Makeup Monday

by Grace Ko in , , ,


Before I left the States, I had a dinner and a "one last hurrah" GNO (girls' night out) with two of my girlfriends. It sure made us realize we're "older" now but it was a good time, nonetheless. My girlfriends know me so well and spoiled me with these gifts! I had stashed them away for the big move and have only recently pulled them out to use them. 

NARS The Happening Palette; Cle de Peau Clarifying Serum; Cle de Peau Gentle Cleansing Foam

NARS The Happening Palette; Cle de Peau Clarifying Serum; Cle de Peau Gentle Cleansing Foam

makeup 3 final.jpg

I had never tried anything from Cle de Peau and was thrilled to receive products from the line. Cle de Peau is an ultra-luxurious and extremely pricey skincare and makeup brand. I have not tried the serum yet but the gentle cleansing foam has been amazing. It leaves your skin feeling very clean without feeling tight. I have incorporated it into my daily skincare routine and it is perfect to use with my Clarisonic. It foams up very well and I can get away with using the tiniest amount; with such a hefty $63 price tag, it helps that you don't go through the product quickly. 

I have always loved NARS. The first ever eyeshadow duo I purchased was one from NARS and the first ever blush I purchased was NARS Deep Throat (which is still one of my favorites). When I opened The Happening Palette, I was excited that I would be able to try NARS Orgasm and NARS Laguna (two cult favorites). This palette has a blush, a bronzer, and 4 eyeshadows, making it a perfect one to travel with. 

Thank you J & S! 


Beauty On Board

by Grace Ko in , ,


I have been on quite a number of long-haul flights in my life. And despite my occasional motion sickness, I have learned a few tricks and tips to make my air-time a bit more enjoyable. One of these ways is to have an in-flight regime. 

I know... It sounds a bit excessive. But hear me out. 

The idea of sitting in a cramped space for an extended period of time isn't what I necessarily think of as being a "good time". Add the dry, recycled air that wreaks havoc on my skin and sitting on my tush for hours on end becomes a bit too much at times. Creating a mini spa-experience makes the whole flight much better. The best part? It only takes a few key components. 

1. Hydration 

This not only includes some of the products I apply but also with drinking water. I still have to make quite an effort to drink water on flights. I usually gravitate towards a ginger ale to combat the motion sickness/indigestion but I have forced myself to always ask for water alongside any other beverage I request. 

2. Moisturization

During my recent trip to Cambodia, I snapped a photo of the products I used as part of this "in-flight beauty regime". 

-If I am wearing makeup on the plane, the first step is to remove the makeup. I usually use a makeup wipe on flights for the convenience. 

-Then I use a toner/mist. My current choice: Avene Eau Thermale, a gentle, soothing thermal water spray. 

-Next, eye cream. I love this travel-size one, Origins GinZing

-Then, I apply a mask. This may sound ridiculous to some but luckily, this specific one, once applied, looks like a regular moisturizer. I love the Origins Drink-Up Intensive Overnight Mask. I put a layer all over my face and it somehow magically seals in moisture. 

-Lastly, I apply a moisturizing lip balm, currently, Smith's Rosebud Salve. This particular balm can be used as a cuticle cream and I even put it on the back of my hands as a moisturizer. 

3. Entertainment 

I have learned that having something to occupy you during a flight makes the time go by faster. I usually download a good book onto my Kindle prior to the flight. And I obviously browse through the movies/shows available on the plane. 

4. Snacks 

Hunger + motion sickness = AWFUL. Trust me, I know from experience. So I try to bring with me a few snacks, candy, gum. (Mints or gum helps with motion sickness.) 

Hope these tips help! Happy flying! 


You're the BALM

by Grace Ko in , ,


I have been loving the crisp fall air and the colder weather. I have adopted quite an after-work routine: change into comfy clothes (mainly pajamas), take off my makeup, make myself a late-afternoon snack, pour myself a tall glass of water and catch up on YouTube videos under the covers. 

But with the drop in temperature comes dry skin and dry lips. To combat the latter, I have a line-up of my top three balms that are the "bomb" (chuckling to myself). 

photo 2.JPG

Reve de Miel - This glorious lip balm is raved about by a slew of YouTubers. And I can understand why. I enjoy its scent (a mixture between honey and lemon) and it is deeply moisturizing while having a rare matte finish. It's the perfect lip balm to put on before doing your makeup, especially when applying a lipstick on top. The only downside? It's a challenge to find here. (I just may have asked my husband to pick up a few during a layover in Europe. I may have. Maybe.) 

Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment - I was first introduced to this gem by my cousin years ago. I would always see her applying it (the original version) so one day I decided to try it and I have never looked back. I prefer the original however, the Fresh Sugar lip treatment line now has an assortment of various colors and hues, making it the perfect tinted lip balm on a "No Makeup, Makeup Day".
Perk: SPF 15.
Downside: The price tag at $23. 

Smith's Rosebud Salve - Can I just start off by saying I love the packaging? I love the vintage look of it. This lip balm calms my chapped lips and the pleasant aroma of rose just adds to its appeal. It also claims to be good for dry skin - you could use it on cuticles, elbows, knees. It leaves your lips with a glossy finish - another one perfect for a "No Makeup, Makeup Day". Another plus? It doesn't hurt that it's costs $6. 


Natural Beauty Products

by Grace Ko in , , ,


Last week, my face broke out into hives. And let me tell you, it was not a pleasant experience. (My guess is it was an allergic reaction. I have been racking my brain to figure out what may have caused it and I have narrowed it down to a toner I recently bought or a sample of a primer I tried.) In an effort to make this breakout go away, I tried this and that - which in turn only further irritated my skin. So, I was left with red, dry, irritated splotches all over my face (great, right?) And the worst part was covering it up with makeup didn't even help because it only accentuated the dry patches. 

Lessons learned:

1. My skin is sensitive.

2. Be careful when trying out and introducing new products to my skin. 

3. It is better to let my skin heal naturally instead of trying to expedite the process with chemicals that will only make it worse. 

When I realized that certain products were only irritating my skin more, I decided to switch over to a more "natural" skincare regimen. (I have been inspired by CloudyApples and my friend, Vanesa.) Our skin is our largest organ so it's important to be conscious of what we place on our skin. 

I began using a gentle oil cleanse, a simple toner and followed up with coconut oil to moisturize my dry skin. When I started to see the benefits of using natural products, I made a trip to Whole Foods and Trader Joe's to restock and pick up a few new things. 

L to R: 100% jojoba oil, unfiltered apple cider vinegar, tea tree tingle shampoo & conditioner, 100% aloe vera gel, lemon witch hazel, Juice Beauty blemish clearing cleanser, castor oil, Lavanila Healthy deodorant 

L to R: 100% jojoba oil, unfiltered apple cider vinegar, tea tree tingle shampoo & conditioner, 100% aloe vera gel, lemon witch hazel, Juice Beauty blemish clearing cleanser, castor oil, Lavanila Healthy deodorant 

Jojoba oil: My mom first introduced me to jojoba oil. I can (and will) write an entire post on the benefits of various oils but this bottle of 100% jojoba oil from Trader Joe's (TJ) is a great bargain. 

Apple cider vinegar: There are many benefits to using apple cider vinegar as a toner. It helps to balance and restore your skin's natural pH. (Refer to Cloudyapple's video to learn a bit more about pH.) Make sure to get organic, raw, unfiltered apple cider vinegar. Mix 1 part ACV with 3-4 parts water (add more water the more sensitive your skin is). Apply on skin with a cotton pad. 

Tea Tree Tingle shampoo & conditioner: I learned about the benefits of tea tree oil last year. (You can purchase tea tree oil at Trader Joe's as well.) I decided to try the TJ Tea Tree Tingle shampoo and conditioner because it's more natural and it has an invigorating smell of peppermint and tea tree oil. It also leaves a tingly feeling to your scalp, hence the name. 

Aloe vera gel: My mom used to always tell me to use aloe vera gel to soothe irritated skin but I was recently reminded of its existence and benefits from my friend, Vanesa's youtube channel. (Her video on an aloe vera oatmeal mask is amazing!) 

Witch hazel: I alternate between the apple cider vinegar concoction and witch hazel as a toner. Whole Foods carries a variety of different types of witch hazel (original, lavender, peach, lemon). I prefer the lemon because of its brightening components. 

Juice Beauty cleanser: Juice Beauty is an amazing organic skincare line. I usually find their products at Ulta or Whole Foods. I love this cleanser. It's simple, gentle and it works really well with my Clarisonic. 

Castor oil: Yet another oil that I enjoy using. Make sure it is cold-pressed and hexane-free. I find mine at Whole Foods and use it in conjunction with other oils when I do an oil cleanse. 

Lavanila The Healthy Deodorant: Many deodorants contain aluminum, parabens and other yucky chemicals. This deodorant is an all-natural deodorant. To be honest, I'm not a big fan of the smell (vanilla lavender) but I'm giving it a try. 


Homemade Banana Mask

by Grace Ko in , ,


I hate overripe bananas. I had four of them and they were wreaking havoc in the kitchen with their accomplices: fruit flies. I made a trap for the fruit flies but I still had to figure out what to do with the bananas. I typically cut them up, put them in a ziploc bag and freeze them to throw them into smoothies but I already had a large stash of them. So I began brainstorming ways I could use overripe bananas. 

I used three of them to make this delicious banana bread. (First time making it from scratch at home!) 

photo 2 (31).jpg

With the remaining lone banana, I decided to make a homemade face mask. Like last week's homemade coffee scrub, this week's mask only requires three simple ingredients. 

Bananas are packed with nutrients that are beneficial to your skin: 

  • Vitamin A: fades dark spots and blemishes while smoothing out rough skin
  • Vitamin B: moisturizes and lightens skin and prevents aging
  • Vitamin E: fights free radical damage, helps strengthen the skin's UV resistance, anti-aging as it reduces appearance of wrinkles
  • Potassium: moisturizes and hydrates skin

Lemon contains citric acid which assists in lightening the skin and helps with hyperpigmentation. 

Honey has anti-bacterial/anti-microbial properties which help to prevent pimples and blemishes. 

Peel overripe banana, place in mixing bowl and mash it up with fork. 

Peel overripe banana, place in mixing bowl and mash it up with fork. 

Squeeze about 1 tsp of lemon juice into banana mixture. 

Squeeze about 1 tsp of lemon juice into banana mixture. 

Add about 1 tsp of honey and mix all the ingredients well. Wash face, pat dry. Tie hair back and use a headband to keep hair out of the way. Apply a thick layer of the mask, leave on for 10-15 minutes and then rinse off with warm water. 

Add about 1 tsp of honey and mix all the ingredients well. Wash face, pat dry. Tie hair back and use a headband to keep hair out of the way. Apply a thick layer of the mask, leave on for 10-15 minutes and then rinse off with warm water. 

And don't throw out the banana peel! My mom told me to take the overripe banana peel, sprinkle some raw sugar on the peel and use as a scrub to rub on heels and elbows! I tried it and it was wonderful. 

Enjoy!