Skincare

How and When to Clean Your Facial Brush

by
facialbrushkbeautyskincarekoreanskincarefacialcleansingtoolskincarecleansingexfoliatinggentlecleanser

 

Facial brushes are great. They’re easy to use, usually cheap, and offer a deeper cleanse, all while being extremely gentle on my sensitive skin. That said, do you ever wonder what’s crawling around in them after awhile? Sure, we always make sure our facial brushes dry out completely ever day, but there’s only so much that can do. Even just a few days is enough time for the bacteria to grow. Bacteria on your brush means bacteria on your face, and we need to avoid that at all costs.

 How Often Should I Clean My Facial Brush?

A facial brush lasts around 3 months before it has to be replaced. However, during those 3 months, you want to keep it in the best condition possible. It’s reccomended that you clean it at least once every week. I like to do it at least twice a week, just to be sure. You can never be too clean, so what’s there to lose other than a couple minutes?

How to Clean a Facial Brush

I’m going to show you 2 ways that you can clean your brush. The first is mainly focusing on killing bacteria, while the second is focused on cleaning the brush and nourishing the fibers.

For the first method, here are the things you’re going to need.

 

  • Rubbing Alcohol
  • A bowl
  • Your facial brush

Take the rubbing alcohol and pour it into a bowl. You don’t need too much, but you need enough to submerge your facial brush. Put the brush in the alcohol and swish it around, getting it on all the fibers. Leave it in for another 2 minutes, then dry it in a cool, dry area. Leave it to dry naturally, and make sure that it’s completely dry before you use it again. Do this at least twice a month.

 

Method 2- The Weekly Cleanse

This method is for a lighter cleanse on the brush. It isn’t as heavy and powerful as the alcohol, but it’s good for daily use and nourishes the brush as well. Here’s what you’ll need.

  • Dr. Bronner’s Pure Castile Soap (Or any foam/liquid facial cleanser)
  • Olive oil
  • A bowl

Mix the soap and olive oil in a 1:1 ratio, enough to submerge the brush. Once they’re mixed evenly, dunk the brush head in the mixture and work the cleanser into the face brush. Make sure to clean it well, and don’t miss anything! Once you’ve massaged it into the brush, wash it off and air dry until it’s completely dry. Do this at least once every week.

This will work for makeup brushes as well. Using both methods ensures that the brush is kept squeaky clean, and is still being nourished. The fibers will be bacteria-free, but they won’t be dry or brittle. Make sure to use these methods weekly!

 

 

 

 

Bentonite Clay Mask

by
bentoniteclaykoreanclaymaskkoreaskincarekbeautyskincareclaymasknaturalbeautydeepcleanse

During the summer, when we sweat and face the sun almost everyday, it’s inevitable that our skin will get damaged and clogged. So, what product would you be able to use weekly for a nice pick-me-up during the summer? Try bentonite clay.

Bentonite clay is used for various reasons, from our hair to our own  stomach. It’s often used for body detoxes, as well as for hair detoxes. It’s truly a multi-use product! You can usewhatever type of bentonite clay that you can find in drugstores or online, but the one I’m going to be reviewing is the Anjou Bentonite Clay Power Detox. It’s currently on sale for $9.00 on Amazon.

Anjou Benonite Clay Power Detox

anjoubentoniteclaypowerdetoxmaskkoreanskincarekbeautyclaymaskbentoniteclayskincareskinmask

Although I’m reviewing the performance of this brand of clay, keep in mind that most pure bentonite clays without any additives will perform similarly. So, on with the benefits of the clay.

Bentonite Clay….

  • Helps to expel toxins that we acquire throughout the day
  • Acts as an antibiotic treatment for the skin when applied topically
  • Contains many minerals like silica and calcium, so in addition to drawing toxins out, it can help to nourish the skin as well
  • Unclogs and cleanses pores in the skin
  • Assits in evening skin tone and texture
  • Helps to regenerate skin tissue, which corrects acne scars

How To Use Bentonite Clay

Mix the clay with a liquid in a 1:1 ratio, so that the clay is a ice cream consistency. There’s many ways that you can combine the bentonite clay. A lot of people just use water, but I like to use apple cider vinegar and a drop of tea tree oil, since I have combination skin. Leave on for about 20 minutes, or until the clay hardens and turns into a light, ashy grey. It’s pretty easy to tell when you need to take it off, since you won’t be able to speak or smile with out feeling like your face is ripping apart.

After it dries, wash it off with warm water and moisturize with a light layer. I use the Thayers Alcohol-Free Witch Hazel with Rose Petal Toner, and then finish it off with either Kukui Cream or Mizon’s Snail Repair Intensive Ampoule. 

