My Everday Luxury ~ Masks

My coveted collection at the moment...

The early bird does catch the worm.  I woke up slightly earlier than the rest of the family this morning, and so I decided to give myself an extra boost on my face on my birthday... in the form of a mask sheet. 

This morning's mask: My Beauty Diary ~ Japanese Cherry Blossom Mask

On leisurely days (e.g.: the kids don't have school, we are not rushed to head out of the house...) I will give myself mask sheets twice a day instead of just my nightly mask.  I find that a morning mask will help wake me up and give me the necessary glow to start off the day.  Especially since I did a wash off mask last night (Tony Moly's Tomatox Brightening Mask), I felt like it is not such a bad idea to do a mask sheet this morning.

Last night's mask: Tony Moly Tomatox Brightening Mask

A lot of people ask if masks are meant to be done daily or twice a week.  I had that same question too, but I later found out that the answer will vary depending on whom you asked.  Most Chinese people I asked said "twice a week" (please note, those are the ones who considered themselves diligent in skincare), with the exception of one my facial ladies who applauded my diligence to do masks daily.  The Korean ladies I asked usually said that it's fine to do masks daily.  I think that the masks we do at home are usually way milder versions of the ones done at facial places, so it is really fine to do them daily.  Especially in harsh winter like Canada, where it is very dry, a hydrating mask really makes a big difference.

Here are some other masks that I am currently using and love for different reasons:

Skinfood's Royal Honey Essence Mask ~ fits like a glove on the face and very hydrating but slightly on the expensive side.  It's said to have anti-wrinkle properties.

My Beauty Diary: Aloe Vera Creamy Gel and Luffa Mask (2-Steps Summer Mask Pack); I am very much in love with this one and like using it even though it is Winter now.  I find it very hydrating (I'm so about hydration these days).  It's inexpensive, Cdn$12+tx for a pack of 8 masks

My Beauty Diary: Shea Butter Creamy Gel & Olive Leaf Mask (2 steps Winter Mask pack).  Just as good as the Summer one, probably with the added bonus of being moisturizing (Shea Butter) as well as hydrating.  I love them, because they are so affordable (also sold for Cdn$12+tx for a pack of 8).

The cheapest masks I own (at Cdn$1 each if you buy in bulk ~ in 10s (10 for Cdn$10+tx).  Individually, they are Cdn$1.49+tx)  They come in many varieties (see if I can name them all, as I used up most of them already): Tomato (pore reducing), Vitamin, Lemon, Green Tea, Aloe, White, Co-Enzyme Q10, Collagen, Herb, Royal Jelly, Apricot.  For $1 a day, they are pretty good, but not as hydrating as the "My Beauty Diary" hydrating masks, in my opinion.  If I can afford it, I would buy "My Beauty Diary" masks or Etude House masks.

This is also a good mask with ampoule, given to me by a friend.  (I used up the others she sent me, so this is the only one I can take a picture of.)

Masks for the eyes, by Etude House.  Not sure how well they work, but I got them at a deal.  I will finish off the stash I have at home, but I highly doubt that I will buy more in the future.

 Skinfood's Papaya Yogurt Mask (Wash off mask).  It smells really nice and very mild that even my 7 yr old uses it.  It is also for hydrating the skin.  Description also mentions removing dry, dead skin... not sure about that, but I like this mask.

Skinfood's Rice Mask (wash off mask).  What can be wrong with rice mask?  It's like the most natural ingredient you can put on your face.  Description reads: A wash-off mask containing rice extract that moisturizes skin and brightens tone. With its texture of ground rice, it leaves skin bright, soft and lustrous.
I also share this with my 7-yr-old.

*What I find with Skinfood's wash off masks is that they are made with ingredients you can find in nature.  People often argue why we have to spend lots of money on skincare when you can mix your own masks in the kitchen.  Well, these wash off masks are really affordable (you only need a little bit each time) and it's no where near as messy as making your own kitchen concoction.  And with the prices of food these days (just went to bulk barn to buy almonds, and the usual type that we buy has probably doubled in price), it is probably cheaper to buy ready made.  Just have to know the right manufacturer, that's all.  For me, I trust Skinfood and many other Korean brands, because Korea is really dedicated to promoting their skincare business.  I also looked into home remedy masks a few days before, and I just got discouraged after reading the list of ingredients, some of which I have either not heard of, or have no idea where I can find it in the area where I live.

