The dry, chappy, winter cheeks solution you AND your kids will love!

Do your kids get dry, red, chapped cheeks in the winter time? Or is that just mine? Do you hate slathering oil or lotion on your kids, or is it just my husband? 😀 If any of this sounds familiar, I just found the best product ever! Neogen Truffle Oil Compact is going to be a winter mainstay in my house, starting now. It's $25 on Amazon Prime, and it includes an oil compact, as well as a mini bottle of their cult favorite White Truffle Oil. An oil compact is basically like a makeup compact that comes with a little sponge, and you press the sponge into the solid oil and gently press it onto your face (what will those Koreans think of next!!). It leaves your face feeling soft and moist, but not oily and slick. If you have dry skin, it's a great product to layer on before you apply foundation. If your skin is oily, it's a perfect oil to add to your routine because it's not greasy, but feels very light and glowy. I'm obsessed.

As the temperatures drop around here and my kids' eczema starts acting up again, I will definitely be using this daily. The best part is that they can apply it themselves with minimal mess. And my dear husband won't have to get his hands greasy. If you try it and don't like it, you can return it for free if you have Amazon Prime. Cheers!

Exfoliating your face... do's and don'ts: Part 1

Does the smell of St. Ives Apricot Scrub bring back memories of your teens? Just me? Lol. I remember discovering and using it for the first time and thinking, wow! so shiny and clean!! But life goes on and we need to "put away the things of our youth," as St. Paul tells us. I'm going to make a case for why you shouldn't be using harsh scrubs on your face and offer a few, effective alternatives. Bear with me 😊

What's wrong with St. Ives? It makes my face so clean! Have you ever got a carpet burn or scraped your knee? If you weren't bleeding, you'll notice that that area is swollen and raised. It's called friction. If you apply friction or rubbing to a skin surface, the skin reacts by swelling. When you scrub your face with a rough object, your face reacts by swelling. Granted, you didn't rub enough to cause the skin to break, but that nice, glowy, pore-less look you get after scrubbing your face is caused not because your skin is instantly healthier, but because it's now swollen. And guess what you see less of when your skin is swollen? Pores. But what happens when the skin calms and the swelling subsides? Your pores reappear.
But what about scrubbing all the dead skin off my face? Good point. Dry, dead, flakey skin is not appealing. So you should exfoliate your skin. St. Ives just isn't the most skin-healthy way of doing it. When you scrub your skin with a harsh scrub, you're making tiny tears in your skin that you can't see. What happens to tears when they heal? They become scars. Over time, continual scarring will cause your skin to become rougher. Also, little tears are open wounds, which open your skin to infection... acne and breakouts.
I need to scrub my skin to clean out my pores! Have you looked closely at the size of the apricot seed granules that are in St. Ives? Have you looked at the actual size of your pores? There is no way that those large granules are going to fit inside your pores (no matter how huge they seem to you!) and clean them out. The smaller pore size you notice after using St. Ives isn't your pores being cleaned... it's that your pores look smaller because your skin has swollen. Also, all the moisturizers in the scrub make your skin softer and mask the appearance of pores.
So what. This product works for me. True enough. I get instant gratification as related to skincare. We all want that instant fix. So if you're really sold on this product, or ones similar, I get it 😜 If you're on the fence, keep reading for some alternatives I've found that work even better.

Exfoliating your skin means you're rubbing dead skin off your face and revealing cleaner, fresher skin. You are constantly shedding skin. However, because of the moisturizers, primers, foundations we put on our face, skin turnover is slowed. Then you'll notice dry, skin flakes, enlarged pores, greasiness, and blackheads. Exfoliation also prepares your face to better absorb all the healthy things you're putting on to your face because it peels off the dead skin that keeps skincare products from being absorbed.

There are two types of exfoliation - manual and chemical. Manual means that you're literally rubbing skin off your face. Chemical means that you are using a product that encourages health skin turnover. A little of both can be very effective.

Manual exfoliation:
St. Ives scrub is an example of manual exfoliation. For reasons discussed, it's not one I recommend. Here are a few products and tricks I like to use instead.