The clay is powerful, so I wouldn’t reccomend doing the whole face clay treatment over 2 times a week. However, I always use the clay as a spot treatment, no matter how many times I use it on my whole face. It helps shrink a giant pimple into about half the size in less that 20 minutes. It’s seriously a life-saver.

 

The Result:

As most of you may know, I’ve had some rough patches (pun intended) in my skincare journey. Of course, I’ve used a lot of other k-beauty products to help make my skin happy again, but this has definetely helped a ton. It’s the deep cleanse that I need weekly, just in case my daily cleansing isn’t able to get rid of everything. It’s also great for quick spot-treatments on the nights before a day out. I’d definetely reccomend this to those who struggle with combination and oily skin. However, if you have extremely dry skin and/or rosacea, I would check with other bloggers that have drier skin.

Hope this review helps anyone that’s still on the fence about getting the clay! What product do you want reviewed next? Comment below!

 

 

 

 

SUNBURNED SKIN SAVERS: KUKUI NUT CREAM

by
sunburnedskinkukuinutcreamkukuinutkukuicreamhawaiinskinskincare

 

Spring is here, and summer is soon to come, which means vacations, and staying out in the sun. Which, of course, leads to sunburned skin. Most people have a sunburn at least once in their life, and it probably isn’t the happiest moment in their life that they can relate to. In addition to be damaging to the skin’s healt, sunburns just look bad. While some people don’t mind a little tan, nobody likes to sport the lobster-face look for over a week.

During the time that your skin is sunburned you have to be especially careful with what you put on it. It’s best not to wear makeup, and exfoliants, manual and chemical, should be avoided until the skin heals. So, what can you do to try and heal the damaged, red, flaky, skin? Try Kukui Nut Cream.

 

 

KUKUI CREAM 

Kukui is a nut that originates from Hawaii, and was often used by Hawaiian royalty for its moisturizing properties. The nut shell can often be seen on different jewelries, but the nut itself is a real skin-saver, especially for sunburned skin. It helps to moisturize skin, which is essential in order to speed the skin’s healing process, and it also helps to even out the skin tone. It also contains Vitamin A, C, and E, which all help to even out the skin tone, as well as prevent free-radical damage to the skin’s cells. It’s able to penetrate to even the deepest layers of skin, giving moisture from within.

I’ve personally had a fast recovery from a moderate sunburn with the cream, but Kukui Nut Oil has also been recommended by many people for sunburn damage.

 

Oils of Aloha Kukui Cream, Fragrance Free-here for $15.95

Oils of Aloha Kukui Oil-here for $16.99

 

If anyone is willing to share their experiences with Kukui Nut products, comment in the section below! Have a happy spring and summer, without getting sunburned!

Korean DIY-Almond Moisture Pack

by

Hello to our readers!

These past few weeks, I’ve mostly been focusing on doing reviews for different K-beauty products. Today, I’m going to step away from the product reviews to share a DIY moisture pack that is popular amongst most Korean beauty bloggers, which is the Almond Moisture pack! It’s been featured on many popular Korean beauty shows, such as Get it Beauty, where Park Han Byul claimed to have used it for her glowing skin. It’s a simple and effective mask for when your skin is looking a bit dull, and you want to moisturize and brighten it up. Let’s begin!

 

Korean DIY Almond Moisture Pack

Ingredients:

  • 10-20 Almonds
  • Milk
  • Honey
  • A mixing bowl/something to crush and grind the almonds with.

Instructions

  1. Crush/grind all the almonds in a small bowl or food processor. Make sure the almonds are ground finely
  2. Add a honey as a 1:1 ratio to the almonds
  3. Add 1-2 spoonfuls of milk, and mix well. The amount of milk added can be adjusted based on the preference, but at least one spoonful is recommended

The final Almond Moisture Pack should look something like this:

4. Wash the Almond Moisture pack off with warm water, and move onto your regular nighttime routine.

Sheet masks are well-known for their moisturizing abilities, but not everyone has them around all the time. I use this almond moisture pack every once in a while, when I run out of sheet masks to use, or if I just want an extra glow for my skin. While I love to use sheet masks because of the diverse ingredients that are used, when it comes to moisture, this DIY Almond Moisture pack is just as good, if not better, than most moisturizing sheet masks. I especially love using it in the winter. The cold combined with the wind can usually manage to strip my skin of just about any moisture, but the day after using the Almond Moisture Pack, I can really feel the moisture locked in, even outside. If dry skin is a concern for you, or if you just want that K-drama/Kpop glow, give this DIY Almond Moisture Pack a go!

