Evening Skincare Routine

I thought it was about time to do an updated skincare routine, but this time, dividing the topic into an Evening and Morning part. I decided to start with my Evening Skincare Routine because this is the time I spend the most time taking care of my skin. It's the best time to get your skin to recover and reconstruct overnight, and prep your skin for a dewy start in the morning!

I am currently so happy with my skin and I think I owe it to this routine. By all means, don't take everything I say as something permanent because I especially switch up my skincare, a lot. I think switching up skincare it crucial with hormonal changes, climate change, and whatever else gets in the way!

watch below :) subscribe to www.youtube.com/etherealellie

I wanted this video/post to be a way where we can all share our skin troubles and give each other advices. This is my advice, but leave a comment below and tell us what some of your advices are.

My very first advice for good skin is hydration. I explain it in the video, but for those of you who are more "readers" than "watchers", I'll ramble on here in this post if you don't mind! My skin is combination-to-oily, sensitive, very dehydrated, and acne-prone skin. I call it, the worst of all things put together. I battled with acne and just bad skin all throughout high-school, and then a bit through college. Then I suffered from adult acne and went through Acutane and other laser treatments.

Besides drugging my body with Acutane nothing else seemed to work. I stopped taking medicine for my skin when I saw how much negative effects it had on my body. Since then, I've been trying to find products that work for me.

I've come to the conclusion that my skin behaves well when I feed it water-based, water-infused products. These are products that are not just creams and butter-y products that are heavy and block the pores. I favor products that feel like water in some cream or gel form that hydrates the skin for hours. You can see by the products I talk about, what those products all have in common. Water.

Removing makeup
I start by removing my makeup with the all-too-well-known Bioderma Miscellare Crealine H2O. It's simple. Take a few cotton pads. Dap it with this magic water. Wipe your face. Makeup off. Boom!

But here's a note to remember. Don't replace this for a proper cleansing session! You want to let the Bioderma be a preliminary step, and then go on to really washing your face with a good cleanser.

Cleanser
I currently use two cleansers on and off. Both I love, both I'm almost done with, and both I will repurchase again! One is the IPKN Pore Refresh Cleansing Foam. Don't care anymore what skincare gurus say about foaming cleansers, because at the end of the day, this particular cleanser gets deeeeeep into my pores and really washes everything out and away! I use this in the morning sometimes too, and I have no trouble with it at all :)
The other cleanser is the Clinique Take the Day Off cleansing balm. The only balm I've used. Seems pretty good. It does the job, takes the remainder makeup off, cleanses skin, makes it feel fresh... what more to say?

Toner
I'm a toner junkie. If there is something I will never leave out, it is toner. Peeps, do tone your skin. It preps the skin for all that luxurious product you apply afterwards. It cleanses the skin somehow too! I am a total fan of the Mario Badescu toners. All of them, but in particular the Cucumber Cleansing Lotion. I know it says lotion, but don't be put off by it. It is a toner.
What I featured in my video though was the Seaweed Cleansing Lotion. Equally good, more gentle because it is for the dry-skinned peeps. It has "witch hazel" that took the skincare blogs by storm! So if your looking for an alternative to the Pixi Glow Tonic you might consider this. But *cough cough* I prefer the Mario Badescu one!

First Level Aqua
I have no name for this stage. The product is called a serum, but it feels too light to be anything really. It just feels like water. I call this the "First Level Aqua" because I like to use a really replenishing, hydrating, water-infused product before I begin with proper serums and creams. This is because when a water-infused product lays as the foundation to my other skincare, I find that thicker and heavier products soak in better!!! And that's so important for me.
Currently I'm using the ISOI Bulgarian Rose Blemish Serum. All natural, no chemicals, and gel-type serum that feels exactly like water that doesn't drip off. It soaks into the skin in less than a few seconds because the skin loves it. It's like watering a tight skin, and giving it instant satisfaction.

