HOW TO: Find Your Skin-type

Hey guys. Sorry I’ve been a little bit MIA, but hey, I’m not going to sit here and make excuses (I’ve just been so busy). There will be two post today and tomorrow to make up for it because of that. So let’s jump straight into this.

Okay, in the world of skin care, it’s so important to classify your skin so you can “combat” whatever issues that you may have (and even if there is nothing wrong, to maintain its good condition). It makes it so so SO much easier to determine which products to use, and your skincare goal.

So how I’m going to do this is: there will be 5 questions with 4 answers (A, B, C, or D) and then, you can tally up how many of each response you get and then at the end there will be a “most of __ response” means you’re most likely a ___. (Oh yeah, keep in mind that this is in no way a “professional” judgement of your skin type or the be all and end all because some people’s skin can be a more than one skin type so just take this with a pinch of salt). Also keep in mind that the lines/wrinkles point may not apply to younger people but do keep it in mind.

1) How does your skin appear?

A) Cool, fresh and supple
B) Thin, flaky, and lacking moisture
C) Shiny around the T-zone area
D) Shiny all over

2) How do your pores appear?

A) Pretty normal
B) Very fine
C) Visible
D) Quite opened

3) How does your skin feel when touched?

A) Pretty supple: not flaky, not oily
B) A bit dit and flaky
C) A bit oily here and there and a bit dry sometimes
D) Pretty oily

4) Do you have facial lines or wrinkles?

A) Very few
B) Very deep
C) Only expression lines
D) None

5) How often do you get pimples?

A) Seldom
B) Hardly ever
C) Sometimes
D) Often

That is the end of the mini quiz!

If you got:

Mostly As: You are very very lucky. You have “normal” skin. You have an even complexion, pores that are “normal” sized and very few lines/wrinkles. Your skincare goal is to just protect and maintain.

Mostly Bs: You have dry skin. You have very very fine and almost invisible pores, dry and tight skin, cheeks that tend to be flaky and dry and visible lines and wrinkles around your mouth and eyes. Your skincare goal is to hydrate and moisturize, treat and then protect. Make sure you moisturize and exfoliate regularly.

Mostly Cs: You have combination skin. That means you are oily on the t-zone and dry on the cheeks. Basically, your skin is a mixture between dry and oily skin. Your skincare goal is to control shine, minimize dryness and treat and protect. Basically to find a balance! Make sure you cleanse well and moisturize your cheeks/dry-zones

Mostly Ds: You have oily skin. You have an all-over shine and have slightly larger pores. You may be acne-prone. Your skincare goal is to minimize shine, control breakouts, and protect. Make sure you cleanse really well, use a toner and (as weird as it sounds) use a moisturizer (as this will actually help keep your skin from producing the excess oil).

Some other skin types and issues are:

Acne-prone skin: I think this one is rather self-explanatory. It means that you tend to get blemishes, breakouts, white-heads, and blackheads. If you are acne prone, don’t you worry. There are so so so so SO many people out there just like you (for example, ME!). If you’re interested in checking out my skincare routine and how I try and manage it, check here!

Sensitive Skin: This means you have thin delicate skin that flushes easily. You may be prone to broken capillaries and rashes (or peeling skin). You may frequently get allergic reactions to cosmetic products. This is also a really really common issue and a lot of people have this to some extent. Don’t even worry. Just try and use slightly more natural products, less chemicals and research products before getting them.

I hope this post helped. What is your skin type? How do you work with it and has it changes throughout your life? Tell me down below!

Disclaimer: I am not a dermatologist by any means and see my little disclaimer above (just before the 5 questions).

Thank you so so much of reading. See you in my next post.

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FInd Passion and Stay Chic

IT’S CLEARING UP!!!: My Skincare Routine

Previous Posts mentioned (go read them 😀 ):

LUSH Hair Products Review
LUSH Body-(Skin)-care Products Review
My Skin Story 

The much a-waited post has finally arrived. Ever since doing my hair and body care things, I’ve wanted to do this post but just never had the chance to because I wanted to make sure that this routine works before posting about it. I’m just going to write up what products I use, in which order, how I use them and stuff like that. They’ll be a mini-review on each product but if you want me to do a full review on a product or a few products, please type it in the comments section below. 🙂

So you may remember my post from a few days ago about the problems I’ve been having with my skin ever since I was around 10, so that’s a really long time. But my skin is now past the worst stage of it but if it gets really irritated or if it’s that time of the month, my skin just explodes. Last week, my skin was having a rather unhappy reaction to something (I have no idea what) and I was all broken out all over my forehead and it was just really really awful but I feel as if using these products seriously seriously helped because just a few days later, my skin is almost completely clear again. YAY! 

If you haven’t read that post mentioned above, go read it. Or just keep in mind when reading this post that I have Combination to Oily skin that is very acne-prone.

Morning Routine

1) A light cleanser: The Liquid Facial Soap in the Clinique 3-Step Kit for Skin Type 3 or 4
I only use this cleanser in the AM and I’ve been using this cleanser for almost 3/4 of a year now and I’m still loving it. It’s just a really light cleanser for the morning because I don’t like to have really strong chemicals or anything like that on my skin that early in the day. However, I did try using a very light (non-chemical) exfoliate instead in the mornings but it just got so so tedious because I’m usually in a rush in the morning and I don’t want to spend that time using an exfoliate. So I just get a pump of this onto (CLEAN!!!) hands and rub it in circular motions on my wet face. It will foam up a little and after doing that for maybe a minute, I just wash it off. I try and avoid using towels because they can carry bacteria (I know, ew).

2) Toner: Clinique Anti-Blemish Solutions Clarifying Lotion
This is a rather new edition but it’s been working wonders. I use this AM and PM.Just shake so that the sediment “acne-medicine” is mixed into the solution and I just get this onto a cotton pad and sweep it all over my face. I’ve actually not come across a toner as good as this one and this is my mother’s “skin care secret” so follow it. I seriously recommend this. 🙂

3) Moisturizer: Origins VitaZing
Moisturizer acts as a barriers between outside grossness and your skin (pores). This moisturizer is amazing. Like actually. It also has SPF 15 which is why I put it on in the AM only. I put this all over my face except for my eye area and where I have active blemishes or hyperpigmentation.

4) Others: Sisley Cosmetics Phyto-Blanc Intensive Lightening Lotion and LUSH Grease Lightning
Before you freak out, my mother is a very very loyal customer of Sisley so we basically get an endless supply of free samples so I don’t actually have the full size of the Intensive Lightening Lotion but I just use the samples. I’m not entirely sure if I like it enough to ever buy the full sample but at least I know that something is on my face fighting the hyper-pigmentation. (I put it on the spots where I have hyper-pigmentation). And then the LUSH Grease Lightning is great to put on my active breakouts. It’s a lot lighter than the Spot Remover by Origins but still does a really great job. I would definitely recommend this. Both these products I use AM and PM.

5) Eye cream: Origins GinZing
I’ve never really needed an eye-cream because I don’t have a problem with bags or puffiness (well, it can’t be solved with an eye-cream) but the lady at the store (and FleurDeForce on youtube) said that this is a good eyecream so I just use it in the AM to reduce puffiness in the mornings and to awaken my eyes.

That is all for the morning (then I apply make-up)

Evening Routine: 

1) Makeup Remover: MAC Makeup Removers and Sephora Triple Action Cleansing Water
I have a whole range of MAC Makeup Removers and I love them all. I usually use the remover wipes (I know, some people hate wipes but these are actually really amazing) especially if I have a lot of makeup on because I always feel as if it doesn’t completely come off otherwise. The Sephora one, I use that just for taking off eye-makeup because it’s gentle.

2) Cleanser and Clarisonic: Origins Checks and Balances
Now I’ve recently invested in a Clarisonic (a review will be up if not tomorrow than the day after) and I absolutely love it. I use it in the shower (because I shower at night) and I just put a ring of the Origins cleanser (which I just adore because it works beautifully) and I use it on my face for a minutes. I have a clarisonic Mia so it actually times 1 minute for me. (Obviously these 2 steps are just PM).

3) Toner: Clinique Anti-Blemish Solutions Clarifying Lotion
Same as the AM above. 

4) Moisturizer: SkinFoods Lettuce and Cucumer Jelly Cream
I’m devastated that I’ve almost finished the tub but this is AMAZING. It’s so refreshing and hydrating. Uh, I love it. Same with the moisturizer in the AM, I put it everywhere but my eyes, where I have hyper-pigmentation and active breakouts.

5) Others: Sisley Cosmetics Phyto-Blanc Intensive Lightening Lotion and LUSH Grease Lightning
These are all the same as the AM as well. 🙂

I also moisturize my lips with either LUSH Honey Trap Lip Balm or Burt’s Bees Nourishing Lip Balm with Mango Butter, but of which smell absolutely AMAZING and work wonders to make my lips… sexy… HAHA!

So anyways, that is it! Two five-step routines for my skincare. My skin is actually feeling and looking so healthy right now so I feel as if these routines are working really well for me. Now, that is a point of emphasis FOR ME. All skin is different so what may work or me, may not work for you. So keep that in mind. 🙂

Oh and before I forget: EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE I:

– Do a mask: Usually one from Origins. If I’m really badly broken out, instead of doing the usual Cleanser, Toner, Moisturizer, I use Origin’s Clear Improvement, Out of Trouble and Drink Up (in that order)

– I use LUSH Sweet Lips lip scrub

 

[Disclaimer: All these products were bought by me (well apart from the Sisley samples that were NOT given to me for review purposes) and this is completely my honest opinion.] 

That is all from me today.

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Thank you so much for reading and see you tomorrow.

Find Passion. Think Chic.

Can I Hide Behind My Hair Forever?

Hey guys. So today’s post is going to be slightly different than usual in that it’s not a review on a specific product at all, it’s not a “routine” post, or a tutorial. I’ll be talking about my experiences with my skin. And trust me, they’re not very good experiences overall.

Some of my skin background: I had really amazing skin (as all kids do) up until I was around 10 years old. Then I hit puberty and my skin was like a complete hell hole. I suffer from quite bad acne and I used to break out very very badly all the time. It just never stopped, when one patch got better, another sprung up and it was absolutely horrific. It was mainly concentrated on my forehead: all across it, but sometimes it goes near my mouth and nose.

I was literally horrified! What was happening to me? I mean, all the stories I’ve ever heard did not prepare me for this. I mean I remember that all through 5th and 6th grade and then early high school, I just got these really nasty comments from (let’s be frank here) b*tches at my school and honestly, I felt as if I’ve tried everything. But I’ve now realised that it’s distinctly hormonal acne. Now that I’m past that awful stage of just early puberty and early adolescence and stuff, my skin is starting to get better. But I still break out really badly about once a month (we all know when that is) and then just some spots here and there during the middle of my cycle.

Some of the products I’ve used (not all because I don’t remember them all):

– Proactive: Now proactive was so hyped up for so many years and as soon as it up there, my mom went out and bought it for me. I used it so much for, I think, a year and it was working okay. I didn’t really solve many problems but it was better than nothing but after a while, it just stopped doing it for me and I just stopped using it.

– For about a year I just jumped from product to product but some I clearly remember is: Clearasil Deep Cleansing Scrub, Clean and Clear Acne cleanser and Neutrogena Oil-Free Moisturizer 

– I use the infamous Clinque set for about 6 months and then I just didn’t feel as if anything was happening so that stopped too.

– Most recently I used Origins. Now I’m in love with this brand. It’s amazing and has had amazing effects on my skin but the lady at the counter kept pushing this one skin care set after I went back after success with their masks and Spot Removal serum (review for another time) and I absolutely HATE that set. It was awful. I used it for 4 months (since late Dec last year) and I’m just so over it.

So I’m looking to try something new. Maybe a mixture of things. Things that I love are the Clinique set (which I’ve gone back to), the Origins mask set and spot removal cream.

A huge problem of mine is that nothing ever seems to eliminate my issue completely so I just give up on things after an extended period of time because I feel as if it’s not fixing my problem. I also want to avoid too much chemical on my face so that rules out a lot of things. I also have an issue with hyperpigmentation now because a lot of places that had repeat spotting hare quite harsh scars.

So basically what I’m trying to say is that those who suffer from acne, you’re definitely now alone. And after god knows how many years, I still suffer from hormonal acne but it does get better. Gradually. I think. And please leave down in the comments any products that you’ve used and have found helpful.

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Thanks for reading and see you tomorrow.

Find Passion. Think Chic.

My Hair-care Routine

Okay, before I start, I just wanted to say to everyone, thank you for following and liking my posts. You have no idea how much it means to me. I’m also getting to the middle of a small list of posts to make so PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE request something, anything, you would like to see in the comments section below. Thank you!

Okay. This is not going to be an uber-long post but, here it is. My hair-care routine. I’ve found this to be working on my hair really really well, but keep in mind that everyone has different hair and different situations. Because my hair isn’t an issue to style (ie. I rarely curl/straighten/blowdry it), and 100% natural (I haven’t permed or dyed it or anything), it may be very very different from your hair process.

So what I do is, I have three different “sets” of Shampoo/Conditioners going at the same time. I wash my hair every second day (so Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Sunday etc etc) and sometimes I may stuff up that routine but I generally wash my hair 3 times a week (this is were the 3 sets come in). 

My 3 Sets:

– BIG (Shampoo) by Lush and AMERICAN CREAM (Conditioner) by Lush

– REHAB (Shampoo) by Lush and RETREAD (Conditioner) by Lush

– Cocao Butter (Shampoo and Conditioner Set) by Organix

(Here: You can see my reviews on the Lush Products)

So what I do is, I wash my hair on Monday with the first set, and then Wednesday with the second and Friday with the third and then back on the cycle.

So when I’m actually washing my hair, I spend about 3-5 minutes just scrubbing away at my hair with the shampoo lathering up a thick cloud over my hair. I wash it out and then apply conditioner to my hair up to my earlobes. This prevents my from worsening my already oily root issue (that has gotten better, mind you). I leave it in for a while as I do some other stuff (e.g. shave, or wash my face) and then I wash it off. Haha. I don’t put any products in my hair afterwards and I don’t actually do anything to my hair. I just let it airdry and live about in its natural form. You can add whatever you like after that I guess.

Note: I used to was my hair everyday because it was “oily” but I realised how bad this was with my hair. I highly recommend weaning yourself from washing your hair everyday if you do. I know the first little while feels absolutely disgusting but you’ll come through it for the better. Make sure you find products that won’t just strip your hair and leave it… in a very bad position. So reach for more natural products like Organix or LUSH.