First favorite! Biore Baking Soda Cleansing Scrub. You can buy this at Walmart or Amazon for $8.00. I bought one a year and a half ago haven't used it up yet, so I'd say a bottle lasts 2 years with daily use. It's a powder cleanser, meaning that you dispense a small amount on your wet hands, rub it slightly together to soften it, then rub your hands on to your wet face. As you rub, you can add more water to soften the mixture for a gentler cleanse, or you can add less water for more exfoliation. As you rub, the product dissolves into a light foam, which you can then use to wash around your eyes. It's gentle enough that I've never had any stinging or irritation when using on my eyes to remove mascara residue. It also thoroughly removes mascara if you first used an oil cleanser to dissolve mascara. It is also incredibly effective at cleaning out pores. Look at how small a granule of backing soda is. It's much closer to the size of your pores, compared to apricot seed granules. If you really want to cleanse pores and reduce blackheads, this product gently and effectively does the job. I really, truly love this product! It can be as gentle or deep a cleanser as you want, depending on how much water you add. And it dissolves into foam before you can over-exfoliate (rub too much) your face. The only con is the smell. It reminds me of what sweaty horses smell like when you're shampoo-ing them. If you were not in the habit of bathing sweaty horses in your younger years, you may only notice a slightly sweet, baking soda-y smell. Otherwise, you've been warned.

Tatcha Rice Enzyme Powder. $15-$65, Sephora. This is another powder cleanser that I've bought more than once and loved. It works similarly to Biore, with perhaps less foam. If you have very sensitive skin, this might be the item to try because rice is a popular ingredient in sensitive skin products. The main differences are that it doesn't smell like wet horse, and the rice granules do not dissolve completely like the baking soda does. Also, the mini is much smaller and lasts me 2 months or less.

Neogen Bio-Peel pads, Amazon $16.50. These.are.awesome! There are three "flavors." The green tea one is for sensitive skin and it targets acne with green tea and tea tree oil. The wine pads contain resveratrol, an anti-aging, anti-wrinkle ingredient. The lemon ones are packed with a variety of AHAs and work well to clear skin, brighten, and clear acne. (See The Klog article here for more information). Basically, it's a container of little, circular pads that feel like soft scrubbies. One side is soft and smooth, like a wipe. The other side is woven and feels rougher on your face... perfect for exfoliation. The instructions tell you to use a couple times a week, after cleansing and before applying face products. You wipe your face, then rinse. What I like to do is use them every other morning, after cleansing. I only use the rougher side, wiping all over my face, especially around my chin and jawline where hormonal acne attacks the worst. Then I leave it on long enough to brush my teeth and hair. Then I rinse it off with cold water and put on toner. Because I'm a cheapy and because I don't share these pads with anyone else, I put the pad back into the container with the soft, unused side down on the other unused pads. This way, the pad reabsorbs more product, doesn't contaminate the rest of the jar, and I can get several more uses out of the pad. I throw it out when the pad starts disintegrating or looks gross. There are about 30 pads per container and you can so many more uses if you try this trick. Or not 😋

Ye olde towel-oil-tweezer trick. Every so often, my nose starts peeling. It's super annoying because it makes my foundation/bb cream look like crap. When this happens, my go-to solution is to wash and dry my face, then get a wet towel and rub my nose. Looks super red after, but at least no peeling skin. If your skin is sensitive, use a wet towel, but first add a little oil to it. Any facial oil will work. This not only exfoliates, but also moisturizes the already dry area and prevents further flaking. If that doesn't work, I use my tweezers to gently peel off the offending skin. This is very effective. It should not hurt. If it does, the skin isn't ready to be removed.

Gommage. I love writing the word "gommage" because it's such a cool word! Ok, maybe that's just me. Gommage is a type of manual exfoliation that uses a product to exfoliate. I posted earlier about my favorite gommage products. Basically, you use this gel-like product and rub it all over your face (not eyes). As you rub, the product reacts with your face and starts to ball up and congeal. As your rub and the product balls up, dry, dead skin becomes attached to the product. Lots of people think that the stuff you see balling up is your skin. No. But if your skin is really dirty, you will notice the congealed product change color and darken as it removes dead, dirty skin. What's really cool is that you can use this anywhere on your body where you notice an accumulation of dry dead skin, like your legs, knees, elbows, or shoulders. Just do it in the shower (with the water off) because the product sheds all over the floor. After you've rubbed the product until it's dried out, rinse off with cold water. The effect you get from this is very similar to using a scrub. But the difference is that you're not tearing the surface of your face with rough granules.

