My Beauty Tips

Hello my bumblebees! Let's greet November too! I'm about to share my own beauty advices to you right now. Actually it's been a long thought indeed to share these tips, so I hope you like this kind of post. Before we begin this post, I'll explain my skin type and condition first, therefore if you have similar skin type or condition with me, I hope you'll find these tips helpful. Also, kindly do understand we all have different skin reaction to certain ingredients, meaning what works on me, might not work on you at all. Let's get it started!

The model in the picture above is Park SoRa, she's the face of Korean fashion line Stylenanda as well as the cosmetic line, 3CE. I'm going to put her in every illustration for this post because, umm, she's like the Korean beauty goddess! LOL. I mean her skin is flawless already, and that explains why every 3CE product she wears is just convincing! Instead of me (like whoaaa), I'm just going to use her image as the illustration in every tip I'll share.

Well well.. Moving on to my skin type and condition~ I have an oily combination skin, oily on the T-zone, but the rest are normal. My main skin problems are whiteheads, blackheads and acne marks. And here are my own beauty tips, including the products that I use with the budget-friendly alternatives:

1. Cleanse your face thoroughly

By cleansing your face, I mean double-cleanse! Especially when you're wearing makeup, yes including those CC and BB creams, because your facial wash can't cleanse makeup 100%. I use cleansing milk and cleansing water for the first stage, and if I'm wearing eye makeup, I'll definitely erase it with a makeup remover too.

Splurge: Clarins Water Comfort One-Step Cleanser, Lancome Galatéis Douceur
Save: Bioderma Sébium H2O, Maybelline Clean Express Eye & Lip Makeup Remover

The second stage of double-cleanse is to wash your face. I wash my face with the help of Etude House Wonder Pore Brush, because it will help to clean the clogged pores too. After washing my face, I would just wipe it dry with tissue instead of rubbing it with towel.

Splurge: Clarins Gentle Foaming Cleanser
Save: Etude House Wonder Pore Whipping Foaming

Finally, this is an optional step. However, this step is totally essential for me, it's called exfoliating. I find that my skin has been better because of exfoliating. I do this every once a week at night. Before exfoliating, I steam my face with hot water. Just pour the water into a large bowl and place a towel over your head and lean over the steaming water. Let it be for 5-10 minutes. I'd usually listen to some relaxing songs instead of putting it on timer.

Splurge: Clarins Gentle Refiner
Save: Biore Double Scrub Bright

Both of the exfoliators are very gentle to my skin so I recommend it to those who have oily combination skin like me, though I'm not sure how it'll react to sensitive skin. After exfoliating my face, I'd followed it with facial mask. This step is necessary to close the open pores from the steaming treatment.

Splurge: Mizon Pore Clearing Volcanic Mask
Save: Bedak Saripohatji

2. Tone and hydrate your face

Oh so many products that I've mentioned. Now moving on to the second tip, it's to tone and moisturize your face. I can't stress it anymore that toner and essence might look unessential, but IT IS VERY ESSENTIAL as it benefits my skin so much. First of all, toner will help you to close the pore. Second of all, it helps to remove makeup residue. Lastly, it will also help you to restore the skin's pH balance. Use a cotton pad for this step.

Splurge: Avène Eau Thermale Spring Water
Save: Etude House Wonder Pore Freshner

For my skin hydration, I use an essence right after the toner. What I notice the most after religiously using a face essence is that my skin is brighter than ever!

Splurge: Laneige Original Essence White Plus Renew
Save: Secret Key Starting Treatment Essence

There has been a confusion on how to apply an essence, for me it depends on the texture. If it's watery and runny like the Secret Key, I'd use a cotton pad. However, if it's watery but not runny like the Laneige one, I'd just apply it with my bare hands and dab it until it absorbs to the skin.

3. Moisturize your face

For moisturizer, I use different type moisturizer during the day and the night. Mainly because each moisturizer has different function. It's honestly difficult for me to compare the splurges and saves, because you get what you pay, you know, so the results are incomparable. While I use Clarins for the day, it really saves my day, you can just read my full review on the link and the Kiehl's cream is just magically effective to reduce wrinkle! I just turned 23 so I obviously don't develop facial wrinkle yet, but I swear it helps to fade my neck wrinkle! The only downside of this product is the smell, but it's okay for me as long as it benefits my skin.

Splurge: Clarins Beauty Flash Balm, Kiehl's Powerful Wrinkle Reducing Cream
Save: Mizon Snail Recovery Gel Cream

4. Protect your skin from UV rays

I think I've talked about sunscreen quite a lot, such as the usage, the types, and the importance of it. I can't skip this step and I even don't want to walk out from my house if I don't wear them. I even wear sunscreen when I'm home because UVA can penetrate glass, you know! So especially after my routine chemical peeling treatment, it is more than necessary to wear sunscreen for me. Oh, btw, yes I do facial and chemical peeling treatments once or twice a month in order to keep my skin clear. I find that these treatments are the key to my smoother face since my main issues are whiteheads, blackheads and acne marks. However, I don't recommend you to follow this too. Please ask a doctor first, as chemical peeling is only performed by the doctors.

Splurge: L'Occitane The Immortelle Brightening Shield
Save: Missha All Around Safe Block Essence Sun

5. Use light makeup

Here's the funny fact about my skin. Whenever I use heavy makeup, my skin tends to breakout, I guess it's true that the skin needs to breathe? So that's why I don't use face primer unless it's extremely needed! I don't use foundation as well, about this one I guess it's because I just don't own a foundation? LOL... I have been thinking of buying foundation because I think I need coverage for my dark circles and acne marks, but then again, that's what concealers are for. So I hesitate...

Splurge: Laneige Water Base CC Cream, Make Up For Ever Lift Concealer

Save: Tony Moly BCDation, Bourjois Healthy Mix Concealer

Alright then, those are the five beauty tips that I have for you bumblebees! Feel free to email me if you have further questions that you don't want to disclose on the comment box. Hopefully you find these informations useful ;)

P.S: I've tried all the products that I mentioned above. Thus, I only share the ones that I thought worth every penny.