I was never a fan of the beauty mask sheet. UNTIL… I saw how much the Jung siblings love using it. That would be 정호석 (J-Hope) and 정지우 (Ji-woo).
I follow Ji-Woo on Youtube and there was one video where she did her night routine skincare regime. She not only applies the mask sheet but also uses the remaining essence on her body which was something I never thought of doing before. Maybe it’s because the sheets I use have a sticky formula that doesn’t feel really nice on the skin. I also learned from her videos the existence of lash serums. Like wow, the beauty trends keep rolling in. And because of her – I bought an eyelash serum too which I use diligently not only on my eyelashes but also on my eyebrows before I go to sleep.
Later on, I found out that J-Hope was also very into skincare. I watched a short clip of Bon Voyage where he brought his masks on these trips and on the recent In The Soop series, he easily slabs a sheet on his face after a day out in the sun. This kind of inspired me to use one as well whenever I have been out working in the garden during the day. Or if after a day working in CAC, fever centre etc. I no longer use these sheets on special occasions only ( which explains why my mask gets expired all the time). I begin to adopt this thinking that the mask is for everyday use to hydrate your skin, to be incorporated into the beauty regime, whenever and however you choose to do so.
As of now, my favourite masks are from Etude House and a specific one from Some By Mi. So far, most sheets from Etude House has a very nice non-sticky formula. I haven’t tried everything as I buy them in small quantities on a monthly basis from a Shopee store called Beautybabes. My recommended one from Some By Mi is the Glutathione mask. This is like my 3rd purchase from the same store. I thought I’d give the Real Vitamin one a try too and see if I like it.
Beautybabes seems to have a lot of options at their online store. I am anxious to try other brands but will consider it once I find great reviews about them. It takes leaps of faith to try something new on the face. Let me know which mask sheet brands you like, ey?
This year alone, I have had at least 2 or 3 significant episodes of horrible mask acne. I thought the problem is solved once I re-embraced my SKII essences. Turns out the acnes are not giving up. Furthermore, they are happily fueled by the fact that I was having stress on top of lacking the proper nutrition and sleep. I realized that the trend of acne eruptions tend to happen near my assignment deadlines.
Encroaching 2022, I feel that I need to elevate my skincare regime. I will after all be turning 40 in a few years time. As of now, I have two different regimes for AM and PM. Skincare goal? To look great like Shakira or Jennifer Lopez for their age. Ahahaha.
The AM Regime
Cleanser
I decided to stick with SKII facial cleanser. If I had to use an alternative, it’ll probably be Natural’s aloe vera cleanser. I don’t get frequent breakouts with these two. Bought this as a combo with the Pitera essence on Lazada at its official store.
Toner
Goodall Vit C toner. It is so refreshing to use this in the morning as I prepare to go to work because of its strong citrus scent. The toner comes in this plastic tub with cotton pads inside. Even the last one is adequately soaked with the ingredient. You can get this between RM50 – RM60 at Shopee mall. The full price is about RM70 for at least 70 pieces.
Essence
This is then followed by a gentle tap on the face with SKII Pitera Essence. It has a fermented smell as you first applied it to the face but it doesn’t linger. I don’t use cotton pads to apply the essence.
Moisturise
I super-love this new product I discovered on Shopee. I like the cooling gel-like texture of the formula. It is supposed to help calm down the active spots and blemishes on the face. Indeed, I feel that my skin’s temperature is a lot cooler after application. In fact, I love this so much that I began to moisturise more frequently than before. It has a cooling effect even though you don’t keep it in the fridge.
Sunscreen
Applying sunscreen is also a new habit I am taking with me to the year 2022. Although I have seen lots of Reels and Youtube videos emphasizing this part of skincare before, the action never sticks. Until I discover this Apieu product. I bought 2 types from this brand. Daily and Pink Tone. I like the daily formula better as it is not sticky. The pink one has a more matte finish to it. I thought I wouldn’t be bothered by that but since I don’t wear much makeup at work, the matte finish does make my face appear a bit white-casted after using it. Hence, I’d only use it when I intend to use makeup afterwards. Or on the weekend t home where it is ok to look weird. Otherwise, I prefer using the ‘daily variant’ sunscreen on my bare face. The scent is nice too – smells trusted but not medicated. Almost similar to Natural’s sunscreen product.
The PM Regime
I tweaked certain steps in the routine using a different product. In the evening/night, I still use the same cleanser and moisturiser.
Toner
I use Wardah Lightening Toner. Wardah is an Indonesian product with good reviews so far. I trust that his brand would know what will work best for South-East Asian skin. I chose this product because it has Niacinamide in it. Niacinamide works synergistically with other skincare ingredients that I incorporated into my routine. I apply the product with a cotton pad and gently wipe it on my face. It is so refreshing to do this PM. After that, I would apply the same moisturiser I use in the morning.
Retinol
This is another new routine to my skincare regime. I am using The Originals 0.5% Retinol in the squalane product. I keep the product in the fridge and the holy advice has always been to apply it at night as it is photosensitive. Retinol helps with skin turnover thus improving acne scarring and hyperpigmentation. When I first started, I only use it twice a week as I fear that my skin would peel terribly or experience purging. My skin responded well and I was able to use it every other day. I am happy to say that my skin texture improved after consistent application for 2 months.