 

 

 

MIZON Snail Repair Intensive Ampoule Review

by
mizonsnailrepairintensiveampoulekoreansmpouleserumessencekbeauty

 

 

 

Hi everyone! I’m back with another review, only this time it’ll be for an the Mizon Snail Repair Intensive Ampoule, not another chemical exfoliator or brightening agent, but an all-around k-beauty treat! This week’s star is the Mizon Snail Repair Intensive Ampoule. It’s been on the market for a long time, but it still is a great ampoule when it comes to price and all-around effectiveness for me. Let’s start with the Ingredients overview!

Mizon Snail Repair Intensive Ampoule Key Ingredients:

The ingredients list are listed down below:

Snail Secretion Filtrate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Alcohol, Panthenol, Glycereth-26, Punica Granatum Extract, Theobroma Cacao (cocoa) Extract, Carbomer, Triethanolamine, Trehalose, Copper Tripeptide-1, Human Ogliopeptide-1, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Cornus Officinalis Fruit Extract, Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract, Caprylyl Glyocol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tropolone, Sodium Polyacrylate, Adenosine, Coptis Japonica Extract, Disodium Edta

 

We’re going to focus on the first two ingredients, Snail Secretion Filtrate (aka Snail Mucin), and Sodium Hyluronate.

Snail Secretion Filtrate (Snail Mucin)

 

Yes, I know. I hate the thought of snails anywhere near me, much less touching me. But snail mucin is a different story. From hydration to lightening acne scars, snail mucin is basically and all-around wonder. Plus, the Mizon Snail Repair Intensive Ampoule has an 80 percent concentrate of it, so might as well know what it is! Here’s a list of the many benefits of slathering the snails’ trails on you skin!

  • Heals acne/acne scars. This mucin works on the snails to heal any scars or cuts on the snail, and it works in a similar way for our skin
  • Firms Skin
  • Helps with anti-aging, such as wrinkles and fine lines
  • Moisturizes and replenishes the skin
  • Supports cell regeneration, which results in all the wonderful outcomes listed above!

So, willing to try snail mucin after reading all the benefits? So am I. But that isn’t the only star ingredient in the Mizon Snail Repair Intensive Ampoule!

Sodium Hyluronate

 

 

 

At first glance, Sodium Hyluronate just sounds like another filler ingredient- long and hard to pronounce. But, don’t be fooled by its science-y name. Sodium Hyluronate is the sodium salt form of Hyaluronic acid, a key ingredient when it comes to moisture. What does it do?

Hyaluronic acid isn’t an acid in the same sense that vitamin c or a BHA agent is, but instead is a naturally occuring chemical in our body. It works to act as a sort of cushioning agent for our skin, as well as our joints, eyes, and hair. Our body’s ability to produce this acid declines as we age, thus leading to fine lines, wrinkles, etc.

Hyaluronic acid is a great humectant, with their ability to attract and attain over 1,000 times their weight in water. What does that mean for our skin? The hyaluronic acid is able to keep more water molecules trapped within our skin, which means more moisture for us!

 

MIZON Snail Repair Intensive Ampoule Review

 

 

Claims:

  • Reduce the appearence of fine lines and wrinkles
  • Deeply moisturize the skin
  • Brighten and correct hyperpigmentation

Texture:

The texture of the Mizon Snail Repair Intensive Ampoule can be off-setting to some, but I enjoy it, actually. It’s not completely viscous, but rather has a somewhat jelly-like texture that’s very unique. It’s really only a texture that other snail products have. However, it does sink in pretty quickly, and the texture of the ampoule itself disappears within about a minute or so. It has a slight cooling effect, which I enjoy.

 

Results:

The Mizon Snail Repair Intensive Ampoule is probably what I would give as one of the safest products to step into the k-beauty world with. Although it isn’t something that will be able to completely clear skin within a week, it’s a great ampoule, especially for the price. The ampoule delivers on what it promises, moisturizing, plumping, and fading hyperpigmentation. I think I love it as a secondary step, but it won’t be able to solve all my skincare worries. However, for the price, it’s such a great buy. For only $10, it’s an all-around skincare worker, so I bring it with me wherever I go, and it’s been working great for me.

Rating (Out of 5): 4. I’ve been using this product for around 6 months, and I’m currently on my 4th bottle. It’s a wonderful all-around worker, with a great price, but the product alone won’t be able to cure all my skincare concerns.

Interested in buying the Mizon Snail Repair Intensive Ampoule? Get it here for $9.96 on Amazon.

error: Content is protected !!
%d bloggers like this: