), there is oregano oil, which fights blemishes and problem skin. The oil smells of musty oregano oil but once applied to the face, it fades away, and the facial oil melts wonderfully into the skin.
I enjoy using this non-comedogenic facial oil, and I can’t wait to see the long-term benefits the more I use the product.
I’ve been feeling awful lately, so anxious and worried about everything that I’ve been struggling to function. Last night, I couldn’t sleep and stayed up most of the night just worrying about things I couldn’t change. It’s a bad habit, I know.
This morning I woke up exhausted and groggy and almost skipped my morning skincare routine. But I dragged myself through it, and now I feel more awake and functional.
I love chamomile; I love it in my skincare and in tea. It’s relaxing. I used this sheet mask to prep my skin, and while it was relaxing to lie down for twenty minutes, a part of me was bored by it.
The Specifics:
Condition of my skin: A few blemishes that are healing.
Skin Prep: Double cleansed and prepped my skin with my homemade green tea and witch hazel toner.
Brand: Nature Republic
Claims: “Mild soothing delivered by Egyptian chamomile. Comfortably smooth rough skin with chamomile extract.” (x)
Affordability: I paid $1.99 CDN for this sheet mask.
Smell: Upon opening the pouch, I got a faint whiff of fresh florals that was overtaken by a strong scent of alcohol. The alcohol was almost overwhelming but dissipated once the sheet mask was on my face.
Texture of the essence/serum: The essence was clear, watery, and non-sticky. There was a lot of essence drenched in the mask and at the bottom of the pouch.
Texture/material of the sheet mask: Thin cellulose material that held the essence well and contoured my face without slipping.
Duration: I wore the mask for 20 minutes.
Does it meet its claims: I found the mask to be hydrating and plumping. It smoothed the texture of my face.
What I like: The mask had a slight cooling effect that I found to be refreshing. I liked how much essence was in the mask and in the pouch. I liked how there was chamomile and honeysuckle extract in the essence too.
What I don’t like: I found the alcohol in the essence to be a little harsh on my senses and overwhelming. It tingled on my face which I didn’t find soothing. The essence also left my face tacky for a few minutes. I continued with the rest of my skincare and it took around ten minutes for the tackiness to dissipate.
Repurchase: If I’m in a bind and I can’t find other (better) masks to purchase, I would repurchase this one. That being said, I wouldn’t hunt this sheet mask down or pay more than $2 CDN for it.
Recommend: Yes but don’t break your bank buying it.
Final thoughts: I did find this mask relaxing and refreshing to use. I thought it had a nice cooling effect and it left my face plump, smooth, and hydrated.
It’s been a while since I did a skincare haul (or is this the first time?). I’ve been slacking with my blogging, and I’m terrible at remembering to take photos. I get too excited to rip into my orders and play with what I purchased. But I remembered this time! And what a large haul it was.
I ordered everything from a local online store, Mikaela Beauty, and was impressed yet again. This is my second time ordering from them, and they never disappoint. I always receive my package two to three days after ordering, and everything is always packaged perfectly with a ton of samples given. I’m already waiting to do another order with them when my wallet isn’t so upset with me.
Here’s my order!
Everything is new to me except for the Banana Sleeping Pack and a hyaluronic acid sheet mask.
I won’t bore you with listing all of the sheet masks, but here’s a list of the products:
Top left:
COSRX Pure Fit Cica Toner mini
COSRX Propolis Synergy Toner mini
COSRX Centella Water Alcohol-Free Toner
Beauty of Joseon Ginseng Essence Water
Bottom left:
Tony Moly Magic Food Banana Sleeping Pack
Tony Moly Magic Food Banana Hand Milk
Tony Moly Magic Food Mango Hand Butter
(Not pictured: I’m From Mugwort Essence mini)
I’m excited to try out these products! Have you used any of these products before?
There’s nothing more satisfying than finishing a product. Or more anxiety-inducing, if you’re anything like me (who always worries about discontinued products or not being able to buy its replacement).
This is my go-to cleanser. I first wrote my first impressions on this line when it was released years ago . If I recall, I wasn’t too impressed with the line and was underwhelmed with this cleanser. I thought it was just a basic gel cleanser.