Tony Moly Tomatox Brightening Mask.  It stings a bit when applied to the face, but I guess this is the brightening agent working (other bloggers also have the same comment).  Not sure if I'll buy it again, but I will certainly try other Tony Moly masks.

Also sent to me by a friend in Hong Kong.  These eye masks (they're dry, not wet) are really effective in taking away the fatigue in the eyes area.  You may not believe it (cause I didn't at first), the pack turns really warm a few minutes upon application, making it really comfortable to leave on... like a mini sauna for the eyes.  The only downside is that I will have to be stationary for the entire time as I will not be able to see (with mask sheets or wash off masks, I still put on my glasses and walk around the house or doing things like I normally do.).  These will probably be more suitable for bedtime.  I would buy them, if I can find them here in Toronto.

Happy Birthday?!

Yes, it is that time of the year again. A time when I would try not to remind myself that I am a year older. In fact, after my 25th birthday, I just basically lost count of how old I am. And when asked, I would have to do some basic calculations in my head subtracting my birth year by the current year. That is how much I dread birthdays.

Recalling just a year ago, I looked in the mirror on the day before my birthday and said to myself, "Gosh, I really ought to be better to myself and start going to bed early. My eyes really look the age.". No sooner said that, I started buying over-the-counter eye creams for my eyes. At that time, I had little idea the importance of moisturizers; all I had been doing since then was washing my face with a very drying cleanser at the end of the night, because I thought a squeaky clean face is the cleanest. Boy was I wrong. I also used a great deal of scrubs, especially on my oily T-zone, but never did I realize the importance of using toner. I did buy toner, at least I think that was toner (it was a Neutrogena brand), but I just didn't use it more than twice a month. In short, that was a very depressing time; I had two choices: to accept the "gift" that mother nature had left on my face, or to turn back time. I chose the latter, even though I would appear as vain to a lot of people. Sometimes when I read comments posted by others on Yahoo regarding Skincare articles, I find that a lot of people thinks that Skincare products are a waste of money and that people should just accept their wrinkles and age marks with grace. These people think that it is extremely vain to spend time during the day to pamper yourself in hopes to erase or prevent any signs of aging.  But what is the problem of looking better when you have the means and know how to do it?  I think the process of making yourself look good is not all for outer appearances; through this process of loving yourself, you also feel good about yourself.  Ultimately, the people around you benefit from your improved attitude towards life too.

Exactly a year ago, I was looking at the mirror feeling depressed about how much I've aged.  I blamed it on almost anything: kids, dull life as a housewife, late nights watching TV after the kids are in bed (I needed that after a whole day running after them and telling them to stop fighting; that is my "me-time" of the day).  The counter eye creams I tried turned out to be 'hit-and-miss'es, as even within the same brand, I found that some made my eyes feel more swollen than others the next day.  Eventually, I turned to the internet and researched how others take care of their skin.  At that time, I was (still am, I guess) very into Korean dramas.  I always wondered how Korean girls have such pretty skin.  Thanks to all the forums, I found my answer!  I decided to embark on a 6-steps cleansing system, consisting of cleanser, toner, mask, eye cream, serum, and moisturizer... the things I call "basics" from now on.  It could very well be the Korean dramas that gave me the encouragement to do such a diligent cleansing ritual daily (twice a day actually), but I did it... I kept at it for months and I'm still doing this twice a day.  And one year after my last birthday, I look into the mirror... I am actually happy with what I see.  With a more disciplined diet, I lost a bit of weight too (yay); and the nightly facial massage also seemed to help slim down my face, giving me a better "V" shape.  There are still lots to do, but I don't see myself much older than my early to mid-20s (a time when I paid little attention to skincare).

And what did I learn after all these years of "mistreating" my skin?  "Moisturizers are a girl's best friend!"  This is why I now help my 7-yr-old put on water based creams day and night.  I don't want to turn her into a vain person obsessed only with outer appearance; no, that is not my goal... but I want to get her started to take care of her skin so that she will not have to go through all those obstacles that I went through.  It's true how a lot of people said it, "There are no ugly women, just lazy ones."

BLACKHEADS! (And what I learned from giving my 7-yr-old her facial...)