Skin experts recommended that we start using retinol in the late 20s. Not to be mistaken with its stronger cousin, retinoid – retinol are easily available over the counter as any other skincare product. There are concerns about using retinol-based products in pregnancy. I feel this is something that one should discuss with their physician. Those with really sensitive skin are advised to a retinol sandwich where you apply moisturiser-retinol-moisturiser in that fashion.
Extra TLC
Eye mask
I decided to give the eye mask a try and bought this Gold Collagen Eye Patch online. When I first used it, I could feel my under-eyes burning. Weird though because it was cooling (even though I did not put it in the fridge) and yet it stings like hell. I use these masks rarely – once a week.
Eye heat patch
This is a wow product and very easy to use. They practically heat up once you remove them from their packages. You put it on the eyes like a pair of sleep goggles and soon you’d feel this warm, steamy sensation on your eyelids which is so relaxing especially after a tiring day using your electronics. If only they could consider making them recyclable items instead of disposables. I use this every Sunday night as I prepare for work in the new week.
Foot Mask
I saw a few adverts which show how the skin of the foot would peel off after a few days using the masks. Mine however does not have the same effect. But it does moisturise and brighten the foot instantly. My foot was a few shades lighter when I removed the mask – it’s like I am wearing socks!. Callus was easier to remove as I run my foot under the running water. I have yet to have smooth baby feet but with a few more weekly foot mask sessions, it would get better.
Face Sheet Mask
I am currently trying a few brands and there are at least 2 brands that I super-love at the moment. Will elaborate on that much later. Maybe next year? I am also taking a particular supplement to help with my skin. If it works, I will give my review in another blog post. That too will have to wait.
Remember my Hermo Haul some time ago? I was on a quest to solve my acne troubles. Well, the problems solved but the star product wasn’t from any of the items I bought. Some of the skin care products helped but you could tell they were more as an adjunct and did not lend any significant improvements to my skin’s condition. I tried and implemented a few new things to my schedule/regime.
Lifestyle changes
Drink more plain water – I am refilling my water bottle more often at work since we have the dispenser machine at the workplace. That helped a lot
Manage time better – sleep better, plan my assignments so I wouldn’t have to cram every single thing in 2 weeks or so
Change my 3 ply mask more often – it is now recommended to double mask to protect ourselves from new, vicious strains.
Self love
I bought loose flowers for myself from this online florist – The Fine Flowers. Staring at the fresh flowers reminds me of my happy days as a medical student. Back then, I got mine from our local supermarket like ASDA. Loose flowers ni kira normal and keperluan utk omputih. In Malaysia, flowers mcm for special occasions je.. hence the steep pricing. Sedeh sis.
Explore good music that uplifts the mood – as you can tell, my current obsession is BTS. If I can get over Take That and NSync when their time comes to part, I am sure I would be able to do the same for BTS. But please, tunggu sis naik 40. ha ha ha.
Invest in good skincare product
For now, from my previous hauls.. I am really loving Goodal’s Vitamin C toner pad and Laneige’s Water Sleeping Mask. In fact, I am repeating the order for Goodal although it costs quite a bomb. It’s about RM88 without discount. Which means, another Hermo Haul coming soon. So, what is the star product that managed to solve my mask acne problem. It is actually a Japanese product that most Malaysian women have grown accustomed to. I have used this product before and due to it’s hefty price, decided to switch to a Korean brand. Turns out, these products are superior and well received because they do what they say.
It is SKII.
Bought the welcome kit from an online store
It worked wonders in less than 2 weeks – I was delighted. Even the acne scars have become less pigmented. Throughout using this product, I didn’t use other beauty products, not even makeup except for the facial cleansers. I guess SKII is here to stay until I am 40. It has been giving me a youthful look so far. LOLS.
I came to know about this service during a scroll on Instagram. It was a video by Cupcake Aisyah making a review on her perfume choice with this company. Plus she had a code that entitled me to 10% off my first purchase. I guess I was sold by these points;
The perfume line up they have in the luxe and non luxe category – the choices were wow
I can manage my subscription to pause whenever I like or terminate my subscription anytime I want. This means that if I am kind of short on cash for that month, I can just skip that month. Or I am just not up for perfume anymore.
It’s like getting a sample monthly (8ml) without having to commit to a big bottle. Knowing myself, if I suddenly hate the smell of the perfume, I am most likely to just give it away. I did it once when I bought thattabacco-ish scent from Body Shop a few years ago. It smelled okay in the store but got a bit weird once it is in my home. HA ha ha. So yes, this monthly plan seems to suit my style of purchase.
I chose the Luxe package. The price is RM59.90 per month. Therefore, the perfume options are slightly on the higher tier in the fragrance industry. Miss Dior sold out, as expected. I was a bit lost on which ones to choose but after reading several reviews I decided to put my money on Hermes Le Jardin De Monsieur Li EDT.
