Finding the perfect skincare products is like winning a lottery, I know I may sound OA to some but God knows how long I have been searching for one. Imagine the various amounts of skincare products my face had to take as it always had been a hit or miss for me. There were times when I felt like this certain product is going to be a hit, only to find out after 3 months or so, it would turn to a disaster, giving me unnecessary break-out episodes. To add to this, I do not have that much budget to buy skincare products that I would just end up dumping or giving away, not all brands give out free samples. (Although, I still have to find a skincare product that would lessen the flabs of my cheeky face hee hee, kidding! Perhaps one has to discover reverse osmosis for flabby body parts and cheeks.)

Anyway, when I blogged about the success of my experience with Lancome Genefique Youth Activating Serum, I did not plan on using the whole line, that’s just too much my wallet can take. But since, Lancome was generous with giving their customers jumbo-sized samples, I just had to give it a try. After almost a year of using the Genefique line, I am satisfied with how it works on me. I started to invest more on skincare products than make-up. This is also the reason why I blog less this time because I have no make-up hauls to share anymore hee hee.

VANITY.KIT’s RATING

Overall Product: A+

Value: 4/5

Ease of Use: 4/5

Packaging: 5/5

Then I got so lucky to have a friend who works for P&G ang made me try the SK-II products. Specifically these 4. After merely 2 days of using the SK-II line, my face instantly brightens up and I have seen how much my freckles/age spots lightened too.  I also noticed a more even skin tone. Since, I only have few amounts of these 4 SK-II products (read: jumbo–sample-sizes), I am wishing someone would give me SK-II shopping money so I can buy the jumbo sizes hee hee.

VANITY.KIT’s RATING

Overall Product: A+

Value: 3/5

Ease of Use: 4/5

Packaging: 5/5

I have finally found 2 skincare brands that I can alternately use and hoping that in the next 5 years or more, I would still be using the same skincare products. Now for my friends at Twitter and IG who asked how I combine all these skincare products, FYI: I do not use them all at the same time. Here is list of how I alternately use these 2 brands. I do not know if this combo will work for you too.

1st Combo:
Morning: Wash with SK-II Facial Skin Treatment Cleanser and Tone with SK-II Facial Treatment Essence (sometimes I skip this in the morning). Apply Lancome Genefique Eye and follow with Lancome Genefique Activating Serum. Lastly, moisturize with Lancome Bright Expert, then apply make-up (sometimes I use a primer or sunblock, depends on my mood).

Night: Remove make-up with Cetaphil. Wash face with SK-II Facial Skin Treatment Cleanser and Tone with SK-II Facial Treatment Essence. Apply Lancome Genefique Eye and follow with Lancome Genefique Activating Serum. Then moisturize with Genefique Night Repair Cream.

2nd Combo:
Morning: Wash with SK-II Facial Skin Treatment Cleanser and Tone with SK-II Facial Treatment Essence (sometimes I skip this in the morning) . Apply Lancome Genefique Eye and follow with Lancome Genefique Activating Serum. Lastly, moisturize with SK-II Cellumination Essence, then apply make-up (sometimes I use a primer or sunblock, depends on my mood).

Night: Remove make-up with Cetaphil. Wash face with SK-II Facial Skin Treatment Cleanser and Tone with SK-II Facial Treatment Essence. Apply Lancome Genefique Eye and follow with Lancome Genefique Activating Serum. Then moisturize with SK-II Cellumination  Deep Surge.

The constant products I always use are the first 5:

1. Cetaphil as make-up remover.
2. SK-II Facial Treatment Cleanser as facial wash.
3. SK-II Facial Treatment Essence as toner.
4. Lancome Genefique Eye Activating Concentrate as eye cream.
5. Lancome Genefique Youth Activating Serum as serum. (they say always use the serum first as it absorbs easily).
6. Then, alternating the rest of these on top of the Serum: Lancome Bright Expert, Lancome Night Repair Cream, SK-II Cellumination Essence and SK-II Celluminator Deep Surge.