Being plagued by blackheads as early as the age of 7 (I was unfortunately born and raised in Hong Kong, a very humid and polluted city, until the age of 10 with combination skin), I was always on the look out for blackhead clearing products.  I had tried many many ways to clear away blackheads, from extraction (ouch!), to pore peels (still ouch, but less painful) to clay masks for many years.  Finally, I think I've found the answer to clearing away these pesky little black dots: PATIENCE and PERSEVERANCE.

I learned this from my 7 year old daughter who developed some blackheads on her nose during our recent trip to Hong Kong.  As she is still very young, I did not want to use the extraction method on her for fear that it will leave her pores very large.  I did not want to use pore peels on her either because she cannot stand even a little bit of pain (and truth be told, pore peels also make pores larger).  So the only option left for me to do was to use clay masks on her.  In Hong Kong, the Japanese brand FANCL House is easily available everywhere.

Though the price is a bit steep, at HK$150 (approx Cdn$19) for a box of 8 packets (to be used at a suggested rate of 1 packet a day), that is like Cdn$2.40 / day down the drain just to use on clay packs that do not show as obvious a result as pore peels; but on my little girl's otherwise flawless skin, I thought it was worth it.  (I also found out that one packet of the FANCL House Pore Cleansing Pack is good for at least 3 to 4 applications if you keep the opening small and seal it as tight as you can after use... Ha!  There you go, that means I can get about 30 clay masks for Cdn$19!)  But what surprised me was that after daily application on my daughter's nose for a few days, her blackhead problem almost entirely went away.  Well, for sure it went from "OMG!  That's really obvious!" to "Let me check with a flashlight, hmm... I think that is still a small one, but it's hardly noticeable."  And from then on, I realized what I've been doing to myself for the past 20 odd years were WRONG!

First of all, I'd like to apologize to "clay masks" which I've always mistaken you for being useless when in fact it was I who didn't use you enough that makes the result way less than satisfactory.  Now here are the list of my blackhead clearing tools in the order of most favorite to least:




Washable Clay Masks ♥♥♥♥♥
(Gentle, effective, BUT you must not be lazy)

Love them for their gentle yet effective quality.  Besides the above FANCL brand, which honestly is not very easily accessible where I live; I also use Innsifree Jeju Volcanic Pore Clay Mask which I can buy from my very reliable on-line distributor at a really reasonable price.  (Pretty sure that I can get more than 30 applications with one jar of the Volcanic Pore Clay Mask, and it costs the same as 8 packets of the FANCL House version.  To me, the Korean version works just as well.)

To use:
Simply apply the clay to the affected area after cleansing.  Leave on for a few minutes (no harm to wait longer), then wash off with warm water.  If your pores are larger than you wish to see, you can also follow with a pore reducing mask like I do.




Pore Peels ♥♥♥♥
Great if you want fast results, BUT you must use a good pore reducer afterwards.

For a very long time, I was a believer in pore peels.  What's not to love about them?  They're easy to use, does the job well (if you choose the right brands), and not very expensive.  I have two favorite brands which coincidentally are of two different types: sticker and cream (that dries up and allows you to peel off).

 

To use:

* The sticker type adheres only to wet skin.  Apply the sticker to wet skin after cleansing.  To make it even more effective, splash the affect area (in this case, the nose) with as high temperature water as you can handle or steam your face before hand to open up the pores.  Let the sticker do its job for about 10 to 15 mins.  You will know when to peel off when the sticker is hard and dry.  Start loosening up from the sides of the nose and peel on both sides toward the middle in an upward motion.

** The cream works on dry skin, so you will need to pat dry your skin after cleansing before you apply the cream.  I try to apply a generous layer, because even though it takes longer to dry when the layer is thick, it is also more effective than a thin layer.  You may also want to make sure that you have the cream on nicely, so that it does creep into the little pores where the blackheads lie.  Leave on for as long as required (usually the time suggested on the packaging is a bit off, especially if you're using a liberal amount) and peel off like you do with sticker pore peels.

I was in love with these for the longest of time because they are really effective.  They even clean out the hard to reach places like the tip of the nose (which will be very painful to extract) and they also take out the fine hair that is trapped within the pores.  However, I also learned that with pore peels, you need to have a good pore reducer at hand so that you can reduce the sight of pores afterwards.  Even though a lot of these products claim that they have pore reducing agents that tightens the pores after the blackheads / sebum is removed, I still fine that not enough.  To proof, I was shocked to see obvious pores on my nose after using pore peels every 3 days for about 2 weeks.  (Okay, you may think what I was doing using these pore peels every 3 days, but what is the point if I can only use them once a month or twice a month while blackhead is building up every single day.)  So, for someone like me, who is very sensitive about the sight of blackheads on my nose, this type of product is really not very suitable for me.  BUT if you are pressed for time and want to get rid of them quick for a special event, this is the way to go.

Blackhead remover solution ♥♥♥

(They do work to loosen up the blackheads so that extraction is easier, but a needle is still involved).

I've also tried loosening up my blackheads with a solution so that it makes extraction easier.  After being told of the possible side effects of pore peels by my facial lady (she said that the action of peeling may loosen up the skin that's being pulled up, therefore pore peels should only be used once a month), and that the extraction method is a far more safer way to remove blackheads than pore peels, I decided to give the Etude House Blackhead Final Kit a try.

My verdict:  If you are into extraction with a blackhead needle, this product is a MUST.  It really helps loosen the blackheads (though you have to do a little extra than what is explained on the packaging... instead of applying the solution with your hand or a cotton swab, you should apply the solution on a thin cotton pad and then place the wet pad on the affected area for 20 mins.  If your cotton pad is on the thick side, you may want to gently separate it into two layers.  This way, the solution will not get absorbed into the pad and hence you will not need as much to soak the cotton pad.  To judge, the pad should feel wet to the touch.).  But a note of caution: when using extraction needle, know your limits.  Even though this product makes it less painful to extract the blackheads with the needle, your nose may still peel the next day if you over do it.  So stop before you get too obsessed with a perfectly clean nose.  I'd rather do it more frequently than trying to go for a blackhead free nose in one go.  Also, if you have a really effective pore reducer, I would recommend you use that instead of the one that comes with the kit.  In this case, you may ask if it is still worthwhile to buy this Etude House kit?  I'd still say that for the effectiveness of the remover solution, this kit (complete with the remover solution and soothing cream) is still worth its price.

Blackhead Needles ♥

(Does the job, but boy does it hurt and leaves a mark the next day)

And when your nose peels (the next day, but sometimes it could happen same day), no amount of BB cream can cover up the trace.  And sometimes it's not just the peeling but also the redness that makes me think twice about extracting with a needle again.  I only use it when the blackhead is really big and obvious (which, if you're diligent enough with the clay masks, it should not have happened in the first place).  Also, bear in mind that when someone does this for you at the facial spa, they also disinfect the "wounds" after with a special tool.  I truly doubt that most of us at home have this equipment.  So there is an added risk of infection if the tool is not sterile.

Blackheads Dissolving Agents ♥

(No idea if it works or not)

Probably the most expensive product of all in my possession in regards to blackhead removal (I don't quite remember the price exactly, but Dr. Jart is always far more expensive than Missha, and Missha is also more expensive than Skinfood / The FaceShop / Etude House / Tony Moly, ... so you do the math.  This product, as I was told, can be used up to twice a week, to be applied on the nose for 10 mins and then massaged for a bit before rinsing off.  I used this product diligently for a few weeks but I don't see any improvement whatsoever.  True, the blackheads did look lighter right after use (but that happens too after normal cleansing), but they always come back looking as annoying as ever.

I still have quite a large quantity left and I may still use it from time to time.  But would I buy it again?  I don't think so.  I will just stick to my clay masks from now on and probably use the Blackhead Final Kit from time to time if I encounter some stubborn blackheads that I need to extract.

To be honest, I do visit facial spas regularly to have my face cleaned by the professionals.  I think that is very important even though I do a pretty thorough skincare routine daily at home.  From experience, facials can only help clean out blackheads every once in a while, but they always come back.  It is with daily cleansing / clay masks done at home that you can hope to be rid of those for good.

Etude House Collagen Moistful Essential Massage

One of the many skincare products I purchased from my latest trip to Hong Kong was this big jar of mask.  I call it big, because at 200ml and only a small amount is required for each use, it will probably last me a few months.

I was a bit hesitant at first in regards to how to use this product.  There seems to be some confusion because of the packaging.  In the website where I usually get my skincare products, it is known as Etude House Moistful Massage Mask.  The overall packaging is also different: the color is a few shades lighter, there is hangul on the packaging, and even the shape of the tub is slightly different.

Not wanting to misuse this product, but at the same time dying to try it out, I spent some time before my bedtime to research on-line and finally found my answer.  Like the product on the Momomango website, this tub that I have on hand can also be used in 3 ways:

1. Massage: Apply the gel to cleansed skin. Massage for 2-3 minutes and rinse off with lukewarm water.
2. Pack: Apply ample layer to cleansed skin. Leave on for 10-15 minutes. Tissue off and then wash face thoroughly with cleansing milk.
3. Overnight pack: Apply ample layer to cleansed skin. Leave on overnight. Rinse off thoroughly in the morning.

I am not very good with massaging my own face (although I try to imitate what the facial lady does to me on my daughter), so #1 is not really my thing.  As for treating it as a wash off mask (#2), I am not doing that as well because I just had my mask sheet for the evening.  In fact, for the month of February, I will be using one type of mask sheet all because of a special packaging that restricted me from using others.  (*I will write about it at the end of this article so that I don't confuse readers.)

So that leaves option #3 for me ~ to treat it as an overnight / sleeping mask.  I love overnight masks!  Somehow I think that is the best way to get all the goodness to absorb into the skin.  I've tried the Skinfood Fermented Pomegranate Whitening Sleeping Mask, and I use it in place of night creams (I always have the impression that night creams are too rich for me).  I also have a tube of Missha's Super Aqua Cell Renew Snail Sleeping Mask waiting for me to try next.  (Okay, back to Etude House...)

As a sleeping mask, this mask is really on the sticky side.  You do need to be prepared that some of it may get onto the pillow during the night when you toss and turn.  But other than that, I can't find much fault with it, as the scent is quite lovely as well.  (Even my 3 yr old said, "Oh, it smells so good!", and kids are always the most honest judges.)  You may find it a bit tricky to deal with the jelly like mask, but it's all in good fun.  Remember, only a small amount is needed, just enough to cover your face with a thick layer of the product (of course, I avoided the eyes area just to be safe, as the eye lids are the most delicate part on the face).

I slept with this product for most of the night (went to bed before midnight with this sleeping mask, and was woken up by my 3 yr old around 5am).  It was still sticky after 5 hours, so I decided to wash it off and apply some The FACEShop Arsainte Eco-Therapy Extreme Moisture Daily Moisturizer and go back to sleep.  When I finally wake up for good at 7am, I found my face to be really elastic (probably all thanks to the collagen in the Moistful mask), hydrated (it's "moistful", after all), and very smooth.  I was running around the house poking my cheeks (cause they just feel so supple to the touch) and asking my husband to feel my cheeks.  Even as I type now, which is 11 hours after I woke up this morning, my cheeks are still very smooth and well hydrated.  I love this product and will use it again tonight even though I may dirty my pillow with this sticky jelly.  In fact, I will try to persuade my 7 yr old daughter to let me use this product on her as a massaging gel during the daily facial routine I give her before her bedtime.  Yes, this is how much I like this mask!

* I promised to write about the mask sheets that I will be using for the entire month of February.  It is Skinfood's Sea Blackhorn Berry Oil Daily Mask Sheet.  It comes in a pack of 20 masks in the form similar to that of disposable wipes.  The first sheet of the pack, as expected, was sort of dry as it was sitting so close to the opening (even though it was sealed closed with a sticker like you will see in baby wipes).  The second sheet was better, but my concern is that if I don't use them quick enough, they will just dry up and all go to waste.  So, for the month of February (most of it anyway, for there are only 20 sheets), I have dedicated myself to use only this disposable mask sheet until they are all used up.

How my journey into Korean skincare began...

It all started with my parents' trip to Korea in early 2011 when they brought home some Skinfood samples for me to try.  Before that, I paid little attention to skincare and the only thing I used on my face was the eye cream which I found necessary as I saw signs of aging as I grow older.  I also used pore peels for my nose, but that's about it.  I didn't use moisturizers even when my husband was using them.  Then one day, I told myself that I need to start being nice to my skin.  Fed up with how ineffective over the counter skincare products work, I decided to search for the Skinfood brand in Toronto.  Luckily, through the help of Yelp, I discovered that I can get Skinfood at www.momomango.com (they started with just the Skinfood brand, and has now grown to 3 more Korean brands ~ The FACEShop, Innisfree, and Etude House ~ and I'm sure they are still expanding).

My first order from Momomango.

