All posts in: Beauty

17 May 2021

Beauty for Breakfast Pt. 39

If there’s anything that truly saved me during the pandemic it was the combination of Mighty Patch’s Micropoint for Dark Spots and Invisible+. My face wasn’t used to having a mask on along with everyone else! Essentially this further trapped the oils on our face underneath our pores, but once the maskne hit, I quickly found a solution. For years, I sampled different patch products never quite landing on a favorite. Along the way I learned about Hero Cosmetics and its founder, an Asian-American woman named Ju Rhyu. I did some internet research from their Instagram and reviews and found that products were easily purchasable through Amazon or at my local Target.

Within a couple of months, my maskne was clearing. For everyday use, Invisible+ is what I frequent the most. For the pesky ones, a combo of the two products works best. Sold at an affordable price point, I can’t say enough good things about Hero Cosmetics and it’s the one product I boast about the most. Plenty of product I’ve tried promise “invisibility,” but none quite like this. And if patches aren’t your thing, might I suggest using silk masks?

Hero Cosmetics is a brand I’m keeping my eye on. Since the release of the patches, it seems they’re exploring other avenues for skincare too!

14 Mar 2021

Blog Roundup

  • 7 Meghan Markle Interview Bombshells That’ll Make You Anti-Royalist [Vulture]
  • How SF Restaurants Have Rearranged the Room for Indoor Dining [SF Eater]
  • The Death of Take-Home Design Exercises [Meaghan Li | Medium]
  • Revisiting the Great Covid Social Media Scold [Vanity Fair]
  • Steve Yuen’s New Frontier [GQ]
  • Asian Bodies That Proudly Defy An Archetype [HuffPost]
  • A Thailand Mall Has Two San Francisco-Themed Floors [SF Gate]
  • This Is Our Asian-American Experience [Byrdie]
  • Korean TV’s Unlikely Star: Subway Sandwiches [NY Times]
19 Feb 2021

Hero Cosmetics Expands To Your Skincare Routine

If I had to pick one brand that saved me during quarantine, it would be Hero Cosmetics. Since the beginning of mask wearing their patches have always come through for me. I hope you’ll believe me when I tell you that the maskne was rampant. It’s also the brand that I’ve been sharing with my own friends. Now that they’ve clearly succeeded in this area, they are introducing a line of new products that they hope will be incorporated into your skincare routine.

Their [Clear Collective Collection] is a three-step system that they believe will prevent future blemishes. For the set of three products, the bundle will cost $35 or you can buy each one individually at $12.99. I’ve watched many videos of people’s skincare routines that feels like a 10-step process and honestly, who has time for that in a day? Hero Cosmetics is making a promise that you really only need three essentials: their [Exfoliating Jelly Cleanser], [Balancing Capsule Toner], and [Clarifying Prebiotic Moisturizer].

“We want to make products for the entire life cycle of the pimple. Clear Collective is basically our foray into the ‘prevent’ category,” founder Ju Rhyu says, noting that the patches fall into the brand’s “treat” category, while the Rescue Balm and Lighting Wand fall into the “repair and restore” bucket.

[Source]

29 Nov 2020

Holiday Gift Guide 2020

[Ohom Kopi Mug and Warmer Set] – $75

When it comes to Christmas shopping, Kevin and I are no strangers to waiting until the last minute to shop for my parents. Instead of shipping things directly to our parents’ home (to avoid spoilers obviously) we wait until we’re back in Seattle to do all of our shopping. Most times, it can be what you expect it to be: hectic and chaotic. Other times, it gives us an excuse to leave the house and visit some of our favorite local spots while we’re out.

This year, we won’t be returning home for Christmas. Instead my parents will receive their presents unwrapped, but boxed from USPS. It’s not the holiday we hoped for, but we’ll make this sacrifice for the safety of those we love. In previous years, you’d be getting this holiday guide from me the week before Christmas. Since I had some time off this week from Thanksgiving, I decided to get a head start. You all may need it since you might also be doing some shipping of your own!

