Skincare 101

(Featured picture is 전지현 Jun Ji-hyun’s ad for Hada Labo)

The art of skincare is a subject on its own.

Skincare is, and should be, a vital part of our everyday lives. Taking care of your skin doesn’t merely involve slathering it with products, but also taking in the right substances to allow your body to repair skin cells from within.

I most definitely am not a dermatologist nor a skincare expert, the following “tips” and “suggestions” are purely from personal experience and research. Please also note that I have dry skin, period. Not combination, not normal, not oily. Dry. Hence, if you have a skin type different to mine, certain products or steps might not be applicable to you. Some products recommended below are also ones that I’ve tried and haven’t worked the best on me, but have worked wonders on a lot of people, thus why I’m recommending to you.

My skincare regimen has changed drastically over the years. I used to be the girl who does not give one bit of sh*t about skincare. As long as I have a cream that will keep me from feeling like my skin is about to crack, I’m good. I have to admit, I am very blessed. I’ve never had major problems with my skin (especially my face), but have suffered from eczema on my body when I was very young.

When I first started putting on makeup, I was fascinated by the power of these babies, how I can hide those dark circles and redness on my face with just a touch of concealer, open up my eyes with eyeliner and mascara, and give my face that blush and glow with blush and bronzer. Skincare didn’t seem to matter that much. However, as I grew older, it struck me that it should be the other way round and if I could choose, I would love to step out of the house makeup-free and still look fabulous. I hate the idea of having to wear tons of makeup to cover my facial blemishes and to give others an illusion of how I actually do not look like. To achieve the goal of wearing minimal makeup, it is exceptionally crucial to put in the effort to maintain my skin.

I’ve had my fair share of experience in the skincare product market. I obviously haven’t tried out every single product/brand available out there, but from drugstore to high-end brands, I’ve given a good amount of products a try. Disappointment is always what I end up feeling with skincare products. Some people are privileged in a sense that their skin reacts well with minimal and reasonably priced or even cheap products, while some people, aka moi, need to explore different brands and a variety of products to see what actually work on my skin.

My hunt will keep on going, but recently, I have begun to discover products (and in essence a skincare brand) that works really well on my skin. I have also realized that my skin is very asian, in a sense that it does significantly work better on skin care products from asian brands, especially Korean. Some of the products mentioned below are slightly pricey, but from my point of view, I’d rather be spending more money on taking care of my skin than to spend money on covering my skin.

Enough rambling, let me run you through my daily skincare regimen.

(If you are interested at an even more in-depth run-through of what you should do to optimize the skincare products you use, Korean actress 고현정 Go Hyun-jung’s book “Go Hyun-jung’s Texture” is the way to go if you know how to read Korean, if not, you can click this link: http://beautyswatch.com/beauty-secrets-from-koreas-skin-goddress-go-hyun-jung/ to read a summary of it, which greatly inspired me)

Disclaimer: All images from internet sources.

1. Pre-cleanse: whether or not you wear makeup, the exposure of your skin to the air, especially if you live in the city, will cause dirt and chemical to pile up. The first important step is to use an oil-based cleanser to melt away any chemical build-up on your face, especially if you wear a substantive amount of makeup. Do not be afraid to use oil-based products, even if you have oily skin. You will be surprised how these products actually provide the right amount of moisture you need, and in fact balance your oil levels without turning you into a grease ball!

Product recommendation:
Eve Lom Cleanser
Tatcha One Step Camelia Cleansing Oil
Netrogena Deep Clean Cleansing Oil

2. Cleanse: use a gentle and non-drying foaming cleanser (which is quite hard to come by) to then give your skin a further deep cleanse. A Clarisonic will make the job done even better! For two to three times a week, use green tea (soak  5-6 tea bags in hot water and let it cool) to rinse off the cleanser and let the tea’s antioxidants rejuvenate your skin (do not rinse again with clear water, simply pat your face dry).

If you have zits or pimples, use salt and lukewarm water to wash your face to sanitize the area and prevent the breakout from getting worse.

Product recommendation:
Amore Pacific Treatment Cleansing Foam

3. Exfoliate: 2-3 times a week, the dead skin cells need to be removed from your face to allow new skin cells to generate and emerge to restore brightness to your skin. Facial skin can be very delicate and it is not advised for one to use abrasive exfoliators, just as how it’s not beneficial to exfoliate your skin everyday, this will damage the skin cells. I use enzyme powder to give my face a gentle exfoliation. However, exfoliators with larger exfoliating particles are beneficial to remove the blackheads and dirt around the nose area!