Yikes! I am totally behind in terms of updating this blog . I am unsure if I will ever recover from my backlog.

I was checking my drafts section and I realized I have started a lot of entries but failed to finish them. Here are the pending reviews in my drafts section:

• NARS The Multiple
• NARS Orgasm Illuminator
• Benefit Benetint
• Benefit Coralista + Sugarbomb
• Benefit Confessions of a Concealaholic
  
• Travel Light: What Make-up to Bring on a Trip
• etc… etc…

and now that I have a wee bit of time left online, I still need to check on this video baby monitor for a friend we are visiting for a trip this week. Yes, dear friends, we are bound for another long trip (well, long road trip is actually an understatement, keep us in your prayers because this got to be longest time I would spend on the road) this Thursday and will be back Monday. After this trip, we will be having a short downtime, travel-wise, and off we go again to another Summer getaway in 3 weeks time. I am hoping that during the 3-week-window, I will find time to update this blog.

In the meantime, I am about to purchase 2 items in the MAC Sized to go collection. Fix+ and Pro Eye-Makeup Remover, these 2 things will definitely complete my travel make-up kit. I am so glad MAC introduced this 1-oz-size make-up must haves because the last time I brought my Fix+ on our trip to Chicago, it spilled and I got nothing left to use .  So tell me, what are you going to get from this collection?

The MAC Sized to Go Collection (all are 1-oz.)

* Fix+ (not the Rose version; $10 US/$12 CND)
* Cleanse Off Oil/Tranquil ($10 US/$12 CND)
* Cleanse Off Oil ($10 US/$12 CND)
* Pro Eye Makeup Remover ($10 US/$12 CND)
* Demi-Wipes (30 full-size sheets; $15 US/$18 CND)
* Oil Control Lotion ($15 US/$18 CND)
* Green Gel Cleanser ($10 US/$12 CND)
* Strobe Cream ($15 US/$18 CND)
* Studio Moisture Cream ($15 US/$18 CND)

I used to experiment on different make-up remover and cleansers, most of which are oil-based. But then I keep coming back to these 2 products, both very affordable and easy to use.

On days when I wear full make-up, I use the Pond’s Cold Cream (cool classic) and on regular days when I just use light make-up, I use Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser, which according to my friend can also work as an acne scar removal.

We always have stocks of Lemon at home. I make sure we do. I love to drink my water with lemon first thing in the morning as it helps speed up my metabolism and it acts as oxidants too, not too mention the vitamins it also contains. Apart from that, here are beauty regimen which uses Lemon. I snagged this from Green Living.

Brighten and Strengthen Fingernails: Begin by soaking your fingernails in lemon juice for 10 minutes. Then brush your fingernails with a mixture of equal parts white vinegar and warm water. Then rinse your fingernails. You will be amazed at how shiny and healthy your fingernails look!

Eliminate Blackheads: Rub lemon juice over blackheads before going to bed at night. When you wake up the next morning, rinse your face with cool water. Repeat this cycle until blackheads are eliminated.

Condition Hair: Bring life and luster back to dull, damaged hair by combining 3 quarters of a cup of Olive Oil, with 1 half of a cup of raw honey and approximately 3 table spoons of lemon juice. Set the mixture aside. Shampoo, then rinse hair with tepid water. Towel dry hair, then work in a small amount of the lemon juice mixture and comb it evenly through the hair. Then cover hair with a plastic bag for a half hour. Finish by shampooing and rinsing hair one more time for luxuriously shiny hair!

Create Blonde Highlights: For a kinder all natural alternative to hair dyes and bleach, try this simple formula. Begin by rinsing your hair with a mixture consisting of 1 quarter of a cup of lemon juice and 3 quarters of a cup of water. Then simply sit in the sun for 20 minutes (after applying sunscreen, of course) to activate the lemon juice’s natural bleaching properties.

Breath Freshener: To quickly freshen bad breath, simply squirt a few drops of lemon juice into your mouth, swish it around and then swallow it. The citric acid content alters the ph level in your mouth, thus killing odor causing bacteria.

