Garnier SkinActive Micellar Cleansing Water Review

Today, I went to my local Walmart just to do some light grocery shopping and came across this beautiful thing :) I was actually looking into purchasing the Biore Micellar Cleansing Water but I'm not sure it's available locally.  Now, this is the new Garnier SkinActive Micellar Cleansing Water.  It comes in the original pink bottle and the blue bottle.  I think the only difference is that the blue bottle removes waterproof makeup.

Garnier SkinActive Micellar Cleansing Water

for ALL SKIN types

13.5oz/400ml

$6.96 (Walmart)

This product claims to:

-remove all makeup

-cleanse, no rinse needed

-refresh the skin

-contain NO alcohol, oil, or fragrance

-won't clog pores

-gentle enough even for sensitive skin

Here's my face with makeup right after work.  It may not seem like a lot of makeup but that's mainly because of the poor lighting :( and the fact that I mainly do nude colors during the week.

First cotton ball used to remove my eye makeup.

BEFORE

AFTER

I honestly didn't expect much from this product but it removed my eye makeup completely!  It was gentle and didn't take a lot of rubbing at all.  It just felt like water on my skin.  This stuff is great for removing eye makeup, especially those with very sensitive eyes like me!

So on to my skin!  

First cotton ball to remove my face makeup.

Back side of the first cotton ball.

So I wasn't convinced that this completely took off all of my foundation, so I went ahead and did a second cotton ball.

Second cotton ball.

Back of the second cotton ball.

So this didn't exactly take off all of my foundation.  Technically, I tried 4 times to get to the last picture shown above.  I don't recommend using this product to remove your makeup without rinsing.  I suggest you proceed with your regular cleanser right after using this product.

I also noticed that this product left my skin looking and feeling dry.  I have combination skin and it looked and felt as if my skin was stripped of its natural oils.  With that being said, I still think this is one of the best makeup remover I have tried by far.

Pros:

-gentle on skin

-super refreshing!

-removes eye makeup with ease

-super affordable for lots of product!

Cons:

-does not remove foundation completely

-doesn't live up to the claim "no rinse"

-dries up the skin 

Even though I had to do a second cleanse, this product did a GREAT job at removing makeup without too much rubbing and stinging on the skin.

I give this: 5 out of 5 

Laneige BB Cushion- First Impression/Review

What's up :) Finally got my hands on this Laneige BB Cushion after driving at multiple target locations!  If you're not familiar with BB cushions, they're basically a compact foundation with a sponge soaked in bb cream or liquid foundation.  This became popular in Asia around 2013-2014 and has now made it's way to the United States..finally!

Laneige BB Cushion

• 3 shades: light, medium, and medium dark
• $34 at Target
• comes with one refill of the product 

 The packaging is pretty standard of all BB cushions- bulky, white and with a silver lining.

This comes with one refill of the product.

The usual sponge with a ribbon to place your fingers in and a blue side for application.

Here's the actual product.  I'm in the shade Medium.

The application is pretty standard.  It didn't take a lot of effort to blend the product on my skin.   You just pat it on until it is blended :) It does have a dewy finish that might look oily for combination skin.  It left my skin feeling sticky after application but it quickly went away.  It's still somewhat sticky but my hair wasn't sticking to my skin so I was okay with it :)

Here it is after application in natural lighting.  It matches my skin okay I guess.

 and here it is in artificial lighting :) it's super shiny on me as you can see..

7:40am

Here's my completed makeup at 7:40am. I didn't apply concealer underneath my eyes but I did put a tiny bit of powder on my t-zone area.

12:30pm

 Hello from the office! :)

By this time, the product has started to become patchy on my hair line and around my nose :(

7:15pm

By the end of the day, it was pretty much gone.  My face was less patchy because of the oiliness it made my skin.

Overall, I think this product is better for normal/dry skin.  If I applied primer and set it with a powder then it probably would have lasted longer and less shiny throughout the day.  

