Jumping on Bandwagons: The Kagillion-Step Korean Skincare Regimen

My birthday is only 9 days away. Only nine days 'til I'm in my mid-thirties. Yuck. LOL. Don't get me wrong. I looooooooove celebrating my birthdays. I just dislike the fact that I'm getting old. I don't feel old. I am old. In nine days, I'm only five years away from 40. Pero next week pa yang existential crisis keme na yan. This post is about... my life in general current obsession. As if anyone's interested. Ha.

I'm OBSESSED with beauty products. Ayan kasi nga getting old na and I need to start taking care of my skin. Sabagay dati pa naman ako obsessed with facial wash and eyebrow shizz but now I'm widening my horizons. Haha! I'm trying the 7-step Korean skincare regimen. Ayoko dati bumili, just making do with whatever's here, my sisters' "leftovers." But now I want to use products tailored for my skin type. So here's my current stash~

The first two tubes are my water-based cleansers and the Banila Clean It Zero Purity tub is
my oil cleanser. I'm in ♥ with my Cosrx Salicylic Acid facial wash; the low pH cleanser,
also from Cosrx, I just got yesterday so I can't say yet whether I love it or not.

Plenty of Cosrx products ♥♥♥ I'm obsessed. Just got the Galactomytes
oil-free toner but so far so good; the oil-free moisturizing lotion I got a few months
back but I think it's meant to work with other Cosrx products :) The SK-II essence
I had my friend buy for me in Singapore (it was on sale!!) I also got to use just now
(after sitting on the dresser for a year or so). The Innisfree green tea line is my sister's,
but since she's not using it, I claimed it as mine. The brown bottle is rosehip oil with a few
drops of tea tree essential oil; and, eye cream from Watson's I'm thinking of ditching cos
I'm getting milia from using it.

Hopefully, this layering skincare regimen works ☺☺☺ I need to buy sunscreen. That's the only step I'm not doing because, (1) I never found an affordable sunscreen that's right for my skin type (sensitive na ubod ng arte), and (2) most sunscreens leave a white cast on the face and they do feel heavy on my skin. But after watching lots of YouTube videos on skin care products, I think I'm getting that tube of Biore gel sunscreen to complete the routine.

So that's what's keeping me preoccupied aside from work and K-drama binging.

Next I'll be obsessing about my hair because I noticed a few (actually, a lot!) of white hair strands. Happy birthday to me... in 8 days!

Inday's Day Out

So I was supposed to meet up with an online seller in Glorietta yesterday. I sent them a text message Monday morning, around 11am to ask if we could meet up Tuesday in Makati para aside from the meet up, I can do all the other errands I've been meaning to do but didn't because, well, procrastination. They replied, "text tom early morning." I assumed it was a 'go' as long as I text them early.

I was in Makati at 7:30 in the morning. MORNING! I woke up at four frickin' thirty so I could hitch a ride with AD going to Makati. I sent the supplier a little before 8am to confirm our meet up. Reply ba naman sa akin, "tomorrow na lang." ANO 'YON? WALA SIYA SA MOOD? BUKAS NA LANG?!? Well, I was also at fault because I assumed tuloy nung Tuesday. It just happens that they're the only supplier of this material I need so I'm putting up with the unprofessional conduct. So fine pumayag ako na 'tomorrow na lang.' We're supposed to meet today at 12nn in Megamall. I sent them a message asking for a confirmation if the meet up will push through because I'm only going to Megamall to pick up the material and pay them. I texted them twice. No reply.

Hay. Nakaka-high blood.

So anyway aside from the no-show supplier, I was able to do all the other stuff in my to-do list and some more... Eto ayaw ko na napapadpad ako sa Landmark eh. Tapos 10% off pa on all regular products. Presenting yesterday's stash

decorative tray

black crate
actually part of a set but may also be purchased individually

The black crate is part of a set. There are 4 boxes and I got the third biggest. I really want it in white but it's out of stock so I got just one in black. Their sale is until the end of the month and new stock in white will be coming so I will wait for those ☺

wooden something from Landmark and Pantone mug from SM

I guess to other people this isn't a splurge but to me it is. I don't need them, well maybe except for product pictorial props, but I didn't really need to buy them. I'm kuripot that way. Haha.