Mind Soothing Relaxation: For a perfect bath, simply add some lemon juice and sea salts to the bath water, then soak your cares away.

Do you still remember THIS CATEGORY?, well since one of my New Year’s resolutions is to be able to save more this year and turn into one sensible shopper, I thought of minimizing my vanity purchases and try out more natural beauty regimen which products can be found at home.

Here are a couple of DIY Beauty Regimen which I snagged from Alpha. Thanks Alpha!

ANTI-AGING FACE MASK
This mask will add hydration to your skin, neutralize free radicals responsible for aging, and minimize the appearance of fine lines by boosting collagen and elastin.

Ingredients
1 tsp organic honey (draws and retains moisture)
1 tbsp organic yogurt (skin-nourishing natural fats and lactic acids)
1-5 drops argan oil (rich in Vitamin E, anti-age, reduce inflammation)
Directions
Microwave honey for 10 seconds in a microwave. Mix honey, yogurt, and argan oil in a small bowl. Apply to face, leave on 15 mins and remove with a warm towel.

ORGANIC LIP BALM from Glamology.
It’s easy to do, does not contain toxic ingredients or preservatives, very inexpensive to make, and sure to keeps your lip well moisturized.

Ingredients
2 oz Beeswax
1 oz Organic Coconut Oil (or Olive Oil)
5-10 drop Essential Oil (ex: Peppermint)
Directions
Grate beeswax into a large Pyrex cup and add coconut oil. Fill a large pot with a small amount of water and heat at medium/low. Place Pyrex cup into water and stir to melt fully. Carefully remove cup from water and let cool a minute. Poor into a small glass container and add essential oil and stir. Let cool for an hour or so.

Next DIY Hunt: To find the best acne treatments that can be made in your own home.

The first time I heard of this Oil Cleansing Method was when I was checking my feeds from Google Reader and found THIS ENTRY. It is pretty simple as you will only need these:

- a soft washcloth
- a blend of castor oil and olive oil
- hot water

I had a hard time looking for castor oil and even thought that this kind of oil is being used to tune up cars and other auto accessories, but I was wrong hee hee . I researched where to buy it but ended up getting a bottle from DH’s Aunt who always has everything you’ll ever need. Giddily, I did it one weekend and again, the instruction is pretty simple as well:

The Method:
1. Pour the oil into your palm. Rub your hands together to warm the oil and smooth it over your face.
2. Massage the oil into your face. Massage the oil deeply into your pores in a circular motion. Work it into your pores so that blackheads and all that gunk can be dissolved and steamed away. (I love it when I feel little beady, pore-clogging stuff coming out of my pores as I massage the oil, delightfully gross haha!)
3. Once you feel your pores are clean enough, pick up your washcloth and soak it in hot water. The water must be warm enough to open pores and remove the oil.
4. Cover your face with the warm washcloth, and let it stay until it cools.
5. Wipe the oil away and rinse the washcloth well in hot, running water. Repeat steps 4 & 5 for at least 2 more times.

Amazingly, you’ll instantly see how this method can rid off your stubborn black heads! For more information, you can read THIS. I do not recommend it to oily skin because DH who has oily skin, broke out when we did this process together. I have normal-dry skin and got no breakouts.

If you want an easier step but would spare some budget, Shu Uemura really sells out good cleansing oils. Check it out HERE and HERE.