Cleansing sponges. These are pretty popular in Korean skincare and are gaining popularity here, as you will find them in nearly every beauty aisle. There are essentially two kinds. The konjac sponge, when wet, is very poofy and soft. If you have sensitive skin, but want to add a little exfoliation to your face wash, use this rub it and remove suds. I personally didn't think they did anything for me, although it's really fun to watch them with your kids as they swell up and expand in water. What I do like and use frequently is a cellulose sponge. It's thin and flat and looks like the yellow sponges you use to wash dishes. They can be as soft or rough as you chose, depending on how much water you're using. I use mine after cleansing with soap in the morning, to rub in the suds and help rinse them off. I do suggest using them lightly and gently because I think they're rough enough to cause abrasion and tearing. If you really like the scrubbed clean look you get from St. Ives, this is a good product to try. They're cheap, too.

This covers manual exfoliation. Stay tuned for Part 2, where I'll be discussing chemical exfoliation and good uses for St. Ives scrub that don't include your face 😉

The Hunt for the Elusive Mascara - reviews!

If "eyes are the windows of the soul," what's a girl to do when her eyes are invisible? This is how I feel about myself without mascara. Due to my lovely Asian genes, without mascara, my eyes disappear every time I smile. And they're barely there when I'm not.

google images credit

Mascara, for me, is the essential makeup product. No matter how tired I look, how uninspired I feel, how house-bound I am, putting on mascara is something I rarely skip. This meme is entirely accurate 😋

I have spent years on the hunt for the perfect mascara. I define perfection in a mascara as follows:
1. Must not smudge
2. Must not flake
3. Must not irritate my eyes
4. Must separate lashes
5. Must lift and curl lashes
6. Must make lashes look fuller
7. Must stay on all day through watery eyes, dry winds, constant eye rubbing, using eye drops, occasional crying, while I'm working out, and when I shower (without getting my face wet).
8. Comes off cleanly at night with an oil cleanser and facial soap because I don't have time for a makeup remover.

This is a lot to ask and I HAVE found one mascara that does all this. I do rotate through a few different brands, depending on what I want to look like that day. I'll review the ones I love and would buy again, and then review a number that I've used but won't rebuy and why.

1. Dior Overcurl Mascara $28.50 Sephora

This is it, ladies! This is my perfect mascara. It actually does all of the above. It has a curved brush, so it lifts and slightly curls lashes without the use of curler. It dries rather stiff, but not uncomfortable. It does.not.budge once you put it on. No flakes, no smudging. It's also easy to apply. Just go over your eyes until it's as thick or thin as you like it. I also use it on my bottom lashes sparingly, to make my eyes look bigger. It comes off easily at night with an oil cleanser and soap. I do have to rub the oil cleanser on my eyes a lot more than normal to soften this one.
Cons: It's the most expensive mascara at Sephora, a store not known for the cheapness of its products. It lasts me about 3 months, not because it runs out, but because it starts drying out, which makes it harder to put on and flakey.

2. Benefit Roller Lash Curling & Lifting Mascara $12 - $24.00 Sephora

If I had to pick one mascara to use forever that would also last forever, it would be this. It lifts, curls, separates lashes, and it lasts all day with minimal flaking and no smudging. The reason I like it less than Dior is because it doesn't thicken quite as much as the first. Also, it will flake just a tad as it gets older and if you are hard on your eyes throughout the day. The one way it is better than Dior is that it takes much longer to use up or dry up. I actually have never had this product dry out. I usually throw it out because 6 months seems too long to use the same mascara. It washes off easily with oil cleanser and soap, more easily than the Dior.

3. Urban Decay Troublemaker Mascara $24.00 Sephora

had to open my eyes super wide to get this,
but you get the idea. Thank you, Asian genes! 

This is a new release from Urban Decay. I tried their Perversion mascara and didn't like it because it flaked and wasn't particularly voluminous. I tried this one because I liked the brush and the cool, holographic bottle. Shallow, I know. The brush is different from my typical favorite, bushy fan brush. It's a silicon brush with widely spaced, thick tines. Although it isn't my look, this would be the perfect mascara for getting that Twiggy look. However, if 4 or 5 widely spaced lashes isn't your thing, you can more gently and lightly apply this one and it comes out easily and very luscious. It doesn't flake. If you have a hard day, it can get a little smudgy by the end of the day. It's better than Dior in its applicability, meaning that it's easy to get lots of color and fullness out of this one, while you have to go over your lashes a few times with Dior. However, Dior has a more even application and other pluses. My big con with this one is that the bristles are very pokey, and if you push too far down towards your eyes with this, you'll poke your eye. That, and the mascara itself caused the worst watery eye disaster I've ever experienced. So if you're a mascara newbie and if you have sensitive eyes, I don't suggest this one. If you love full, black, thick lashes, give this one a go. I'm wearing it today, so here's a picture (ughhhhh! selfies!!! 😆).

4. Loreal Lash Paradise $10.00 Walmart/Walgreens/CVS
If you're on a budget and want a great mascara, this is a winner. I'm so anti-drugstore-mascaras! They never seems to deliver on my list of non-negotiables. But this! Wow. It's basically a dupe for Too Faced's Better than Sex Mascara, which is a cult favorite, but not one of my favorites. It performs a lot like Too Faced, but unlike that one, does not smudge as badly. Compared to my precious Dior, it is more smudgy, but for $10, it's negligible. It gives you big, fat, black lashes with very few applications. I workout in it, wear it in the shower, put in eye drops, and it holds up all day. If you don't mind wiping your under eye occasionally with a wet q-tip, this is a keeper. It removes very easily with oil cleanser and soap.

That covers it for my tried and true favorites. Now let's talk about my expired favorites, or mascaras I bought more than once, but which were out-performed by the above.

Tarte Lights Camera Lashes Mascara, $23, Sephora
I bought this one several times because it has many nice qualities. It's dark, easy to apply, and makes your lashes... present? Not particularly voluminous, but definitely present and long. As an added bonus, this one is from Tarte, which makes an effort to use natural-ish ingredients in its products. It also claims to have healthy things in it:
Rice Bran Wax: Helps lengthen lashes.
Carnauba wax: An emollient wax that ensures a smooth application.
ProVitamin B: Treats and thickens lashes.
Olive Esters: Condition, treat, and protect lashes. (per Sephora's website)
It's also vegan.
Why I eventually stopped using it was because it smudges and flakes pretty badly. If you don't rub your eyes, if your eyes don't water, you might be fine.

Tarte Gifted Amazonian Clay Smart Mascara, $23, Sephora
This is another Tarte mascara that I rebought several times. I liked it because it's free of a lot of the usual crap in makeup products... parabens, sulfates, etc. It also has a lot of ingredients that should improve the quality of your lashes. I preferred it to Tarte's Lights Camera Lashes because it spaced your lashes better. It was a pretty lovely mascara. However, I ended up discarding it because it still flakes and because it's pretty natural, it dries out very quickly and once it's dry, it's hard to apply and flakes almost instantly. If you like natural products and don't mind buying this once a month, try this.

Buxom Lash Mascara, $20, Sephora.
Looking at this again reminds me of how much I miss this mascara! This is a beautiful mascara when you first buy it and put it on. It spaces your lashes to perfection, goes on smoothly, can be layered as much as you want... basically, it looks like falsies without the glue. So why not this one? Because it smudges and flakes too much for me personally. It got very annoying to be wiping racoon circles off my under eyes all day. It doesn't help that I squint my eyes horribly when I smile, which contributes to smudging.

Marc Jacobs Velvet Noir Major Volume Mascara, $14 - $26, Sephora

I thought this was my true love mascara. I got a sample from Sephora... putting it on was instant falsies. It really was. It was so thick and full! And it lasted all day with nary a smudge or flake. I bought it full size and the dream was shattered. I don't know what changed, but this magical mascara didn't feel as magical the second time I got it. It turned super smudgey... raccoon-eyes smudgey. I returned it. But... it's beautiful. If you want to feel like a super expensive, designer-wearing, stay at home mom, just get it. The bottle is lovely... it looks like a beautiful weapon and is super classy, sitting in your makeup drawer 😊 Just don't rub your eyes, smile too hard, or cry sloppily. 

Too Faced Better than Sex Mascara, $11 - $23, Sephora
It isn't, though. But boy, does it have a following!... probably because of the name. What it is is a super wet, thick formula on a fat, bristle-y brush that goes on very nicely, but smudges like crazy throughout the day. I do wear a lot of eye moisturizer products around my eyes, so that could contribute to the problem. But my darling Dior doesn't treat me like that. Also, the L'Oreal Lash Paradise looks exactly like it and performs better for half the price. I'd give this one a pass, although if you really want to try mascaras, it might be worth doing just because everyone except me seems to love it.

