Winter Beauty Secrets

Now that I'm back in New York, I have to use different skincare products because of the harsh, dry, cold air. I tried using the L'Oreal RevitaLift cleanser that worked really well for me in L.A. but it dried out my skin too much here. =(  So, now, I'm using Olay Daily Facials Hydrating Cleansing Cloths to keep my skin soft and hydrated.

To get rid of the dead skin cells that make my skin look rough and splotchy, I give myself an exfoliating treatment with Olay Regenerist Microdermabrasion & Peel System. I apply the thick, gooey scrub with an electric toothbrush and run it over my face in small circles (a trick I learned from a Michelle Phan video a long time ago). I don't usually use the Activator afterwards, because my skin is sensitive to Lactic Acid... but if your skin does well on AHAs then I would definitely recommend trying it. The mini crystals in this kit are the BEST- nothing makes my skin smoother or more radiant!



Olay Regenerist Microdermabrasion & Peel Kit

After scrubbing my skin, always use a pampering face mask so that my skin won't get irritated. I use Kinerase Pro + Therapy Ultra Hydrating Repair Mask, which plumps my skin with moisture and makes it as soft as a baby's butt. It's a little pricey but it's the most luxuriously rich moisturizing mask and there's nothing else like it! The morning after I use it, my skin looks so healthy and glows. It's well worth the money and you only need a tiny bit each time. It also comes in a hygenic airless pump jar.

Kinerase Pro + Therapy Ultra Hydrating Repair Mask

My lips also need extra moisture because they're always extremely dry, especially in the winter, so I've been using a thick lanolin ointment (ok, it's a nipple balm for breastfeeding mothers) and it works WONDERS! I use Lansinoh Lanolin ointment, which I found on Amazon for $7. You can buy Lansinoh at Walmart, too, for under $10. It seems pricey for a lip balm but each tube contains 1.41 oz (which is a TON of product) and you won't find a better healing ointment for dry, cracked lips. The consistency is very thick at first but it melts right into your lips and stays put, even while eating or drinking. You can even dab it on minor cuts to help heal and protect them.

Lansinoh 100% Natural HPA Lanolin Ointment

Product Review: Kate Somerville 360 Tanning Towelettes

For Halloween weekend, I was dressed a sexy Native American Princess... *ahem* I believe the costume was called "Poke-My-Hontas". (Don't judge meeeee lol)

Anyway, even though I'm Filipino, I'm definitely sort of a guidette at heart (it's the New Yorker in me), so getting tan was essential before putting on my outfit. Unfortunately, there are a lot of self-tanners out there that smell disgusting, so I had to pick one that wouldn't make me reek of sweaty fake bake while I was out partying and dancing my ass off
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Luckily, the sweet team at Beautylish.com sent me some free swag since I wasn't able to make it to their Beauty Social event last week and in my box of goodies was two packs of Kate Somerville 360 Tanning Towelettes... yay! They saved me from what would probably have been hours of aggravation trying to find the right self-tanner. (I was leaning towards Sun Labs Sunless Tanning Spray.)

$10 for 2 at Sephora

Kate Somerville's tanning cloths are like big wet-naps that are soaked with self-tanning solution. I needed two to cover my whole body, so at $10 for 2 the price is a little steep. But the tanning solution did its job and I immediately started getting tan. After only a couple hours, I was very bronze and my boyfriend's brother even commented on how dark I looked. Thankfully, there was no strong smell at ALL- even while I was out dancing and sweating at a Halloween party. The next morning I was SNOOKI dark. For the price, though, I was disappointed because I was orange :(

Short & Sweet: Kate Somerville's 360 Tanning Towelettes are great in a pinch, when you're short on time and need to tan ASAP without having a gross, lingering sunless tanner smell. However, the are pretty expensive ($10 for 2 or $48 for 8) and turned my skin orange-y when the color fully developed, so I would only give them a 3/5.

Tip: I used Glytone Exfoliating Body Wash with a Salux Japanese Exfoliating Washcloth to scrub off any dry, dead skin before using the Tanning Towelettes. Always exfoliate before you tan so you won't look splotchy! Then, rub a thick moisturizer into your elbows, knees, ankles, hands, and feet so they won't absorb too much of the solution. Finally, start at your ankles with the towelette still folded and work your way up, unfolding the cloth as you go.

5 Beauty Products I Never Knew I Needed

Whoever said, “Less is more”, must not have been a beauty addict. In my world, more is always more… and I’m always discovering new products to add to my “Can’t Live Without” list:

1. Salux Japonese Exfoliating Washcloths
Loofah schmoofah! This nylon exfoliating washcloth is amazing for getting your skin silky-smooth. Just use it with your favorite body wash and scrub your body gently. (It’s best to use it towards the end of your shower, after the steam has had a chance to soften your skin.)

Salux Japanese Exfoliating Washcloth, $8, Amazon.com

2. Clinique Lash Building Primer
On my recent weekend trip to Arizona, everyone was asking me what mascara I use… I had just gotten a sample tube of this lash primer and have been using it under my L’Oreal Telescopic Mascara ever since. Needless to say, I will definitely be buying a full-sized tube.

Clinique Lash Building Primer, $14, Nordstrom

3. Brush Guard Makeup Brush Protector Sleeves
If you’ve ever traveled with your makeup brushes, you know how dirty and misshapen they can get from being thrown into a makeup bag. These sleeves come in different sizes to protect your brushes from getting everything else in your makeup bag all grimy and keep the bristles in tact.

The Brush Guard Makeup Brush Protector Sleeves, $5.50, thebrushguard.com

4. Laura Geller Lip Spackle
If you’ve ever tried to use super-bright lip color, like my beloved Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Lip Tar in Anime, you know that color-bleeding is your worst enemy and can leave you looking like Bimbo the Clown. This lip color primer not only keeps your lip color exactly where you want it- it also helps your lipstick’s true color come out, instead of mixing with your natural lip color.

Laura Geller Lip Spackle Lip Primer, $24, CVS.com

5. DHC Revitalizing Moisture Strips for Eyes
These adhesive gel strips contain super-moisturizing and nourishing ingredients for the delicate skin around your eyes… use them overnight when your peepers could use a little TLC and you’ll wake up looking bright-eyed and more youthful!

DHC Revitalizing Moisture Strips for Eyes, $13 for 12, Amazon.com

Have you ever tried any of these products? Let me know if you liked them!