Basics

Thanks to my parents, I am very conscious about the food I put in my stomach as well as the stuff I slather on my skin. I always try to use products that are more natural. I tend to lean towards products that are plant/fruit-based.

I wouldn't say I have tried everything under the sun when it comes to the basic skincare products - cleanser, toner and moisturizer, but I think I have tried enough to know what works on my skin.

Currently, I am using the botanically-based, preservative-free Boscia skincare line. This is one of the natural skincare line that is not only gentle, but also works. Here is the list of products that I am using or have used:

Clear Complexion Cleanser with Botanical Blast

I like this cleanser a lot. It has a gel-like texture and it foams up really well, which I like. It leaves my skin really clean without over-drying. I don't usually wear heavy makeup so the cleanser removes makeup very well, for me at least.

Clear Complexion Tonic with Botanical Blast

This toner features a mist spray and I am not a big fan. I feel like I waste a lot of products with my accidental sprays everywhere but my face. Other than that, the product is just okay.

Vital Daily Moisture SPF 15

Oil-free Daily Hydration SPF 15

Of the two day moisturizers I have tried, I definitely prefer the Oil-free Daily Hydration SPF 15. I have oily skin so the Rice Bran Oil in the Vital Daily Moisture SPF 15 only makes it worse. The Oil-free Daily Hydration SPF 15 is not very heavy, which I like, especially for the hot days during summer.

Recharging Night Moisture

I like the night cream very much. It nourishes and leaves me skin really smooth and supple the next morning.

Enlivening Amino-AG Eye Treatment

Even though the eye cream doesn't really do what it claims it will do, I like how it feels on my skin. It's not too greasy and it has a really smooth gel-like texture. I have to say it moisturizes well but other than that, I don't see my dark circles getting better.

Clear Complexion Treatment with Botanical Blast

This so-called treatment doesn't do anything for me at all. I still get pimples. Maybe you'll have better luck with it than me.

Anyways that's all for now.

History

I am what you call a late bloomer, in large part, thanks to my relatively good genes. Besides the occasional pimples here and there, I didn't have any major acne problems growing up. As a result, I didn't really become interested in skincare until I was in college. I don't even remember what kind of face wash I used when I was a teenager. Probably some cheap drugstore brand that my parents are willing to buy for me. Only face wash, there was no toner/moisturizer/spf/mask or whatsoever.

For the longest time since college, I stucked by the standard skincare regimen of cleanse, tone and moisturize. Occasionally I do some scrubs and mask. That's about it. My skin wasn't bad but it wasn't great either. I have large pores, blackheads, whiteheads, dull skin and it's just blah. I thought, oh well, I did everything I could so I guess this is as good as it will ever get.

My revelation came this past summer, when I went home and was persuaded into getting a 4 hours long facial. It sounds really long but it was over before I knew it. To my surprise, the esthetician told me that my skin is very dry. How can it be possible for oily skin to be dry but apparently it is very common. Oily = too much oil; dry = not enough water. They are not really connected so she advised me to use oil free and water base products such as serum/essence/ampules, which are almost unheard of in the US. Anyways, after my facial, my skin started to peel (I freaked, of course) but when the dead skin was all gone, I could not believe how smooth and supple my skin was. I honestly did not think it was possible for my skin to be this smooth. I kept telling my mom I am snake cuz I molted.

My skin has been reborn!!!

Of course, the smoothness only lasted for few weeks and it was back to normal. I didn't really maintain it. I was on vacation and so was my skincare regimen. When I returned from my vacation, I begun my hunt of these elusive water base products. After scouring the internet for days, I found it and a lot more. My skin is definitely a lot better now and my husband can't stop touching my face cuz 'it is so smooth', he said.

Now, I am more obsessed with skincare products than ever.

The Beginning

Like most girls, I am obsessed with beauty products, especially skincare. I'm always looking out for the best products for my combination skin type but I almost never buy the same product twice just cuz there are SOOOOO many different ones out there. I wanna keep trying new things. New things excites me.

For all the gazillion beauty products that are out there, it might take a whole life time or two to try out ALL of them.

So here I am, documenting all my finds, everything that I have ever tried.