Pros:

+hydrating

+great color match for my skin

+love the scent

+spf 50

+natural coverage

Cons:

-only 3 shades

-not ideal for combination skin

-a bit pricey for drugstore

-doesn't last throughout the day

-creases on fine lines and on pores

I give this: 3 out of 5

Laneige Hydration Kit Review

Hi everyone!  So I have been into Korean skincare and cosmetics for almost 3 years now and I'm super excited that Target now carries Laneige!  Laneige is a Korean cosmetic brand that has recently arrived in the United States (and I believe, Canada as well) through Target.  Unfortunately,  I was a bit late in finding out about this so most of the products were already off the shelves :( Fortunately, there was a trial kit remaining and I still got my hands on most of the products :)

Now, the trial kit that I bought was the Hydration Trial Kit.  It retails for $29 and contains 6 trial products:
1. Multi-Cleanser
2. Toner
3. Serum
4. Emulsion
5. Moisture Cream
6. Sleeping Mask

I have dry/oily combination skin so I wasn't sure how my skin would handle these products but I was still pretty excited! As you can see, the toner is already halfway done and I've obviously been using this for some time. But for the purpose of this review, I put everything back in the original packaging :)




Multi-Cleanser 
for ALL SKIN types
$22.49 full size
180ml/6 fl oz

After removing my makeup, the next step in my skincare routine is cleansing.  This cleanser claims to be a "multi cleanser" that removes makeup, cleanses, and exfoliates.  Now, I always use a separate makeup remover so I will not be reviewing this product as a makeup remover, but as a cleanser aka face wash :)  This product has a subtle grainy texture that dissolves if mixed with a lot of water.  You'd probably feel more of that manual exfoliation if you use less water.  This actually reminds of the Shiseido Deep Cleansing Foam but more hydrating.  I can't really tell the exfoliation effect but it left my skin feeling deeply cleansed without the feeling of natural oils being stripped away from my skin.

Pros:
+deep clean without the skin feeling dry
+nice subtle scent

Cons:
-no apparent exfoliation effect


Toner
for NORMAL to DRY skin
$25 full size
200ml/6.7 fl oz

After cleansing, I use a toner to remove excess makeup and gunk that the makeup remover and cleanser could not remove.  This toner is obviously catered to normal/dry skin so I didn't expect it to work well with my combination skin.  I was surprised at how hydrating this toner is.  It was hydrating enough to not strip my skin completely of natural oils (like most toners do), but not too much that it made my skin oily.  It was effective at making my skin ph balanced and prepped for the next step in my skincare routine.

Pros:
+hydrating without being too oily
+does not strip skin of natural oils
+nice subtle scent
+removes excess makeup and dirt

Cons:
none


Serum
for ALL SKIN types
$35 full size
60ml/2 fl oz

I usually put on a sheet mask or an essence after toning my skin..but when I'm not, the next step in my routine would be the serum. This serum claims to hydrate the skin for 24 hours.  I couldn't exactly tell the difference since my skin is naturally oily in the beginning of the day but sometimes turns dry in the middle to the end of the day.  What I did notice though is that my skin isn't as oily and as dry as before.  It was pretty much balanced throughout the day...but then again, I'm pretty sure this was the result of the combined products and not just the serum.  I'm indifferent about this particular product :/ I would probably replace this serum with a different serum to go along with the other products in my routine.

Pros:
+not really sure

Cons:
-no significant changes in my skin


Emulsion
for NORMAL to DRY skin
$28.49 full size
120ml/4 fl oz

If you're not familiar with the Korean skincare routine, this step might be new to you.  After applying serums and other liquidy or light products, emulsion is usually the next step.  Emulsion is pretty much just a light lotion before your moisturizer or creams.  This emulsion was hydrating enough for me to use as my main moisturizer during the day.  This is just light enough for my combination skin but I still wouldn't recommend it for people with the same skin type if used as an emulsion.  If you have normal/dry skin, this is perfect for you.

Pros:
+can be used as a stand-alone moisturizer for combination skin
+nice subtle scent

Cons:
-not ideal for combination/oily skin as an emulsion


Moisturizing Cream
for NORMAL to DRY skin
$32 full size
50ml/1.7 fl oz

Again, this is for normal/dry skin.  I would DEFINITELY NOT recommend this for combination/oily skin.  But I still tried it anyway since it came with the kit :)  I skip this step during the day but don't mind the oiliness at night..YES, this made my skin super shiny and looking oily.  But the strange this is, it didn't make my skin feel heavy...just the feeling that my skin is overly moisturized (which isn't a bad thing that's why I didn't mind the oily look haha).  I'm more than positive that this will definitely work wonders on dry skin! Winter makes my skin feeling dry so this one is perfect at the moment, but I would only use this at night if you have my skin type if you don't want to look like a grease ball in public.  I would not use this product unless it is winter.