This covers all the mascaras about which I have strong feelings. I've used tons more and you're welcome to ask me about them, but they were either blah or worthless, so I'm not going to bother reviewing them.

Pro shopping tip.... If you want to try these expensive Sephora mascaras for less, check Ebay for new, unused, sample sizes. They run about half of what Sephora charges for a mini. Or just buy the mini size from Sephora, which, in my opinion, works just as well and lasts as long as the full size (because the full size dries out before you can use it all anyway). Remember that you can return used products to Sephora with a receipt for a full refund, or for store credit without a receipt. Win-Win!

Favorite wrinkle product! Bye Bye Lines Serum - It Cosmetics review

Wouldn't it be just wonderful to use one product and make all your facial woes disappear? I'm still looking.... Unfortunately, I don't think it exists. In order to fade scars, reduce wrinkles, or get rid of acne, you have to invest time and money in a facial routine that targets your concern area. Even then, realistically you aren't going to have the face of a three year old... hello aging!

But there are a few products I've found that, when coupled with a good facial routine, do instantly improve your overall appearance. It Cosmetics' Bye Bye Lines Serum Advanced Anti-Aging Wrinkle-Smoothing Miracle Concentrate (try saying that fast!) does a wonderful job of instantly smoothing wrinkles, masking discoloration, and overall brightening your face. It's also a great primer for foundation or a coverage product. 

I tried this product out a month ago at Sephora and bought it despite its not insignificant price tag because when I put it on in the store, I was like, "oh, where's my eye wrinkles??!?" Not a bad reaction for a first time use. 

What it is
This product is a hybrid primer / treatment / moisturizer. A primer is a product you put on after moisturizing and before foundation. It fills pores and wrinkles and helps foundation to set better. A treatment is a product that treats particular skincare concerns, like wrinkles, pores, acne, or dullness. A moisturizer is a product that keeps your face from drying out. This product does all three. Although it lists a hefty number of vitamins in its ingredients (A, B, and C), I think it's primary benefit is as a primer. I am not typically a fan of primers because they're heavy on silicons, which temporarily fills and mask pores, but on me, dry out my skin throughout the day. This product has enough moisturizers in it that instead of making my skin feel powdery, it feels smooth and soft. The product is white, the consistency of heavy whipping cream, and doesn't have much of a smell.

How to use
According to the Sephora website, you use it before or in place of your moisturizer, morning and evening. I use it only in the mornings, and I put it on after my moisturizer because it makes a great primer and makes my BB cream go on more smoothly. I use a small amount, about the size of your smallest finger nail, pat it between both hands, and smooth it over my face, focusing on my eyes (because that's where my wrinkles are the most obvious).

What it does
As I said, there are no magical products that make you look 16 again, but this one does an instant job of softening wrinkles, moisturizing skin, and overall smoothing your face. While it claims to have long term benefits, I've mostly found that it makes your face look nicer for the day, not forever. 

Cons
It's $58.00 for 1 oz., which isn't cheap. I suspect it will last me 3 or 4 months based on how little I need to use. Would I buy it again? Unless I find another primer-y product that I like better and is cheaper, I probably would. This doesn't break me out or clog pores, and I do love the results. However, another downside is that the ingredients are not remotely natural and contain several silicon-type fillers (hence the instant smoothing). I normally try not to use things like this, but since this one does a lot for me and hasn't caused any bad reactions, I don't mind. 

Take-away
If you have reasonably good skin already and just want to make it look a little better, especially if your main concern is wrinkles, this is a great item to try! Or if you want to improve your coverage application, especially in the dry winter months, this is a great moisturizer to wear underneath a bb cream or foundation that never feels greasy. You can ask for a free sample at Sephora, or you can buy it and take it back used for a full refund (with a receipt) or for store credit (without a receipt) up to a year at Sephora. 

image taken from sephora

Concealers... necessary or no?