But I was wrong. I’m not afraid to admit it.
I love this cleanser. It’s fragrance-free, soap-free, and alcohol-free! Moreover, it’s gentle on my skin. When I have blemishes or my skin is reactive and hating life, I know this cleanser won’t aggravate it or make things worse. It’s gentle and yet, it removes any residual oil on my face leftover from my oil cleanser. I double cleanse with this, and it doesn’t strip my face of moisture or leave it feeling weirdly squeaky clean. My skin is left soft, clean, and smooth without feeling painfully dry or tight.
I’m glad I never gave up on this cleanser and kept using it because now, it’s the only one I use regularly and trust.
Peter Thomas Roth Water Drench Hyaluronic Cloud Cream
not pictured: Biossance Squalane + Marine Algae Eye Cream
How I use these products: Double cleanse, cica toner, BHA toner on my nose, sheet mask, eye cream, Alpha Arbutin + Amino Acids, Niacinamide, snail mucin + squalane, water drench cloud cream.
I know you’re supposed to use a moisturizer beneath facial oils but that has never worked for me. I always mix my snail mucin with my facial oils and I find it sinks into my skin better. Then I seal in the oil emulsion with a moisturizer.
Also, I know The Ordinary’s Niacinamide serum is infamous for its pilling beneath skincare products but I’ve never had an issue. The trick is to wait a few minutes for it to absorb into the skin before layering on more products.
I’ve been feeling anxious lately (for a variety of reasons). It has come to a point that sometimes I’m so anxious I feel sick. It’s pretty terrible. To offset the anxious thoughts, I’ve been trying to do more skincare self-care. Focus on taking care of myself, even when I don’t want to.
I’m hoping things will start looking up (I keep saying that and so far, nothing yet), but if things get worse, I’ll just have to offset the negative with trying to be more hopeful. Even if it kills me.
Today’s sheet mask had gimmicky and flashy packaging, and even if it was a terrible mask, I was going to use it to treat myself. Thankfully, it wasn’t terrible. Read below for my thoughts on it!
The Specifics:
Condition of my skin: I have a few blemishes on my cheeks.
Skin Prep: Double cleansed and prepped my skin with my homemade green tea and witch hazel toner.
Brand: MEDIHEAL
Claims: “Moisturizing, Illuminating. Euterpe Oleracea (Açaí Berry) Fruit Extract and Vaccinium Angustifolium (Blueberry) Fruit Extract nourish, revitalize, and moisturize skin.” (x)
Smell: A very subtle fresh berry scent. It smells refreshing and light and dissipates on the face. The fragrance did not irritate my skin.
Texture of the essence/serum: The essence was clear and watery. On the face, it sinks well into the skin and doesn’t leave the face tacky or sticky.
Texture/material of the sheet mask: The material is a transparent and thin fabric. Despite the thinness of the material of the mask, it holds the essence well and becomes almost jelly-like.
Duration: I wore the mask for 20 minutes.
Does it meet its claims: I found the mask hydrating and refreshing. It plumped my skin and made it more radiant but I didn’t find it moisturizing.
What I like: I loved the jelly-like feel of the mask and how much essence was soaked in the mask. I liked how the mask contoured my face and didn’t need to be readjusted. I know I’m anti-fragrance (for the most part) but I enjoyed the scent of the mask. It was very light but refreshing. This mask layered well under other skincare products and didn’t leave my skin tacky. I loved the packaging of the mask. I’m all for flashy and bright packaging and sure, the whole ‘acai berry’ trend is gimmicky too but I liked it.
What I don’t like: I wish the mask was more moisturizing.
Repurchase: Yes but I wouldn’t pay more than $3 CDN on the mask.
Recommend: I would definitely recommend this mask to try out when you want something to plump your skin and make your face more radiant. Just be warned that it’s not as moisturizing as it claims.
Final thoughts: While this mask didn’t overwhelm me, I did enjoy using it and am glad I bought a second one. It smelled nice, toned my face, and left it radiant and plump. Though it wasn’t moisturizing, it layered well under my nightly skincare products. Since it left my skin so plump and hydrated, I found my other skincare products were easily spreadable and absorbed well into my skin because of this mask.
Honeysuckle Haiku 