I was sold on the part where one reviewer puts it as
It makes you feel like a CEO
Indeed. It does give off that vibe. It is also a unisex fragrance which is something I like – a masculine-ish scent on my body. LOL. I am not really a fan of very floral, sweet like scents. Nor do I love those hard core male perfume although some do smell nice. However, what started as a strong presence of power pretty much softened after a few hours, even to yourself. Sometimes I forget I am still using this EDT. Which probably explains why you need to spray it for about 3 times a day to keep it on you for the whole day. After all, it is an EDT.
I bought my husband the Body Shop Athletic fragrance once which is nice. I should get him that for his birthday. But I am thinking of getting a sample from my packages unisex fragrance line for his upcoming birthday. I still cannot get over my most favourite perfume from some time ago – Ralph Lauren Style. It is hard to move on from that but the product have been discontinued. I still keep the near empty bottle in my safe keeping box. It was a gift from my friend, Mimie. Every once in a while when I missed my life before marriage and employment, I would lift the lid of the bottle and take a sniff of its faint smell. It was a carefree world where I could sleep for hours and eat without the worry of getting fat.
I have a code for 10% off (Malaysian subscribers only) – no one took it up. ha ha ha.
It started with a mild blemish at the chin area. Soon, acnes were erupting not only there but also above my lip. It made me hormonal. I haven’t felt so insecure with my face since teenage years. I had to fix this. This time I went back to the website I used before Althea which is Hermo Online. I didn’t like the courier who sent my previous Althea goods. Rude nak mampus. It is not Althea’s fault though but the choice of courier macam mehhh.. . Therefore, crossing my fingers for a charming courier service. Here is what I did to combat my acne. (in progress)
1. BUY MORE MASK
I decided to buy more 3 ply mask of my own to be changed daily. Sometimes I tend to use it over 2 days. In a way, I hope that the skin could breath better and not be exposed to the same dirt all over again. I discovered a hijabi friendly mask on Shopee that comes as a headloop instead of an ear loop. It’s a 3ply mask that I could use in my workplace setting as well.
2. EAT BETTER. DRINK MORE WATER
It is back to the healthy eating days. More salad. Stocking up on my butterhead and romaine. More plain water. In fact, I cleaned out my freezer and fridge. Whatever we did not touch for the past 6 months goes inside the bin. I also rearranged the tupperwares and dry goods in my little pantry. Bought some 3 tier shelves from Mr D.I.Y. and now I love my food storage area. I figured if we chuck out the nasty stuff – it wouldn’t be an option for our meals. Even so, I still have some crisps and biscuits at hand. For the kids.
3. HERMO HAUL
Its time to take skin care seriously. Again. It has been neglected for quite some time. A lot of experts say that you shouldn’t mix the product. I agree. But for now, I am desperate. If this mask acne is still not taken care off, I might have to step into a medispa or aesthetic clinic to sort it out. Thankfully, I have 2 friends who had just obtained their license to carry out aesthetic related services. I have a phobia with skin treatment especially on the face because I tend to up like a lobster after the session. It ain’t good if it is a work day the next day.
In my haul, Nature Republic is topping the list. Simply because it is one of the cheapest brand on the site. I bought a lot of masks for the face and 2 pieces for the feet. My foot calluses needs some TLC. I am loading quite a few new brands in my shopping cart. First, I have this 14 day miracle cream by Some By Mi. The brand is supposed to be natural, mild yet effective to the skin. I am sold by its AHA-BHA-PHA jargon. Undeniably, any red popping acne will tone down on application within 24-48 hours but it doesn’t make the old acne scars go away. I think I need a different product for that. I have been using this product for 2 weeks and I wonder if it is supposed to be a miracle once the skin purging phase is over. This is because I still have that on off acne making very brief stops on my chin.
This striking yellow goodal green tangerine vit c pad is surprisingly pleasant to use. It does feel a bit acidic though when you apply it on a daily basis. The skin stings. Hence, I am spacing out its application to every 2 -3 days. The price is quite steep so I will definitely keep an eye out out for discounts or sales. A tub of goodal has 70 nice citrus smelling pads selling at RM 84.00. For this purchase, I bought mine at just above RM50.
I am also very consistent with this Aromatica hair essence. It boasts being free from silicone sulfate, an ingredient in hair products that makes it frizzy and all. I have yet to see the results with this essence. My hair still looks like I came out of The Croods movie. Maybe I need to concurrently switch shampoo or something. Anyhow, I have begun to pick up the habit of combing my hair everyday (again). I have stopped doing so since housemanship.
I doubt I’d be aesthetically pleasing for my 10th year wedding anniversary. Coming soon end of December. Nevertheless, I am have planned for a mini staycation to commemorate the day. I even made an effort to get my husband a gift this time. Prior to this, anniversary is just dinner with the kids at a restaurant. We haven’t been going out as a couple ever since I gave birth to the kids. I guess this is the sacrifice we make as a duo in the medical line. I am thinking of snapping good photos as well despite looking fat. It’ll be a great addition to the album.
Minci Moss 