As a pimply teenager, I really used to resent that concealers were so expensive and came in such little dispensers. I mean, how was I supposed to cover my whole face with so little product? In my older, wiser (less acne-d) years, I've learned that concealers are not supposed to be used wholesale on your face, no matter how tempting it is to just slather it on. But since acne and dark circles are still fair game in middle age, here are a few tips I've learned.

Are you trying to conceal acne or dark, under eye circles? If the answer is dark, under eye circles, you might be better off using a moisturizing eye cream and foundation/bb cream/bb cushion. You know what looks worse than dark circles under your eyes? Cakey, streaky foundation or concealer. Then you not only look exhausted, you also look like you don't know how to put on makeup 😉 One trick I've learned about concealing dark circles is to first apply a moisturizer that's not too greasy and absorbs well. I'm in love with Skinfood Gold Caviar Lifting Eye Serum (Amazon $19.00). It's a serum, not a cream, which means it's more watery. I prefer serums for eyes because they absorb better and plump up wrinkles longer than a cream. My eyes are also super sensitive and look for any excuse to break out in little red bumps... this product doesn't make them do that. Anyhow, put this one, press it all around your eyes, let it absorb until it doesn't feel tacky. Then gently press a BB cushion (like Age 20's) around your eyes. It cools your eyes, fades the angry purplish color, and softens wrinkles. My under eye circles still show through slightly, but it's much less stark. The pay off, though, is that you can't tell your're wearing a coverage product, so no caking or streaking. 

If you're wanting to conceal acne, I suggest using both a bb cushion and a concealer. First, moisturize your face! Never skip this step because it makes your foundation application so much smoother and reduces the likelihood that of caking. Then, apply a spot-treatment to your acne. Dr. Lin Acne Spot Treatment is my favorite. It has a bunch of soothing, natural ingredients, as well as 5% peroxide (which my skin responds very well to, but it can be drying. This product doesn't cause flaking or dryness on me). Let everything dry until it's soft, but not sticky. Now apply a skin-matching concealer. I hate using lighter concealers because it just highlights what you're concealing. Anastasia Concealer is my favorite because it's very creamy, works well on dry skin or around your eyes, and it really covers. You can buy it at Sephora. Pat a tiny amount of concealer on and around the breakout until the concealer is fully absorbed. Then apply a BB cushion or foundation (using a beauty blender sponge) to your whole face. This blends in the concealer better and makes it unnoticeable. 

Cliff notes version?
Under eye circles - moisturize > bb cushion
Acne - moisturizer > treat > concealer > blend > bb cushion

Co-washing... your hair will thank you

Yet another fun, new term from the beauty industry. The hair cleaning gods have finally figured out that daily shampooing and shampoos in general are *gasp! bad for your hair. If you have greasy hair, you're actually making your hair greasier because when you wash out all those natural oils on a daily basis, you're triggering your body to produce more. If your hair is naturally dry, you're drying it out even more. While I can't personally stop washing my hair (some have! brave souls...), I have gotten it down to shampooing twice a week. 

Introducing co-washing! It's a simple concept. Instead of washing your hair with shampoo (soap), you wash with a moisturizing, soap-free product. It's like conditioner, but it doesn't have all the silicons in it that make your hair soft, but also cause build-up if you apply it to your scalp. Another thing about co-washing is that it's free from sulfates, which creates those lovely suds in shampoo, but also contribute to drying and stripping your hair. 

While you could just skip the shampoo and use conditioner instead, I do not recommend that. First, because conditioners are made to be applied to the middle and end of your hair, not the roots. Conditioners are full of silicons, which seal and fill whatever they're applied to. Now, your hair strand is dead, so it's ok to seal those, so as to prevent split ends, etc. However, your scalp is your skin, and if you applying a sealing agent to it and never exfoliate, you're going to create a lot of build up over time, dandruff, and itchiness. So don't use conditioner on your scalp. Instead, find a silicon and sulfate free co-washing product.

I recently tried one from Amazon that I'm obsessed with. MopTop Cowash Cleansing Conditioner, $11.00. This stuff!!! If you're at all into natural products, or if you want to take better care of your hair, or if you're interested in trying co-washing, this is ah-mazing! And it smells lovely if you like citrus/grapefruit smells.