I avoided the grocery to avoid unneccesary purchases but I needed to buy toothpaste (and if I find the Scholl pedi thingy), I went to the toiletries section and ended up buying not just a tube of toothpaste

because they're on sale...

I've been eyeing the Bifesta for about a year already but didn't muster enough courage (until now) to shell out 400 to buy it. Haha sabi sayo kuripot ako eh. The St Ives Pink Lemon & Mandarin Orange Scrub I saw last month in Savemore but put off buying it as I still have lots of facial washes and scrubs but because it's 10% off, bumili na rin ako kahapon.

Ooooh, it's so pretty ☺ This is how the Bifesta bottle looks like when you peel off the plastic. I love muted pastel colors.

And since we're on the topic of facial washes and scrubs (and indirectly, hoarding na din), here are the facial wash and scrubs we've accumulated (wala pa jan ang mga facial bar soaps)

from L to R: St Ives Pink Lemon & Mandarin Orange Scrub, VMV id Skin-Buffing Cleansing Scrub, Nature
Republic Argan Foam Cleanser, Olay Thermal Mini-peel and Aveeno Clear Complexion Foaming Cleanser

L to R: ROC Resurfacing Facial Cleanser, Sebamed Liquid Face & Body Wash, Benzac Facial Scrub,
Maxipeel Exfoliant Scrub and Asian Secrets Lulur Whitening Facial Scrub

My favorites: Even if I just bought it yesterday, the St Ives Pink Lemon & Mandarin Orange Scrub is definitely one of my faves because of the scent (reminds me of  Neutrogena's Grapefruit facial wash) and I love the fine, grainy scrub texture (reminiscent of the other St Ives scrub, Green Tea), plus you could never go wrong with a St Ives facial wash and scrub ;) Another fave is the Benzac Facial Scrub whose scent I also love love love plus it's really effective against pimples and blackheads (ie. it doesn't make me break out). The downside of Benzac is it's a little pricey and I can't use it everyday ( just twice a week, tops!). The third runner-up is the ROC Max Resurfacing Facial Cleanser. I don't how much it costs cos it was AC who bought it. I also like the texture but not so much the scent. Its label says it's to be used prior your anti-aging soap/cleanser so the active anti-aging ingredient can penetrate your skin better.

I used to like the Olay Thermal Mini Peel; however, the warming effect, I think, has an effect on my skin. The dry areas (skin in between the chin and lower lip) and singit-singit sides of the nose, they darken on continued use of this scrub so I just use it occasionally. The VMV id Skin-Buffing Cleansing Scrub I bought last year as part of a set. Around this time last year, I had a bad case of pimples. mega-breakout galore! So I was desperate. I was sad and desperate which means I was easily cajoled into buying this beauty product. I followed the instructions to a T. They said the breakouts were going to worsen at first then improve eventually, with continued use of the kit. I used it for almost two months. I stopped using it when my complexion didn't improve.

The Sebamed  (bought here) and Aveeno Clear Complexion Foaming Cleanser (pasalubong from AB) were purchased I think last 2013 and 2012, respectively. Kaya sila tumagal ng hanggang 2015 kasi hindi ko masyado ginagamit- mga once a month pag nagsawa ako sa ginagamit ko. The Asian Secrets Lulur Whitening Facial Scrub I must have used just twice or thrice. I bought it last 2013, too.

Maxipeel Exfoliant Scrub was bought on impulse, wala lang. Haha. The Argan Foaming Cleanser was a birthday gift to AC. I love the scent but I noticed my skin gets oilier after using.

So there my boring chronicling of the facial wash and scrubs we have in our bathroom. I'm bored. And too tamad to do anything productive. Bleh.

Aaaaaaah!!! Update!

Will be my bazaar in two weeks time and I'm not yet ready. Umm... yes, story of my life. Year in, year out I've always been doing things the last minute kahit isa lang bazaar sinasalihan ko. I really think I should come up with a system. Damn momentum! Well you see, I consider myself as an "artist" and rely too much on waiting for the feel to get the momentum going. Et voila...

image

That's why I need a working space where I can just leave all my kalat after a day's work because setting up everything up again the next day breaks momentum. When I wake up, I want to see all my unfinished work and get back right to it pronto. Frakkit. I need to move it, move it.