Product Recommendation:
Amore Pacific Treatment Enzyme Peel
Tatcha Enzyme Powders 
(for different skin types)
St. Ives Apricot Scrub

4. Tone: a good, alcohol-free toner shrinks your pores, hydrates your skin, refreshes the skin, restores the skin’s pH balance and acts as a protecting and foundation layer for the subsequent products that you will be applying to your face.

Product recommendation:
Netrogena Alcohol-free Toner
Hada Labo Goku-jyun Clear Lotion
Laneige Power Essential Skin Toner
Amore Pacific Treatment Toner
Amore Pacific Time Response Toner


5. Essence: essence is not serum. It is to, in essence set and lock in the moisture from the toner. It should be a light liquid that kicks off the products that you will be applying to your face according to your skin concerns. I personally don’t find this step to make a huge difference, but due to my easily dried out skin, I make sure that it is as moisturized as possible, hence I do not skip this step.

Product recommendation:
Laneige Balancing Emulsion
Amore Pacific Hydrating Fluid
Amore Pacific Time Response Skin Renewal Fluid

6. Serum: serum is never a one-product step. Think of serum as a boosted moisturizer without the moisturizing effect on the surface. Serums are products that penetrate into your skin to provide it with the concentrated “nutrients”. Hence, it is vital for you to have your own serum regimen. For example, my skin needs hydration, brightening and pore tightening (still looking for a pore shrinking one) – I then look for serums that do these things and apply them accordingly. This is the step that attacks your skin’s main concerns and gives your skin that extra boost.

Product recommendation:
Innisfree Green Tea Seed Serum
Clinique Smart Custom-Repair Serum
Amore Pacific Moisture Bound Rejuvenating Serum
Amore Pacific Luminous Effect Brightening Serum
Amore Pacific Future Response Age Defense Serum




7. Moisturize: moisturizer is the final product to seal everything in and ensure that the skin stays hydrated throughout the day/night. I use a different moisturizer for day and night, the latter being thicker to act as a mask overnight so my skin stays moisturized throughout the 7-8 hours of lack of hydration. I’ve tried many, and I mean many, moisturizers out there on the market, and most don’t really do anything to my skin – it goes back to looking dull and dry in minutes. Even Creme de La Mer works just like the Nivea creme, nothing special and not worth the money. However, the products that I’m recommending below have really blown my mind and if you have dry sensitive skin like me, these might work for you!

Product recommendation:
La Roche-Posay Toleriane Ultra (Day)
Eve Lom TLC Cream
(Night)
Amore Pacific Moisture Bound Hydration Intensifying Cream
(Day)
Amore Pacific Future Response Age Defense Cream
(Night)

8. Eye cream: the skin area around your eyes is the most delicate part of your entire body and needs to be handled with care. Never tug or rub it with force, use tapping motions when applying eye cream. I unfortunately am still on the hunt for a good eye cream because I have fairly dry skin and horrible dark circles. A gentle massage around the orbital bone area daily will also help reduce dark circles!

If you have a good eye cream recommendation that hydrates and lightens dark circles, please let me know!

9. Masks: I’d like to think of masks as an a la carte to my skincare regimen. A single sheet of paper mask can do wonders for your skin, and just like serums, tailor your choice of masks to what your skin needs. I try to use a mask 3-4 times a week, sometimes for 6 consecutive days if my skin is feeling extra dull and dry, after toner and fluid. Make sure to use a combination of hydrating and nourishing masks to yield the best results.

Product recommendation:
Innisfree Masks
Mediheal Collagen Impact Essential Mask
Amore Pacific Refreshing Ampoule Masque


10. Sun protection: UV rays from the sun are extremely damaging to the skin. I’ve already been gifted these small but very adorable sun spots on my cheeks from my swimming training days back in high school. Before you apply your makeup and head out for the day, make sure you apply sunscreen to protect your skin from the sun!
BB/CC creams/cushions these days come with the right level of sun protection which you can consider using in substitute for your regular foundation (although most foundations do come with SPF as well)

Depending on your level of diligence, your skincare regimen can range from 10-17 steps, or if you prefer to keep it simple, just extract the key steps (cleanse, tone, moisturize). Remember, everyone’s skin is different, just as we all live in different places with different climates. There is no universal skincare regimen, there is only the one regimen that you discover to best suit yourself.

Lastly, step 11, or perhaps step 1, is to eat right.

First, need I not say more, drink lots of water. I make sure I drink at least 3 liters of water everyday to keep my skin and body hydrated. Put in lemon slices to add more benefits. Don’t underestimate the magic of H2O, it can do wonders.

Otherwise, here are some foods that help improve the skin:-

  • Pumpkin
  • Kale
  • Papaya
  • Spinach
  • Carrots
  • Blackcurrants
  • Blueberries, strawberries
  • Kiwi
  • Broccoli
  • Tomatoes
  • Chocolate (yes, a moderate amount of chocolate is good for you!)
  • Fish (salmon is a great source of fatty acids and omega-3!)
  • Avocado
  • Hazelnuts, almond, nuts and seeds
  • Flaxseed oil, linseeds, walnut and rapeseed oil
  • Beans
  • Flaxseed
  • Porridge (oats)
  • Shellfish

Antioxidants: helps skin cell development
Collagen: restores skin cells and strengthens capillaries that supply the skin
Vitamins A, C, E and K: some are antioxidants themselves and some produce collagen
Monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats: provides natural fatty acids to the skin that act as a moisturizer from within, which sometimes also come with vitamin E
Omega-3: essential fatty acids that cannot be made in the body and must be obtained through diet and supplements
Zinc: produces oil through the functioning of the sebaceous glands and helps to repair skin damage
Low-GI carbs: carbohydrates that release sugar into your blood stream at a steady pace, as opposed to high-GI carbs like sugar and biscuits that rush sugar into your bloodstream, invigorating the production of insulin. Excessive insulin will accelerate fat storage, damage collagen and causes wrinkles

You should opt to include these nutrients in your daily diet, not just for your skin but for your overall health. The list above is not exhaustive, and I am by no means a dietician. Please eat according to your preferences and health conditions, and consult a doctor if needed.

I hope this post has helped you gain a brief glimpse of how to take care of your skin. In this bustling city with the constant problem of air pollution, excessive alcohol intake, unhealthy diets and lack of quality sleep, your skin needs the extra care.

The above are simply what I have personally experienced and researched, please kindly do not take my words as professional advice but merely as a reference to adapt to your own research and experiments.

I wish you all great skin and health!

Until next post –

Love,
Euzane x

Blogmas Days 12-13: Cuisine Chicago

IMG_3828Food frustrates me. They can be so delicious that I can’t help to stuff myself, then they can be so delicious that my tummy pops out and abs gone. Oh well, who cares. (not really)

During my last two days in Chicago, I had the honor to visit two amazing restaurants, obviously not the most expensive ones in town like Alinea, but they were impressed me.

As I wait to board my 8am flight to NYC, I figured I’ll do a little review on the restaurants I’ve been to the past two days. Not a “Complete Guide to Chicago’s Best Eats” but at least you have these as options the next time you visit Chi-town!

NoMi (at Park Hyatt Chicago)

I was on the hunt for a place to dine with my girl friend who works here in Chicago and under the recommendation of my other friend, we decided on NoMi.

The kitchen is a country where there are always discoveries to be made. – Grimod De La Reyniere

NoMi Kitchen – a relaxed open kitchen restaurant with a chic, contemporary atmosphere and stunning panoramic views of downtown Chicago, Historic Water Tower Square and Lake Michigan.

Upon entering the restaurant, you first encounter the bar/lounge area where crowds of people have already started drinking at 7:30pm on a Friday night. Chatters and laughters, there’s no better place to meet your friends for a joyful reunion after 5 days being stuck in that tiny chair of yours at the office, not that you’re complaining having a job. Who doesn’t need a drink (or 2, or 3…) by the end of the week? TGIF.

I was slightly concerned that we had to dine amongst this chitchat carnival, but thank god – it was another scene when you turn around the corner. The hubbub of laughter and conversations was moderate, the view was impeccable (even better if we were seated by the window) and the service was on point.

Following the introduction of the menu by the waiter, we were served these aromatic, still hot out of the oven buns with, I believe, a soft fluffy light rosemary/garlic spread. The bread was so good and warming, the spread was not too strong nor greasy. I think we were already half full by the time we managed to indulge all the buns.

For starters, we ordered the Beef Tartare.