Serum
After I lay a good foundation for the skin, only then do I apply a thick oil-based serum. Currently, I am loving the Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate. When I used this oil serum by itself without a water-based foundation, it did nothing. My skin did not eat it up. But with a good water foundation, this did sink it deeply and I found my skin improving so much. It's helped with the scarring and blemishes and overall good skin quality!
As a side note, I also like to use the Mario Badescu Vitamin C serum at times. That also is an oil-based thick serum great for acne-skinned, hyper-pigmented skin types.

Second Level Aqua
I am sandwiching products by layering them with water, water, water! I recommend this light-weight moisturizer to everyone! It is the Missha Water Supply Essence. It replenishes the skin, and your skin will love it. That is all. It's just so great, and it is thicker than the ISOI product and lighter than a regular moisturizer so it's that perfect layer to go on top of my serum.

Third Level Aqua - final
I want my skin to remain nourished all night. I'm going to finish everything with the thickest and heaviest product. But don't be put off by the sound of "heaviest". It is still a gel and it will help your skin remain bouncy and youthful. It is the Missha Cell Renew Snail Cream. I talk a bunch about this in my last monthly favorites here: May Favorites
It's a great finish off!

Eye Cream
I either do this at the beginning or at the end. Either way, I like to take care of my under eyes before I regret it later on! I currently using the Kiehl's Avocado Eye cream. Great hydration and not too heavy on the skin!

Leave a Comment bioderma, clinique, evening, ipkn, isoi, kiehl, kiehls, missha, serum, skincare

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Discovery Product #5 . HYALURONIC ACID

I have two skincare products to recommend to you guys. They are both Korean skincare brands that have really grown on me the past few months. Missha is a brand that I have spoken about a few times on my blog. For the affordable price that they are, some of their products are really good. I recently made a few purchases on their website and with what I got, they also sent me a great deal of samples. I don't even know if I can call them samples because the masks that I got were legit masks- not just samples.

Of the masks I got, I have been blown away by the amazingness of this particular one, targeting hyaluronic acid. It comes with this cloth damped in whatever amazing ingredients are in it. You set it on your fresh cleansed face, and after about 15-20 minutes, you take it off. You can either go to sleep right after [I usually do these facials at night since it can get a little heavy in the morning], or go through with your regular skincare. What I did was skip just the toner-stage and applied my serums and creams and went to bed. The next morning, my face felt nourished, elastic, supple, and calm. It is great for sensitive skin and even people who may suffer from angry-acne.

What I love so much about hyaluronic acid is that it really helps angry acne become totally manageable! The other product I have been loving is the IPKN New York 100% Hyaluronic Acid serum. Amazing. Just really amazing. IPKN is a brand I have never heard of until I happened to use my friend's cleanser one day and fell right in love with that. [I haven't blogged about that cleanser yet, but it's going to be featured in some favorites very soon. It's amazing] Anyway, I became interested in the brand and decided to try this serum.

I love how it just soaks right into the skin! It does what the mask does. Helps calm the skin, make it supple, and nourished. From the little that I know about this hyaluronic acid is that it is what maintains collagen in your body— therefore helping rejuvenation, cell regeneration, and elasticity. What I find most amazing is the way my skin becomes calm, and whatever angry acne I have becomes manageable and finally— the way my makeup applies the next day is different. My skin becomes more of a friend then a frenemy and it just makes me a happier person when my skin is behaving so nicely! 

Leave a Comment discovery product, facial masks, hyaluronic acid, ipkn, korean, korean skincare, missha, serum, skincare

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Skincare Favorites & Routine #1

Introducing my current skincare routine and favorite skincare products! I've realized that the weather/season makes a huge difference on my skin. As the days became more hot and humid, I have been breaking out ever since and all the products I was using before just wasn't cutting it for me. I had to add in a few more products to get the wheel moving! Also, I call this my #1 routine/favorites post even though I have done a Skincare Routine post before. It's just I want to keep track starting this time around. This is also probably my summer skincare routine! So here they are:

left to right: Atomy "Again" Serum, Elizabeth Arden 8hr Cream, Michael Todd Blue Green Algae Toner, Michael Todd Charcoal Cleanser, Michael Todd Charcoal Exfoliator, Mario Badescu Special Cucumber Lotion (Toner), Origins Rescue Mask, Origins "Clear Imrpvoement" Mask, Origins "Make a Difference" treatment, Mario Badescu Vitamin C serum

I am still trying out the Michael Todd's products. I had them for about five months now and I am still undecided about a few. My sister, on the other hand, faints over them. Literally, she can't say enough about it. I've seen it do magic on her skin. I'm still testing it out however, but currently I have been loving their Charcoal Cleanser, Blue Green Algae Toner, and their Charcoal Exfoliator. I'm kind of obsessed with Charcoal:

I am also going to do a Skincare Haul sometime soon, and in there you can see some of the other products I am trying out. But currently, as for masks, I am in love with these two from Origins. One is my 3rd repurchase! It's the "Out of Trouble" Rescue mask. This does wonders! A new addition though is Origins "Clear Improvement" Charcoal Mask. Oh goodness, I need to rave about this. So, this is one of the products that have saved me recently. 

To explain, my skin was not rejuvenating and so no matter what good moisturizer or serum was putting on top of my skin, nothing was working! My skin was terribly congested and I needed to flake away my dead skin, exfoliate it, cleanse it, and let it soak in some good moisture. Nothing was working. So, I started looking for something that would suck the goo out of my face. Basically, DETOX my skin. Eventually, I thought of this, and thought I'd give it a try:

I usually stray away from products made for acne skin. I find they are too strong for my uber-sensitive skin and dry me out too much. Hence, I never really knew if I should try this charcoal mask. Still, I knew I really needed help for my congested skin. My pores looked all icky and gross! I thought I'd give this a try. The first day I bought it, I put it on my face after washing it clean in warm water to let my pores open. Then, I left it on for about 20 minutes and then washed my face off. 

SO SOFT. The bumps subsided and my skin was so much clearer. It sucked the oil and dirt out of my skin so well! I'm honestly not a great fan of products that take forever to work. I like the instant kinds. The ones that make my skin look better instantly. And honestly, that makes more sense for me. This definitely is one of those products and after trying a sample, I went and got the full size. I have applied this every day since and have not broken out once. Amazing! 

After the mask and feeling ever so deeply cleansed, I apply this newly-purchased Origins Make a difference Plus treatment. I bought this because I read up on a lot of good blog-reviews on this product, especially from Essiebutton and GhOstparties on Youtube. My skin was feeling tight, dehydrated and in desperate need of moisture and rejuvenation. I heard that this was a great product for oily/combination skin. This was supposedly great in calming angry and aggressive acne!

Indeed! The next morning, in combination of good cleansing and good treatment, my skin was drastically different. It's been over a week since I used this treatment. My scars are disappearing slowly but noticeably, and my acne has definitely died down! I apply is day and night and it leaves my skin feeling so soft and really hydrated.

It kind of reminded me of this:

I reviewed Atomy's Again Serum here, and after that review, within a week, I was done with the product. It seemed so hard to get a hold of this item, but I have finally received my second bottle of this! Briefly summing up that review here, I love this because it hydrates my skin better than any serum I have ever tried. Don't know what it is, but my skin as of the past two years has often become really parched and dehydrated. Ugh! It gets to the point where I can't even smile because my skins so tight. No amount of moisturizer can sink in hydration like this serum can! I almost feel like it penetrates so deep into my skin, it even relaxes my facial muscles haha :) Love it and I'm so happy I've finally gotten my hands on this!

Another serum I love is this Mario Badescu Vitamin C serum. I've also reviewed this product singularly in this post. It is amazing for getting rid of scars and blemishes. However, I have found that when my skin is just dead and it needs help rejuvenating because something is just consistently blocking my pores, I don't use this because again-- if you are not cleansing properly and your skin is not prepped to take in great products, you'd just be wasting it by putting these serums on your face. You'll find that it'll just sit on the skin and NOT sink in. So, before I use this serum I make sure that I am exfoliating and cleansed properly (with the masks and whatnot I mentioned above). 

Another Mario Badescu product I have been loving is their Special Cucumber Lotion (toner). I use it in complement with the Michael Todd's Blue Green Algae Toner. I think the Blue Green Algae is good on days when my skin seems itchy and in need of antibacterial action! Then, the Special Cucumber is great when I want to heal and refresh my skin! I use them hand-in-hand on days when I need them, accordingly. 

Lastly, Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream is lovely! It replaces Vaseline as a much better lasting, truly hydrating, and necessary item for your handbag. I know Tanya Burr on Youtube raves on about this. Ever since her earliest videos, she mentions this as her favorite product.

I can see why! Great for anywhere and everywhere: lips, elbows, dry patches, face, cuticles... name it! It also smells so nice (not floral or sweet or anything, but very simple and a bit herbal). In the summer, when the skin becomes damaged by the sun, I think this will become even more handy. I use it currently though for my cuticles and lips. Love!

So basically, this is my skincare routine.

Leave a Comment atomy, charcoal, cleanser, elizabeth arden, facial masks, hydration, make a difference, mario badescu, mask, michael todd, origins, origins make a difference treatment, out of trouble, serum, summer, toner, treatment

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The Answer.

Get ready. I'm about to reveal the secret, the answer to clear skin and magically erasing blemishes. Here it is...

I have been using this for about two months now, more like a month and a half. As I often mention in my blogposts, it was found while on a casual cruise through my sister's makeup/skincare collection. I saw this sitting on her topshelf. It was this Mario Badescu Vitamin C Serum. I thought, hey, let's get this a try.

$45

If you don't know already, I am a massive and I mean MASSIVE fan of Mario Badescu products. My first ever skincare video was all Mario Badescu. By using their skin products, I was finally able to move on from my long-time acne skin. After using them for awhile and getting clearer skin, I would start experimenting on other skincare products. But somehow, for better or for worse, I would always come back to Mario Badescu.

So, that being said, my unwavering trust in their brand drove me to give this a go. I remember reading somewhere that Vitamin C was good for skin scarring. Hey, I've got tons for that!

Within one day (I wish I was exaggerating!), I saw a difference in my skin tone. It was brighter and my bumps were instantly sunken in. But, at that time I was also trying this and that so I wasn't sure if it was due to the serum. It could also just be a "good day", you know? So, I kept at it. I was using it morning and night, after the toning stage. I would add a moisturizer or a night cream on top of it.

In one week, my face looked as if I had laser peeling done.

In two weeks, I was brazen enough to walk out of my house with just a very small amount of BB cream.

By the third week, I am unashamed to erase my makeup and go out to public. Even though it is definitely not flawless, my scars have diminished by 90%. Some are even gone. Even the most gruesomely dark scars left over from my puberty years have disappeared. My overall skin tone has become brighter. Pores have shrunken.

I almost feel like this is magic.

Then the final bang was when random people at school were commenting on my skin and how much clearer and brighter it's gotten. People have commented and asked whether good things are happening in my life (they are actually) and if that was the reason for skin improvement. Some people comment saying I must be getting really good sleep.

Whatever their assumptions or guesses are, the answer is only one. Mario Badescu's Vitamin C Serum.

Oh my gosh. This oil-like serum sometimes tingles my skin, and sometimes it just feels like lathering my skin with very light oil. It may feel slightly sticky for some people, although I didn't catch any of that. I even apply it in the morning, religiously. I cover my whole face with it, then tap it in. I finish it off with either Mario Badescu Buttermilk moisturizer or the Seaweed night cream at night.

However, any dermatologists out there (or skincare gurus!) does Vitamin C dry out your skin? For such an oily-skinned person like me, my skin has become really dehydrated! Currently, I am trying out different skincare products to really deeply hydrate my skin. I totally miss my ATOMY "Again" serum. I haven't found the time to search for the product and get it! That completely hydrates my skin like no other serum.

Yet, even though my skin has been feeling tight and dry, I have not for a single day stopped using this Vitamin C serum. Amazing. I have finished one whole bottle of it (it was only 1/3 full from the start), and just bought another one today.

This is a must have. I swear by it. If this works on a skin like mine, the chances it'll work on yours is pretty damn high! :)

Leave a Comment blemishes, mario badescu, serum, skincare, vitamin c

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ATOMY: Again Serum

For the troubled, sensitive, dehydrated skins! Read on: 

Excuse the over-exposed flash. Not a single picture of this product came out well :(

I always feel cautious when writing about skincare. The thing about skin, especially for those who have troubled skin, is that the skin continuously evolves and changes through season, age, and well... hormones. That means, a product that may have lifted your skin from the depths of despair, may probably be a futile product for you a year from now. Hence, to swear by a skincare product is a very cautious deal.

Therefore, this product I am introducing in this post is something that has helped me immensely these past few weeks. However, depending on the climate of where you live and what "type" of skin you have at the present moment, this will make matters different for each and every one of you.

So, what is this product that has been the most reached and loved skincare these past few weeks? It is ATOMY's "Again Serum" from their Calming System range. Atomy is a Korean brand that sells body and skincare products. They have recently launched their luxury skincare lines, and of them is their Calming System range. It is specially made for those with extra sensitive and troubled skin. Someone introduced me to these products at the peak of my "sensitive and troubled" skin period.

The Calming System comes with a toner and a lotion, and of course, this serum. I have used all of the toner and lotion without a chance of reviewing them. What was left was this serum, and what I really want to talk about is, in fact just this serum. Their entire line has this citrus scent to it, and instinctively I thought it would be troubling on my skin (citrus acid). But on the contrary, for products with such a strong citrus scent, they were absolutely calming on my skin, even on days when I had done chemical/enzyme peeling on my face.

Of late, my skin has become immensely dehydrated. On top of being oily, I also felt constantly dry. I was spraying facial mists all throughout the day, but nothing would help the feeling of a cracked dry skin! After trying a bunch of facial oils, I thought I needed something water-based and truly hydrating. The only thing I could think of was a serum, and the only serum I had at the time was this.

The reason why I had this leftover and not the toner and lotion was because according to the directions these products come in, the serum was supposed to be used very little at first then gradually used more and more. I thought, by reading the directions, this was some super sensitive stuff. Hence, I had put it off. But in need of a serum, I tried using this and goodness! My skin was instantly hydrated. Instantly!

It is truly water-based so it feels so light. It also has a citrus scent and is a bit orange too. You put it on after toner, then finish it off with a cream or lotion. The next day, my face had a glean of hydration and radiation! It worked extra well with my Mario Badescu night creams. It helped anything on top of this serum to actually sink DEEP into my skin. You know how oils or creams can sometimes feel like it is just sitting on top of your skin or just skin-deep? The outer layer may look hydrated, but it doesn't feel like it's soaked your entire empidermia? Well, this completely changed that!

My breakouts diminished, and most of all, my face felt comfortable. I didn't see my makeup crack or my skin looking tense or troubled. As you know, hydration has nothing to do with oiliness. But it did help unnecessary oil buildup, and just, I could not be more impressed!

I am also finished with it. I have made my sister use it to get her aspect of things, but unfortunately, she hasn't used it consistently so I have no reliable feedback from her. But as for me, this has been more than pleasing. Whether in the coming summer, this would be continuously work well, I'd have to see. But so far, it has been oh-so-pert!

Though ATOMY is a Korean skincare brand, you can buy it here or read more about it here.

Leave a Comment atomy, atomy usa, dehydrated skin, dehydration, korean, korean skincare, mario badescu, oily skin, serum, skincare

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