Tomorrow is the big day. It will be a very long day for me. I feel jittery and nervous that after almost 2 years of not doing make-up professionally, here I am accepting a bridal make-up plus some sponsors/entourage make-up. The more challenging part of it is that I will be part of the wedding too. In short, all eyes will be at the bride and criticisms on how she’ll look tomorrow will be heard by me 1st-hand. Ahh, I really hope I’d be able to enhance her beauty and make an exceptional creation. Anyways, as for my look tomorrow, I am loving my dress which DH got for me. I am just grateful that my friends and I have started our Pull 20/20 a dollar a pound, loser takes all weight loss challenge at least 7 days before the wedding and I still have time to lose weight. I lost 3 lbs since August 1 . I hope to be consistent on this. If you ask me, one of the best weight loss tips ever is simply: SELF CONTROL/DISCIPLINE. All food cravings are just in the mind, you’re not really starving, so don’t eat. Oh well, I’d rather not talk too soon as it’s still too early to tell if I’d be able to shed off my targeted 20 lbs. Instead of giving you weight loss tips, here are natural beauty aide tips I got from Dez. Some of which I have already done and vouche at their effectiveness. Have a fabulous weekend!

Olive oil as makeup remover

We all know the benefits of consuming good fats like extra virgin olive oil, but they also work wonders for the skin when applied topically.

Chemical peels have also been the must-have treatment, especially among those who want to achieve smooth and less wrinkled skin.

There are many types of chemical solutions used, but needless to say are very harsh as the concentration of acids used is much higher than, say, buying a regular alpha hydroxy acid face mask at the department store. If you’ve tried this treatment, or have seen someone who’s had it, you know what I mean when your face can look quite unsightly for the

next few days. Or you can just think of Samantha from that episode from Sex and the City where her face looked redder than a tomato.

Papaya contains an enzyme that dissolves the top outermost layer of your skin. All you need is a bit of the pulp by scraping the leftover from inside of the peel (after you’ve opened and sliced it), rub it on to a clean face and neck, and

then wait for five to 10 minutes. You may feel a slight tingling as the juice dries, but that just means that the papaya enzymes are working their way to dissolving your dead skin cells.

Remember, if you have sensitive skin, are on Accutane medication, or just recently got sunburned, you may want to do a small patch test first on your skin before doing both the baking soda microdermabrasion and the papaya peel

treatment.

Also avoid too much sun exposure after doing either one, because though they are both relatively safe, your skin’s new layer will be very sensitive to the sun afterward.

Your skin instantly feels refreshed and more awake, and the cold ice quickly de-puffs the bags under your eyes.

When my lips get really dry, cracked, and start to peel, it feels really uncomfortable and definitely does not look sexy.

Just wipe off the sugar to leave a bit of olive oil residue to moisturize your lips and get ready to pucker up!

Microdermabrasion is a popular treatment offered at spas or dermatologists to remove the outermost layer of dead skin cells on your face using fine crystals.

Done regularly, it lessens and fades the appearance of scars, age spots, uneven skin tone, fine lines, and even helps treat acne. Well, you can get a safe yet effective alternative to that at home just by mixing one tablespoon of baking soda with one teaspoon of water.

Just very lightly massage it onto your face and throat, rinse, and you’re done.

This literally costs you next to nothing compared to getting a professional treatment, and no appointment is necessary.

Source: HERE

Okay as promised, after sharing a natural beauty regimen, here are the moisturizers, cleansers, toners, facial soap/lotion, and make-up remover that I use depending on the season . Care to share yours?

I remember a friend who has wireless alarms/alarm clocks in her vanity dresser. She needs to time herself whenever she applies make-up. Isn’t that cute

FROM RIGHT TO LEFT.

• Clinique Toner for travel bag
• Clinique Rinse-Off Eye Make-up Solvent, eye make-up remover
• Clinique all about eyes. Reduce puffiness, undereye circles etc…
• Clinique Moisture Surge, very good for extreme weather condition
• Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser
• Clinique Liquid Facial Soap, Mild
• Clinique Facial Soap, travel kit size
• Clinique Moisturizing Lotion, travel kit size
• Clinique Clarifying Lotion/Toner STEP 2
• Clinique Moisturizing Lotion
• Olay Total Effects 7 Signs Serum
• Regular Olay Moisturizer
• Olay Total Effects 7 anti-aging moisturizer, one is with  SPF 15
• Aveeno Skin Brightening  Daily Scrub
• St. Ives Apricot Invigorating Scrub