Current Mani: Essie Who is the Boss? + OPI Lights of Emerald City (Microreview)

MAC Mineralize Eyeshadow: Joy & Laughter + MAC Mineralize Blush: Warm Soul (Swatch + Review)

I actually haven't bought much since i've been back in HK, takes so much self control but i'm off to Seoul tonight and i plan to do most of my shopping there ^^ 

I did go for a MAC run, hoping to pick up some of the things on my wishlist but was really disappointed to find that HK doesn't stock many of the products i wanted ;c 

My Travel Make Up Bag

I thought i'd just share with you the make up products I ended up bringing with me. I'm actually so impressed with myself that this was all i brought. I wanted to bring more, sure, but i knew i had to be selective because it's not like i'm not going to buy more make up here :3

My Pre / In / Post-Flight Skincare Routine

A huge huge hello from Hong Kong c: 

I actually starting writing this post before i left but never had time to finish it between the end of my exams and leaving for HK. 

I'm not a fan of flying, I actually really really dislike it. I get a little anxious planes. I don't know what it is, I'm not afraid of it, i just always feel unsettled and as a result i feel sick and I don't have an appetite so i don't end up eating much on the flight. Then there's the fact that i can't sleep planes! It's really exhausting for me and takes me days to recover ;c

Cure Natural Aqua Gel Review

Ever heard of the expression "your skin is the best foundation"? It doesn't matter what make up you wear unless you have a good canvas to start with. I can't even begin to stress how important it is to look after your skin and i love pampering myself with masks. But before i use any mask, i always start off with exfoliation to get rid of all the surface impurities and grum. Exfoliation helps the skin absorb masks, serums and moisturizers better.

Our skin is constantly regenerating but a lot of times, the dead skin cells build up so we need to exfoliate to remove the layer of dead/dry skin and reveal newer cells. As the barrier of dry skin is removed, it prevents facial oils (that cause blackheads and blemishes) from building up. Cure is a Japanese gentle facial peel that does the job perfectly. It doesn't have any beads or acids that can be harsh on the skin and it is made with 91% water based ingredients. It is color free, fragrance free and preservative free. Personally i think there is a slight alcohol smell to it but its nothing too strong. Because of this, it is well suited to even the most sensitive of skin types.
How cute is this diagram taken from the leaflet showing you how to use it:

I use this after i cleanse my face with warm water and pat my face dry with a towel. The product is dispensed from a pump top and comes out as a gel. I pump about 1 and a 1/2 pumps onto my index and middle fingers and i pat it all over my face and let it sit for about 10 seconds. As soon as i pat it around my face, it turns to a more liquid-y form. Then with the same fingers, I gently start massaging my face in small circular motions, starting from the middle of my face and working my way out (concentrating on my T-Zone) for a minute or so. During this process, the product pills and clump all my dead skin particles into tiny white balls. I can't explain how gross but satisfying it feels LOL. Afterwards, i rinse my face with lukewarm water and then cold water to close the pores. Then i pat my face dry again then proceed to moisturize as usual c:
Here's a diagram of how it works in more detail, taken from their official website:

What i really love about this is how it leaves my skin feeling so clean, supple and smooth. A lot of facial scrubs/exfoliators can leave your skin dry/tight/red/sensitive because they are so abrasive but not this! Rewind back to a few years ago, my skin suffered a lot because i didn't know how to care for it. This exfoliator helped immensely with my blemishes and it even helped with the fading of my acne scars. You can also use this on other parts of your body.

On eBay and in Watsons in HK, it costs around $40. However, considering the benefits and the wonders it did for my skin; it's well worth it. This is already my 3rd bottle and each bottle lasts me about a year. 

I exfoliate my face once or twice a week. While it feels amazing everytime after i exfoliate, it isn't something you should do everyday no matter how gentle the exfoliator because the more you exfoliate, the thinner your skin becomes and therefore the more sensitive! I read somewhere that if you over-exfoliate, your skin becomes more prone to sun damage and aging and nobody wants that. If you have dry or sensitive skin, i wouldn't use this more than once a week.

Honestly, when people touch my face they are always surprised at how soft it is and I'm telling you now, this is my secret to brighter and healthier skin and i'm sharing it with you :3 

Is exfoliation part of your skin routine? What do you use to exfoliate?

=('.')=

chloé