But first, a quick update. Will try make this quick. Try being the operative word.

Well the box already arrived. After four months. Been waiting for my scissors for four months and they're here now with me.

one of the scissors came with this warning at the back of the package
kalurks.

Whoopdeedoo! I'm such a hoarder but finding a good pair of non-stick scissors here isn't easy. These two beautiful pairs are joining this family~

I love scissors! Better yet, I looooove office supplies. I really want a big paper shredder not the ones you can buy from CD-R King but they're so pricey. So the new non-stick scissors arrived just in time for the cutting ceremony aka cutting 3,150 pieces of labels.

They look konti here in the picture but believe me, it was A LOT. I find cutting labels therapeutic but cutting that much and with a deadline- STRESS DRILON. But got that over and done with and now I'm focusing on production which reminds me I have no labels yet. I'm going to finish all production stuff this week so next week's dedicated to more label-cutting and sticking. I love my life ♥

Now back to the box. Most of the contents were stuff for the boys' birthday party on December but of course, the box opening ceremony isn't complete without pasalubong for moi ;)

the shirt was the only legit slobong for me.
the wristlet and the notebook, nadaan sa brasuhan
harharhar

and I got dibs on this makeup palette huzzah!
I ♥ bare minerals

After Undas, went divi-tripping with my cousin who apparently was also celebrating her birthday on the very same day; hence, free lunch!

hakao ang mahal ko 

Mega-walkathon while lugging a bazillion ton of "protective sheet" (which was the wrong style so I had to go back to Divi the very next day).

Exhausting but fun. And super duper busog. 

As mentioned earlier, went back the very next day to have my purchase exchanged then meet up with Ama Jo who just got back from London. She texted me earlier that day and asked my complete address. She wanted something shipped to my house. Told her I was Divi-bound that day, too, so if she's still in Divi and can spare an hour for me, maybe we can just meet up for a quick coffee. Jo met my Dorota. Haha. That was also the day I succumbed (again) to the annual expensive coffee marathon aka the Starbucks Christmas Tradition. I got a swanky pajama set ☺ They're soooo comfy, I think I'm in love ☺

Went to Mayon/Dapitan last Saturday. Had to pick up something in the area so AC, AD and I went to Dapitan to look for cute finds. Alas, went home with only this in tow

six pieces for P35. not bad.

When did everything in Dapitan become so expensive? As in. Seriously. Seryoso. En serio. Wooden picket fence boxes are being sold for P300! I got mine for only P129, if I remember correctly. The same style as this, are only P179-ish in Landmark. Anak ng tipaklong, mag-Landmark na lang kayo. Or Daiso. Look what I bought in Daiso~

Only P88 each. I'll go to Daiso or any Japan surplus chuva for stuff like these. They're cheaper, maybe not sturdier, but a whole lot cheaper. 

I'm already on Season 5 in my Gilmore Girls catch-up/marathon. It's so hard to not like Rory. Sure, she broke up Dean's marriage but it's still hard to get mad at her. I agreed with her when she reasoned out to her mother that Dean is "her Dean," which I found an acceptable reason to commit adultery. Moral of the story: do not marry young, kids. So I'm over the moon that Dean + Rory is a thing again but according to IMDB, Dean will only be in Gilmore Girls until this season and I think Rory will be dumping him again in favor of Logan. Or I could be wrong. But that's my wild guess. I hope it won't be Dean cheating on Rory this time because Dean, in my eyes, could do no wrong. And cheating on Lindsay with Rory isn't wrong because he is Rory's Dean. Gahd. Excuses. And oh, I'm also happy for Lorelai and Luke. Finally. But of course we know that we're still two seasons away (or around 50 episodes) from the finale-finale and a lot could still happen. 

But I'm mourning for Dean's exit from the show in advance. 

Now back to barracks for me. Will continue my job as a liquid soap churning machine. Toodles xoxo