thecaitlynlee: January 2017

A BIG ALOHA to you friends! I'M BACK!!!! Happy (regular) New Year and Happy Chinese New Year! I hope you all had a wonderful, healthy, and safe Christmas and New Years. What did you do???

Anyways, this is my first post of 2017 and I honestly didn't know what to write (which is why it took me so long to post in the first place...) buuuuuut I just got out of the shower *steeeeamy* and realized I wanted to share my skincare routine!

Ever wonder how Asian stars, like the freaking beautiful Park Shinhye, have literal perfect skin? It's almost like they were sent from the heavens, right? Well, skincare is almost as important to Asians as rice is to our diet, so being the super Asian I am, I have an intensive skincare routine that I follow every day and night that helps my skin be the beautiful skin it is!

So before I begin, I just want you all to know how incredibly important skincare is. Many people think that it's something that you start when you get older, like when you start to get wrinkly and raisin-y, but F.A.L.S.E. You should start skincare as young as you can, as putting it off will only damage your skin in the long run. Especially if you wear makeup regularly, it increases your chances of your skin getting saggy, wrinkly, and raisin-y more quickly, if you don't properly take care of your skin. I'm sure you all are seriously GORG and don't even need to be reading this, but ya know, there's no such thing as too much knowledge! Okay, so now we can begin!

*DISCLAIMER* Everyone has different skin types and needs, which is why it is important to remember that even though I'm sharing what works for me, it may not necessarily work for you. If you're new to skincare, use this as a guideline rather than an instruction manual, and alter it based on your skincare routine! No one routine is the routine for everyone! ALSO, scroll the the bottom of this post for a shortcut to each product! Kay, now we can ACTUALLY begin lol...

1. REMOVING EYE MAKEUP

Like I mentioned above, it is so important to take care of your skin if you wear makeup, because makeup clogs your gorgeous lil pores, creating little spots and zits, and nobody likes those. So I always start with removing my eye makeup with a non-oil based eye makeup remover. The generic ones you can get from Target and Bed, Bath, and Beyond work really well, I interchangeably use those. Just dampen a cotton round and hold it against your eye, then softly wipe your eye makeup off. You might need to be a little more than soft if you wear waterproof makeup, but the key is to avoid being rough because pulling and tugging causes premature wrinkles! You can honestly skip this step if you don't wear waterproof makeup, but I do, so ya know.

2. DOUBLE CLEANSING

If you keep up with Asian beauty trends, you've probably heard the phrase "double cleansing". Double cleansing basically means that you cleanse once with an oil cleanser, then cleanse again with a cleansing foam or any other non-oil face wash. The oil cleanser will take your makeup, sunscreen, etc. off and the cleanser that follows will wash away the oil residue, left over makeup, etc. It sounds so EXTRA right? But I promise you that you will see a clear difference in your skin after a week.

HOW TO: Starting with DRY HANDS AND FACE, you mustn't disregard this part, it places a critical role when using oil cleansers as any water could affect the way the cleanser, in simplest terms, cleanses, add a small amount of oil cleanser onto your hands and begin rubbing into your face and neck. I'm currently using The Estée Edit Dissolve the Drama 2-in-1 Makeup Remover + Cleanser. Follow the rinsing instructions of your specific oil cleanser, but mine requires me to then wet my hands and continue to cleanse, as the water will turn the oil into the white cleanser when added, then I rinse my face. Moving on, grab your regular non-oil face wash and wash your face as you would, I'm currently using the Laneige Multi-Cleanser, and you're done double cleansing! When cleansing the second time, I sometimes like to use a facial scrubber thing to help exfoliate a bit, but it's totally not necessary.

3. TONE TONE TONE

I know for a fact that sooooo many people skip this super important step in their skincare routines, but please do not skip this. Toning lifts away the really stubborn makeup and gunk that your cleansers missed, and depending on your toner, may even help to even out skintone and improve vibrance.

HOW TO: Take a cotton round and dampen it with your toner, I use the Laneige Power Essential Skin Toner for Combination to Oily Skin. GENTLY glide the cotton round upwards on your face, and neck, just as in the gif above. The beauty in the gif a kind of rough, so make sure you're super light-handed! It is super important to remember to swipe upwards as doing so downwards will pull at your skin, causing wrinkles.

4. SERUM

I honestly can't explain to you why serum is important, but the reason I use it is because it helps to brighten my skin, and you all know how I feel about naturally glowy, luminous skin, which is why I use a brightening serum. Especially in the winter, my skin can look dull and bleh, but that's me. There are sooooo many serums with different purposes, so of course, find one that works for you!