For my first order at Momomango, I had little clue what I should order; all I knew back then was that I have to get myself a tube of BB cream.  At that time, the Peach Sake Pore BB Cream #2 received a 5 star review, and so that was the first tube of BB cream I owned (later, I found out that the lighter #1 shade works better for me).

I also bought the Grape Seed Oil Wrinkle Neck Cream, as my mom always thought that no matter how youthful one can make her skin looks, the wrinkles on the neck will give her age away...  (The neck cream smells really nice, but you may notice a slight tingling feeling when applied to the neck.  Who knows, maybe it is supposed to do that, as I recently came across a mask by Tony Moly that also has the same effect.)  I don't use this product enough as I mainly focus on the face, but I will try to use it more so it doesn't go to waste.  For me, this is more for the fragrance than the actual anti-wrinkle purpose.  I think I am not at that age yet where I have visible wrinkles on my neck.  Hee hee.

For toner, I chose the Tomato Whitening Toner, because frankly, Asians are really obsessed with whitening.  (Throughout history, it was passed down from generations to generations that fairer skin will hide other physical imperfections.)

I also chose a mask, namely the Ginseng Mask, because I really had no idea which one to choose at that time; and as Korea is mostly known for its Ginseng, I thought that was a wise choice.  And I love how it reminds me of my trip to Korea before I had the girls, of the ginseng chicken soup we had at the restaurants.  When I put on that mask, I feel like I am feeding my skin one of the most prestigious ingredients there is.

In a way, Skinfood does have this effect on people.  They find inspirations from nature and their products appear to be more gentle on the skin that most European brands.  When you use Skinfood, you may ask if the products are really working or not because they seem so gentle and mild.  But in the long term, you will notice an improved difference.  For me, Skinfood, and many new Korean brands work to improve the physical well-being of my skin, as well as the psychological.  At the end of the day, when the girls are in bed, I will sit down with my mask sheets on, then continue with my daily skincare regime.  In the past, I would think that is a waste of time and I may not have the perseverance to do so everyday (I've wasted jars and tubes of Neutrogena products that way).  But with Korean skincare products, you easily get hooked and you feel so great to be able to spend a portion of your evening (for me, it's about 1 hour, but I sit in front of the TV while doing so) to pamper yourself.

But most importantly, the greatest satisfaction comes from compliments I receive from friends who also noticed the improvements.

* You may notice that I also purchased a pack of Carrot Collagen Eye Sheet and some Chlorella Nose Clear Patch.  I wish I can say more about them, but the former, I find it more on the pricey side (at Cdn$4 a pack; I do mask sheets daily, so that will come to a total of Cdn$28 a week); I am hoping that the Etude House eye masks, if they become available here in Toronto, will be more economical (I was able to get those at a great discount of HK$12/set, which at an exchange rate of Cdn$1 = HK$7.8, is really not a bad deal).

As for the Chlorella Nose Clear Patch (which has the unpleasant scent of grass ~ okay, not exactly unpleasant if you ask the right person; my husband actually likes the smell of freshly cut grass, just not me), I found other products at Momomango that worked better.  For instance the FACEShop Blackhead EX Mud Nose Clay Mask, which can even clear up the tiny hairs in the most difficult to reach places on the nose (namely the tip of the nose).  But I've moved onto using wash off masks to clear blackheads now, upon the suggestion of my facial lady.  I now use Innisfree's Jeju Volcanic Pore Clay Mask and Etude House's Black Head Final Kit.  The former is a great product, but also very mild, so you will need to be patient and use it regularly if you want to see results.  The latter is a really strong product that really loosen up the blackheads making it much easier to extract using a blackhead needle.  (However, the cream that comes with the set is not effective enough as a pore reduce ~ in my opinion, and I would use a separate pore reducing mask after applying the toner.)

A 7-yr-old's Facial

I just got back from a 2 weeks stay in Hong Kong with my two daughters (age 7 and age 3).  Despite in the middle of Winter, Hong Kong is still as I remembered it: humid, polluted, and hot at times (Yes, hot!  People can still sweat underneath their winter jackets in that weather.)  And to my utter disappointment, even my 7 yr old developed blackheads on her nose within a week of our arrival.  This is how humidity and pollution do to people (in my opinion, of course; not scientifically based).  What is a mom to do?  My husband stayed in Toronto while I traveled with the girls; I was already stressed to the max and I do not really have time for blackheads on my 7-yr-old!  (You may find me a little bit schizophrenic in my reaction to "blackheads", but I've had a long-term relationship with those ever since my early childhood, growing up in Hong Kong.  I thought my daughter did not inherit my pores, but maybe she didn't escape fate like I thought she did.  ~ Fortunately, despite larger pores on my nose, I have no problem with acne growing up; so that is one consolation.)