(Sorry, forgot to take a picture)

Crispy onion, poached quail egg, béarnaise aïoli

The portion was surprisingly small, but the tartare was pretty delectable. Tender cubes of steak with the crispy onion delivered the perfect contrast in texture. The béarnaise aïoli (typical choice of sauce for steak) was, allow me to use some Nigella language, succulent.

It’s not easy to make the perfect beef tartare, and I think NoMi did the pretty good job. However, maybe it’s just me, but I did think that the tang of the tartare could be a bit stronger.

We then both decided on Stuffed Poussin as our entreés

IMG_3861

Foie gras, spaghetti squash, almond cherry gastrique

The moment the waiter placed the food before us, my eyes just widened from the amazing aroma the dish gave off. It smelled so incredibly good!

On first bite, the chicken was not as tender as I expected it to be, but it wasn’t completely rough. I definitely would’ve preferred it to be more tender. My excitement mainly came from the foie gras – however, I was quite disappointed to not have been able to taste it in the stuffing. In general, I wasn’t a huge fan of the stuffing. Despite the slight disappointment, I must say that the sauce was delish. Every bite of chicken I had, I made sure I took on as much sauce as I could.

The sauce definitely complimented the dish and made it overall a not-bad entreé, but I would recommend trying something else on the menu (tagliatelle, market fish, turbot, rack of lamb, or wagyu ribeye), unless you only eat chicken.

By the end of the main course we were both already stuffed – but what is dinner without dessert? Hence, we decided to share a Pumpkin Blondie.

IMG_3864

Speculoos swirl ice cream, whipped pumpkin cremeux, spiced brown butter

I THINK I FOUND MY LONG LOST LOVE. This dessert is sooooooo good. If you are a pumpkin fan like yours truly, this dessert is your new boyfriend.

It’s not too sweet, yet not bland. The warmness of the pumpkin cremeux and the brown butter melted my heart. The ice cream had little chucks of pumpkin goodness so that it’s not as cold and harsh as it ought to be anymore. This is legit foodgasm.

This dessert is just SO GOOD you HAVE to try it if you visit NoMi. Seriously. I would go there just for this dessert.

I think I’ve made my point.

Fig and Olive

FIG & OLIVE’s elegant and warm design with limestone stucco walls, terra-cotta ceiling, and green rosemary and olive trees exudes the essence of the Mediterranean. Upon entering, guests are welcomed by an impressive display of extra virgin olive oils. A long, white marble communal table and tasting bar – ideal for informal gatherings – stretches across the room, lit by pendant lights and backed by displays of wines. The main dining room is elegant and intimate with olive branches crafted in black wrought iron and lit with candles. An open kitchen is illuminated by shelves of glowing olive oil bottles.

Waking up at 10am on a Saturday morning, WWBD? (What would Blair do?)
Brunch, of course. With Serena.
(Quoting Gossip Girl seems a bit tacky, but hey, I literally JUST finished the show on Netflix)

It was down to Waldorf Astoria (why are you even surprised?) or Fig and Olive. Since I was craving waffles (as like every other day), we went for Fig and Olive.

This place is beau-ti-ful. It’s basically me in a restaurant. Total inspiration for my imaginative café/restaurant 10-20 years down the road.

I ordered a Fig and Olive waffle (with berries, pearl sugar and vanilla whipped cream) with scrambled eggs on the side. The portion was slightly large, but not absurd.

IMG_3866

I didn’t care much for the scramble eggs (since I like mine slightly undercooked, no big deal though), but the salad (especially the dressing) was heaven sent. I don’t think I’ve ever had a salad this good. Next time I’m at Fig and Olive, I’m definitely ordering a full salad!

Waffles. Oh, waffles. Fig and Olive has one of the best waffles I’ve ever had. They had a sweet taste to the touch of the tongue but not overly sweet. (I hate bland waffles) Together with the pearl sugar, berries (I can literally live on eating berries for the rest of my life) and vanilla whipped cream, I was in wonderland.

The brunch experience at Fig and Olive was amazing. Great vibe, great decor, great food, great service – I cannot ask for more. This place is a must go.

Navy Pier

Before I end my post, here’s a little visual excursion of Navy Pier. It was a bit depressing going alone, best if I had company, but nevertheless, the view was to die for. Looking ahead you have the lighted up ferris wheel and looking back, you see the captivating skyline of night time Chicago and its urban lights.

IMG_3816 IMG_3821 IMG_3822 IMG_3845 IMG_3853 Hope you enjoyed the post with scenary and food.

Next stop, New York City.

Until next post!

Love,
Euzane x