HOW TO: Once your skin is nice and toned, grab your serum, I use the Laneige Bright Renew Original Serum, and put whatever amount is suggested on the bottle onto your finger tips. I like to dot it onto my face after so I know that I'm distributing it evenly across my face and neck. Gently use your fingertips to tap, tap, tap the serum into your skin. Tapping your serum into your skin will help with absorption and because, if there's one thing you've already taken away from this post, it is that rubbing, pulling, tugging is a big NO-NO. Then use your palms to gently pat your face; this will also help with absorption.

5. QUENCHING YOUR SKIN'S THIRST

Like I previously mentioned, my skin gets super dull in the winter, but it also gets so dry, you'd think my face was a desert, which is why I double moisturize. Yes, this step is most definitely extra, but it's necessary for me. If you're not a desert face like me, you can totally follow your own moisturizing routine, but hi, desert face here.

HOW TO: Basically follow the same steps from applying serum, but with moisturizer this time. I start with my HG Clinique Moisture Surge Extended Thirst Relief moisturizer, which you can read about here, and follow with the Laneige Bright Renew Original Cream, which helps with moisturizing, as well as brightening. Again, using your fingertips to tap each product into your skin, then gently press your palms for best absorption and to minimize damage to your skin.

6. MISTY MIST

This step is definitely not necessary, but I love doing it because it's a little added moisture and it's super refreshing! Misting your face with a cool mist will also help your pores to close, because your pores will open when exposed to warmth and close when exposed to cold, thus keeping out yuckiness.

HOW TO: After cleansing, toning, serum-ing, and moisturizing, use your favorite facial mist, I love TONYMOLY Pocket Bunny Moist Mist, as well as Mario Badescu Facial Spray with Aloe, Herbs, and Rosewater, and mist your entire face. Let your mist airdry, and you're all set! Avoid using a makeup setting spray, as it generally has different ingredients and components that won't do the same things for your skin as a skincare facial spray would.

BONUS STEP!
7. MOISTURIZE WHILE YOU SLEEP

About 2-3 times a week, I like to use a sleeping pack (or sleeping mask, for all you Westerners) for added moisture. Sleeping packs work in your sleep, like the name suggests. There are different kinds of sleeping packs with different purposes, but of course, desert face over here needs moisture.

HOW TO: Apply your sleeping pack as you would any mask and go to sleep, I love the Laneige Water Sleeping Mask! MOST IMPORTANTLY, when you wake up, you MUST wash it off your skin. Neglecting to do so will result in breakouts and other yucky skin bumps because it is a mask, which veils your skin and isn't breathable under makeup.

And that is my entire skincare routine! It's a lot, right? I know, but ever since I started this routine about six months ago, my skin has been AHMAHZING. Sometimes, if I have time, I'll use a sheet mask or a cream/clay/mud mask after toner, then continue with the rest of my skincare routine, but that's only if I have time. Desert face is dry, but busy.

ADDITIONAL TIPS & TRICKS!

- In addition to having a good skincare routine, health is also super important. DRINK LOTS OF WATER because water does wonders for your skin. I know so many people who saw such an incredible difference after they started drinking more water. Eating healthy is important too, but I'm not here to tell you about that, because desert face here won't preach what she doesn't practice, though I do try!

- In terms of other tips and tricks, never pick at your skin! I know it can be super satisfying to pop that unruly zit, then pick at the scab that formed, but it's soooo bad for your skin and can also cause infections, so never do it!!

- Always make sure your beauty tools are clean (including your hands!). Dirty hands, makeup brushes, and beauty blenders are the numero uno reason your skin is breaking out. Keep everything clean!!!!!

- RELAX! Stress is another reason for breakouts, so take 20 minutes to and hour every day to just chillax. I usually take an hour before I go to bed to unwind and relax, this also helps me to sleep better.

- Speaking of sleep, YOU NEED IT. College is tough, I understand, but you should never neglect sleep. Of course however, this is not your permission slip to sleep in class, because your parents aren't spending thousands on you to sleep in class. Do your best to be be efficient during the day and get your 8-10 hours of sleep. Getting the right amount of sleep will SERIOUSLY improve your skin!

Thank you for reading! I hope you found this post helpful, and maybe even encouraged you to make it a New Year's resolution to take better care of your skin and yourself. I'm not one for resolutions, but self-care is so important! What skincare tips, tricks, or products do you love and want to suggest? Let me know! Good luck on your skincare adventures!

With Love,
Caitlyn <3 (aka Desert Face ;))

*Ya I'm going my Caitlyn now. Is it better? Leaving you now with this gif of Mork bb w manager oppa as a ghost and a products mentioned list lol