I have a large selection of skincare products at home: cleanser, serum, moisturizer, toner, mask sheets, clay mask, pore refining mask, BB cream, blackhead clearing gel, eye cream, exfoliants, pore peels, ... you name it and I may have it.  BUT I did not pack my entire collection for my trip.  I only packed the basics: cleanser, toner, serum, eye cream, BB cream, mask sheets, and moisturziers.  I thought I was well prepared; how was I to know that my 7-yr-old would develop blackheads on her nose during this trip???

Experience told me that I have to act quick and cautious.  She is too young for extraction (you know, that blackhead needle with a ring on one side and a pin on the other).  If only I brought the Jeju Volcanic Clay Mask from Innisfree with me...

Luckily, in Hong Kong, they are also pretty big on Korean and Japanese cosmetic products.  I just have to leave my apartment and walk to the nearest shopping mall (which is only 5 mins away) and I will find enough cosmetic stores to fulfill my needs (although the prices are higher than what I can get locally in Toronto).  For instance, where I stayed, there is a Missha, Fancl House and ColorMix.  (ColorMix carries a wide variety of brands, one of which is The FACEShop, which is also a brand that I use and have grown to love.)  And for my daughter's debut into the world of skincare, I chose Fancl House's Pore Cleansing Pack.

This clay mask is a daily mask that you apply for 3 minutes before you rinse off.  It's supposed to shrink the blackheads and tighten up the pores.  Honestly, I don't think it worked very well on me, but then again, I've had the blackhead problems for over 20 years now and since I've tried almost all kinds of methods to get rid of them, my pores have enlarged which makes me not the best candidate to test this product (I think it works better on people with finer pores and on the onset of seeing blackheads).  I used this mask on myself and my daughter, sharing the pack as each contains far more than one day's worth of clay.  (Each pack contains enough clay to apply on the entire face!  I was able to use one pack for 3 to 4 days!)  By the time we left Hong Kong (which was about 5 days since I started the clay mask on my daughter's nose), I noticed that the blackheads were LESS visible... they're still there, no doubt, but I now require a flashlight to view them up close.

Back in Toronto, I decided that it's time to introduce the concept of basic skincare to my usually tomboyish 7-yr-old (my other daughter, the 3-yr-old, is the exact opposite; always trying to get me to put nail polish on her and ask me for moisturizers to put on her face... She is also known for drawing her eyebrows with pens and painting her face and fingernails with markers).  Again, I don't want to over do it, as I was told even by my Korean skincare saleslady that Korean girls start taking care of their skin with skincare products and getting their facials around age 15.  I have to keep everything simple and natural so that I don't irritate my daughter's still delicate skin.  When I was 7, my mom bought me my first 3-steps at home facial system, consisting of a cleaning milk, facial scrub, and clay mask.  The only problem was that she expected a 7-yr-old to use it on a regular basis.  Needless to say, I gave up soon after and with this experience, I know that in order for my daughter to agree to getting a facial from mommy, I would have to give her the spa-like experience at home.

I had her lie down in her bed before bedtime, with soft music playing in the background; then I started off with cleaning her face using a mild cleansing gel.  (When my next skincare products arrive, I will use Skinfood's Green Tea Milk Cleansing Gel on her, as I am under the impression that it is a good product suitable for tender skin.  After cleansing, I put on the mask for her.  Sometimes, I will use the clay mask, others (like last night) we tried the Black Sugar mask which leaves the skin so soft and smooth (like a baby's bottom).

After that, it's time for toner (at the moment, I'm waiting for my next order to arrive, which is the Clean Face Mild Toner from The FACEShop that I ordered especially for my daughter... I let her use my own toner for a week until I started thinking that it is probably not suitable for her age since it has pore tightening and whitening properties (I am currently using Dr. Jart's Most White Skin Mist.).