Pros:
+super hydrating
+not heavy on skin
+will work AMAZING on dry skin and during winter months
+nice subtle scent

Cons:
-not ideal for combination/oily skin


Sleeping Mask
for ALL skin types
$24 full size
70ml/2.4 fl oz

This one is my FAVORITE!  Sleeping mask (or sleeping pack) is usually the last step in Korean skincare.  I like to use this step right after applying eye cream.  You basically put this on after you've done all of the steps (above) and it just seals in all of the products you just applied on your skin.  This particular sleeping mask is in gel form and really made my routine felt complete.  The gel is not too sticky and blends with your skin after some time.  This made my skin supple, brightened, and hydrated when I wake up in the morning.  Sleeping masks or sleeping packs are meant to be applied at the end of your routine before you go to bed to ensure that all the products you applied are working during your sleep :) 

Pros:

+does the job of what sleeping mask/pack should do

+seals in all of the products you applied prior

+hydrating, brightening, and leaves your skin feeling supple in the morning

Cons:

-might still be a little oily for combination skin

-takes time to lose the sticky feel

So overall, I really like this Laneige hydration line.  Even the products that are only catered to normal/dry skin still worked well with my combination skin.   Like most Korean products, each one has a subtle, florally scent.  I personally love the scent!...it freshens me during the day, and helps me feel calm for a good night's rest.

Overall Pros:

+hydrating

+nice scent

+does the job

+can be used on combination skin

Overall Cons:

-a little pricey for drugstore

-not for oily skin

I give this one: 4 out of 5  

Financial Freedom

As a young woman in her early 20's, I often feel pressured to go out for drinks and parties and dinners and shopping and other expenditures that are fun at the moment.  This, of course, is inevitable while you're young.  But how often do you hear your friends say "I can't go out today. I'm broke." or the ever-so-popular "It's pay day! We can go out!"?  It has become an epidemic for our generation to spend for "now"- personal gratifications with no real gain.  Don't get me wrong.  I love to have fun!  But what fun is it when you constantly worry about money, spending all of it at once and having to wait for the next pay check to arrive?  These habits will eventually catch up well into our 30's and it will become much harder to handle our own finances when we start our own families.  Is this really the financial norm for our generation?  What's even worse is that we live in a world of social media.  We are influenced by what our friends and others post on Facebook, Instagram, Tumblr, Twitter, Pinterest, Blogs, etc.  I'm sure you've come across at least one of these memes:

It has been known that our backgrounds and social environment influence most of our decisions.  Rich people are rich because they're surrounded by rich people.  Poor people are poor because they're surrounded by poor people.  But this isn't always the case.  ANYONE can get financial education.  Most of us were not educated in grade school to handle our own finances.  Most of us learn on our own, and sometimes the hard way.  I refuse to fall into this category of 20 somethings that know only how to live for "now" and not for the future.  True personal gratifications can only come from financial freedom.

In no particular order, below is a list of things that I have learned (so far) to reach that financial freedom:

1. Pay yourself first.  And I don't mean to spend it on five shots of tequila every weekend or going on shopping sprees everytime you get paid.  Set aside 10% of your pay check in a Savings Account.  If you have bills (and we all do!) and can't meet that 10%, try 1% and gradually increase when there is a little bit of room after bills.

2. Cut back.  Do you really need to go out drinking every weekend?  Do you really need to eat out?  Do you really need to buy a new outfit to go out drinking next weekend and to eat out?  REALLY?  The key word here is NEED.  Think about your necessities.  Make a list of things that you want and need.  Now cross out the things that you can live without.  Other things to cut back on:

• lattes, coffee, tea that are not made in your house! these "little" costs add up
• check your phone and cable bill- see which features you have that you don't really need
• make your own breakfast! that time you spend in line at drive-thrus could be spent making meals
• pack your lunch. no excuses. anyone can do this.
• save on gas! don't go on useless drives. carpool whenever you can- that's more fun anyway :)

3. Don't go on dates.  This is more of a joke (kinda).  Dating has become very expensive.  If you can barely afford hanging out with your friends, chances are that you can't afford going on dates- unless they are paying ;) ..Well, the thing is, you are bound to spend eventually whether the other pays or not.  If you're happily in a relationship, go ahead and just laugh at this step. 