Here are the ingredients: Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Glycerin (Vegetable), Cetyl Alcohol (Cocoanut), Stearyl Alcohol (Cocoanut), Cetrimonium Chloride, Olea (Olive) Oil, Behentrimonium Chloride, Glycereth-26, Hypnea Musciformis (Red Alga) Extract, Gelidiela Acerosa (Red Seaweed) Extract, Sargassum Filipendula (Brown Alga) Extract, Sorbitol, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Honey, Silk Amino Acids, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract, Anthemis Nobilis (Chamomile) Flower Extract, Urtica Dioica (Nettle) Extract, Butyro-spermum Parkii (Shea Butter), Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E), Panthenol, Essential Oils (Lemon, Lime, Orange & Grapefruit), Hydroxyethylcellulose, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Citric Acid.

I use it once a week for one of my two weekly shampoos. You just rub it into your scalp like a normal shampoo, only there are no bubbles. Then you work it through your hair strands. Leave it in for a bit and then rinse. If you want to use conditioner on the ends of your hair to detangle or for extra moisture (I have to), you'd do that next and rinse as usual. My hair feels so soft and smooth after!

Best face forward - The BB Cushion

No matter how great your natural face looks, a properly applied coverage product is going take everything from "nice!" to "great!" My guiding principle with makeup application is to think of it as enhancing your face, not making it disappear. That's why I'm such a fan of Korean cosmetics - because they stress first taking good care of your skin, then lightly applying natural-looking makeup, so you look like yourself, just... cleaner. 😊

I've loved BB creams since they hit the US market. They have a similar coverage to tinted moisturizers, but they are also full of skin care ingredients. Win-win, right? But what I've realized in using BB creams is that how you apply it makes a huge difference. Rubbing the product onto your face is not the way to go. Using a beauty blender sponge (damp) definitely improves the application. Instead of the cream sinking into your lines and creases, or clumping up on dry skin (yuck!), you get a more uniform and smooth look. Then Korea upped its game and created the BB Cushion, which combines the best of BB creams and foundations into a very user-friendly product.

A BB Cushion looks like a powder compact. It snaps shut and has a mirror, sponge, and cream on the inside. Instead of being dry, however, the cream is contained in a sponge or comes in the form of a solid state foundation.

BB Cushions have become my favorite form of coverage. They're light, full of good ingredients, good SPF, are easy to apply, stay on all day, and are easy to remove with an oil cleanser. I've tried several and I'll review them below.

Age 20's Compact Makeup Premium Foundation
This is my  favorite cushion and one that I'll definitely rebuy because it comes in my skin color. It's medium coverage. It feels soft and moist after you put it on. It's very hard to find Korean foundations for darker skin, as fair skin is the Asian ideal. So if you're light skinned, you're going to have a very easy time matching your tone. This one comes in 4 shades, ranging from very light to medium dark. I use #25, for reference. This compact comes with a compact and a refill, so you're really getting two for the price. It usually takes me 6 month at least to use up one of these. This thing is so nice to use! You apply it by gently pressing the sponge onto the compact and then gently tabbing it on your face. You can go over an area more than once to build up coverage. I use it on my eyes (which have horrible dark circles) and it doesn't irritate them. I've never broken out from using this. I apply it after putting on moisturizer, after the moisturizer has settled in and isn't tacky.

Laneige BB Cushion
This is another easy to use BB cushion that you can buy at Target or Sephora. I use it and like it, but it's not my favorite because it's very fragranced. Granted, I haven't broken out from it or noticed any irritation, but I'm not fond of fragrances in face care products. I'd call this a heavy coverage compared with Age 20's, although it still lighter than a traditional foundation. It feels a little heavier and greasier than Age 20's. It pretty much erases any blemishes or dark circles you make have, while Age 20's blurs them. The other reason I like this one less is the color selection. The Target collection has less colors than the Laneige line itself, and I've only used what they have at Target. I tried Medium-Light, which was a tan color with strong yellow undertones. It was a little too yellow for me. The next lighter shade was Light, and that was too light and pink for me. If you're fair with pink undertones, this is worth a shot.

Iope Air Cushion
I picked this up at a K Beauty store in Phoenix. It's advertised as a very light, summer-use cushion. I love the almost damp, watery feel it has on your face, but the darker shade was way too light for me. I use it as a highlighter, over my Age 20's cushion. Again, if you're fair and want a very light, soft coverage that feels lovely, this is a good one for you.

If you're interested in trying a coverage item that makes you look like yourself, with a better complexion, a BB Cushion is worth a shot.