After toner, then it's moisturizers (I don't think kids her age need essence / emulsion / serum.).  I am a big believer in water based moisturizers because oil based products tend to clog up my pores.  For my 7 yr old, I use either Skinfood's Facial Water Vita-C Cream or The FACEShop's Arsainte Eco-Therapy Extreme Moisture Daily Moisturizer.  Both are really light and hydrating.

I don't know if I'm starting this way too early for my daughter, but from the expression on her face, she is loving it.  And it makes a really nice mother-daughter time together too!

My Favorite BB Creams So Far...

Ever since I started using BB creams in the Summer of 2011 I find that I cannot live without them anymore.  How I managed to live my life without them before Summer 2011 is beyond me; but now that I know about them, they're here to stay for good.  I've tried many BB creams since then: Skinfood Peach Sake Pore BB Cream #1 and #2, Missha Perfect Cover BB Cream #21, Skin79 Absolute Total BB Cream, The FACEShop Clean Face Oil-Free BB Cream, Dr. Jart+ V7 Beauty Balm, and my latest acquisition: Etude House Collagen Moistful BB Cream.

Out of all the above names, the brands that I would not buy again are Missha and Skin79 mainly because their BB creams are too rich and creamy for me.  They make my skin glossy soon after application which gives off the impression of being too oily (Not to mention that I pumped over 100 times trying to get the cream out of that brand new Skin79 bottle ~ I was going to give up when finally the cream came out!  Worst packaging ever!).  So that leaves: Skinfood, The FaceShop, Dr. Jart+, and Etude House.  I will now give a very brief pros and cons regarding each one, hopefully that may help readers decide which one is most suitable for them.

Skinfood Peach Sake Pore BB Cream

 What I like about it:
- Comes in shades #1 and #2 (I prefer #1 as I tend to believe that my skin tone is more on the fairer side.  #1 brightens up my face much better than #2.)
- SPF 20
- Wonderful scent of peach; very pleasant, unlike most products selling on the theme of fruits where you get a strong sugary scent of artificial fruits
- Reasonably priced (I would consider it to be lower middle price range)
- Easy to blend onto the skin giving off a flawless look
- Very natural skin color after application

What I don't like about it:
- Being of combination skin, I still find it could be a bit oily during the warm Summer months; leaving me to blot my nose a few times during the day.  (But it is not a problem for me during the Winter months)

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The FACEShop Clean Face Oil-Free BB Cream

 What I like about it:
- Oil-Free!!! Need I say more?  It basically gives a "matte" finish on the face.
- Nice natural skin color
- Easy to blend onto the skin giving off a flawless look
- Reasonably priced (again, considered at the lower middle price range)

What I don't like about it:
- Does not have SPF

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Dr. Jart+ V7 Beauty Balm

 What I like about it:
- Oil-Free (doesn't say so on the tube, but that's what I felt when I use it)
- SPF 30
- Whitening
- Anti-wrinkle
- Includes 7 Vitamins (A, B3, B5, C, E, F, H)

What I don't like about it:
- Due to it's whitening properties, it may seem too fair for the skin when first applied.  The sales lady told me that it takes a few minutes for the cream to adjust to the natural skin tone of one's face, but at times, when I look into the mirror, I can't help but think that my skin tone is fairer than normal
- Oil-Free and perfect for the Summer months, BUT comes Fall and Winter, it may seem too drying on the skin. (This is really confusing, as The FACEShop Clean Face Oil-Free BB cream is also Oil-free, but does not have this problem.) ~ I cannot use this Dr. Jart+ cream once Fall arrives
- Price is on the upper middle price range

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Etude House Collagen Moisful BB Cream

 What I like about it:
- Gives off a very moist / hydrating impression on the skin
- Feels Oil-free, but as the tube suggested "Moistful", your skin will have this lovely dewy look (my cheeks look very elastic now... so happy)
- Easy to blend onto skin giving off the flawless look
- SPF 30
- Reasonably priced (lower middle price range)
- Your skin looks more made up (like as if you  used foundation instead of just BB cream) after application.  I guess this means that it gives a very good coverage.  I judge this based on how I look in the car's rear view mirror.  I don't put on foundation after BB cream ~ BB cream is all I use ~ and I found that with this brand, I look like I have foundation on (in a positive way) whereas with the above brands that I reviewed I would still think, 'Gosh, I should've put on some loose powder as well'...

What I don't like about it:
- Hmm... sorry, can't think of anything for now (Today is only my second day using this product; if I find its flaws later on, I will update.)