4. Put your finances on paper or something visual.  I have always monitored my finances by making an excel sheet of my income and expenses.  This way, you know what's going on with your money at all times.  By seeing all of your expenditures and cash flow in one place, you can easily judge whether you can afford that dinner out with your friends next Friday night.

5. Invest.  Put your money to work.  If you have the money to put on stocks and mutual funds then, by all means, go for it!  If you have a couple thousands in your savings account, put at least $1000 in a CD.  If you have at least $500, invest it in a Roth IRA.  See your banker for other investing options that is well within your means.  These investments will save your butt when you're in deep shit.  And it's never too early to start investing in retirement.  As you get older and gain more income, invest in things that will yield a higher return.  Riskier investments usually lead to higher returns.

6. Get Educated.  We are so lucky to have internet in our generation and it's FREE!  Search for videos and articles that will motivate and help you to achieve your financial goals.  There are THOUSANDS of them out there.  Find yourself a mentor.  Educate yourself.

XoXo

Cory

Sweet Greens

 I was diagnosed with lupus last year- it's an autoimmune disease where your body basically attacks your own organs :( That means I have to watch my diet and eat plenty of raw fruits and vegetables.  I'm all for raw fruits but raw vegetables is a little hard to take in.  So I started juicing and blending.  The only thing I don't like about juicing is the messy left overs.  I'm pretty sure you need to eat the solid parts of the vegetables and fruits to get the full benefit and that's also why I prefer blending over juicing.  At least with blending, you get to eat everything!  My favorite drink is a kale and spinach smoothie with fresh fruits and dried dates.  My favorite blend with kale and spinach are apples and pineapples but any fruits will do.  For extra sweetness, I add dried pitted dates or fresh bananas.

For today's smoothie, I used the following:

• a handful of kale
• a handful of spinach
• 1 ripe pear
• a handful of strawberries
• a handful of dried dates

Blend everything with ice cold water until liquified and bam!- the sweetest green smoothie you'll ever have in your life :) and no sugar added!

Cheers!

XoXo

Cory

Paradise Weekend

I went to Key West, FL this past weekend to celebrate my friend's 24th birthday and it was so much fun!  Despite being sick, sober, and spending a night at a horror condo, the whole trip was pretty successful.  I saw chickens running along the beach like they own the place.  I've lived in Florida for more than half of my life and I have never seen chickens on the beach...ever.  I've visited Key West many times before but never have I actually set foot in town and walked around.  It's a quaint little town filled with overpriced items!  Nevermind all the unnecessary price gouging.  I had a fantastic time.  Among the places we visited were Mallory Square, Custom House, Rest Beach, and a few that I can't recall.

Let's talk about food.  I love food.  

We went to a restaurant called Willie T's.  The prices were up there but everywhere else was packed so we went anyway.  I had a Mixed Seafood Pasta and it was delicious!  It was a little pricey but it was worth it.  My friends ordered other things on the menu and their food sucked.  A cardboard probably tasted better.  We didn't try everything on the menu but 5 out of 6 entrees that we ordered completely sucked and just were not worth the money.  The restaurant also does not offer anything special on birthday occasions. BOO!  The service sucked.  I think I've used "sucked" a lot in this paragraph...well, that basically summarized the whole experience at Willie T's.  I will NEVER go back to that restaurant again.  My dish was really good, though.  I'm guessing that they only put effort in their food when the price is above $25.  Did I mention that the restaurant walls and ceilings were covered with dollar bills signed by previous customers? Yea...I tried to take some of them to compensate for my friends' bad food.  Too bad they were stapled so securely on the wall.

For breakfast, we decided to have something simple and familiar... IHOP! We love IHOP! You can never go wrong with IHOP.  Except for the homophobic seniors sitting next to us, I can't really complain.  Food was great. Price was great.  We were filled with happy bellies.

The next time I come back here, I'll make sure I stay at a nice hotel.  I will take a cruise from West Palm Beach to Key West instead of a butt-pinching 4-hour drive.  I will need a week to completely scout the whole town.  I might also buy a house there once I'm financially stable..you know, to rent it out for extra income and for vacationing purposes.

XoXo

Cory