I didn’t intend for the theme to be so focused on home life, but after the year we’ve had and what 2021 may look like, this seems fitting. Moreover, festivals and celebrations are all about cheerfulness and colorfulness, one way of achieving it could be through decorating the home with some beautiful lights and lamps like the ones available at thelamplife. When the home looks bright, our mood brightens up instantly. This is the reason this time, I have focused on the gifts that can make your home a little more “home-y” and you more comfortable. In addition to getting this guide earlier than usual, you’re also getting MORE because nothing is sold out yet.

[Ortofon Orbit Special Walnut Turntable with Built-In Pre Amp] – $549

Read more “Holiday Gift Guide 2020”
21 Oct 2020

Sephora x Instacart

With the ongoing pandemic still happening, I’m not inclined to find myself wanting to leave the house. Most of the necessities we need can be delivered straight to our homes from groceries, prescriptions, anything that can be found on Amazon, so why not beauty products? While I was getting ready for work the other day, I found my Stila waterproof eyeliner starting to dry out. It was the only thing I needed and while I could make a purchase online and wait for it to come, why would I do that when I could opt for same day? The Instacart collaboration with Sephora seemed like a dream come true.

That was, until I opened up my Instacart app only to find that Sephora was not an option. What gives? A friend of mine happens to work at Instacart and discovered that the delivery is only an option if there is free parking just outside the store. In a city like San Francisco, the chances are slim. I gave in and drove myself to the nearest Sephora to give myself my own personal same day delivery. While it’s not a benefit I can use today, I’m hoping that this is something that they’ll reconsider. For now, the option has become available as of October 19th and if you have the chance to take advantage of this, you should try it out! I’m also just curious about how it will work! Being able to have same day delivery this quick is a game changer.

[Source]

29 Aug 2020

A Collection Part 58

What are some little things that you do for yourself that bring you peace and calm? I think one of the reasons we’ve kept “A Collection” going for so long is because of how it makes me feel. I could look at pictures like these on an endless loop and never get tired of it. I’ve often wondered too, when creating these posts, what makes me decide that I’m done? Is it because I think 50-ish photos is enough for people to be enticed by it, but leave them wanting more? Maybe it’s because any more and I will feel sorry for it eating up the loading time for a visitor. There’s no rhyme or reason and each time we post it’s different. It is one of the series regulars that has no consistency or format. That could either really bother someone a lot or not, I don’t know.

Whatever the case, I hope it brings you some light into your life this weekend the way it did mine. Everyone please wear a mask, stay safe, be kind to each other, and check in with someone you haven’t spoken with in some time.

Read more “A Collection Part 58”
27 Aug 2020

Vogue Gets Ready With Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

I love everything about this video. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is such a role model for my generation right now and I admire her in many ways. Her ability to push back, speak up for herself, and own who she is is going to shape the way women see ourselves going forward. This video of Vogue highlighting her ‘getting ready’ routine is more than what the title is. We see Alexandria starting her day, sharing the details of her day, why she chooses certain products over others and being her true authentic self. In fact, that’s what I like most about this video. She is no different than when she is being filmed for work or on her social media. Her voice doesn’t go up 5 octaves and she’s not pitching anything that she doesn’t stand behind.

We know that Alexandria doesn’t aspire to be an influencer, but if she did, she’d be off to a great start with something like this.

09 Jul 2020

A Quarantine Skin Care Routine

We were doing so well in quarantine up until just a couple of weeks ago! As restrictions were easing up a bit, I wanted to try and incorporate some of my previous daily routines while still being cautious, of course. I was restarting my daily coffees, taking regular walks, even getting some fresh air at the beach. All of these things, took up 5% or less of my entire day. What I didn’t realize was that while short in duration, it meant me having to put on and take off my mask more often. Little by little, that tension started to chip away at my skin and the week afterwards, I was dealing with massive blemishes that I had never tackled before. They call it “maskne.” Even though I wasn’t seeing anyone, I felt insecure.

This week we’re in recovery mode, but that doesn’t stop me from wanting this all to go away overnight. Here are some small changes I’m making to my routine these days:

Wash Your Masks Regularly

At the start of quarantine, I was so excited about the 3-pack of masks that I had purchased from Etsy. In fact, so excited about one in particular, that I neglected the other two that came with it. I haven’t been washing my mask after every single use, but I could be giving it a wash more frequently than I have been. Another way to combat this is to also just have more masks on hand. Masks are pretty easy to clean especially if you have the cloth ones, but I usually just throw them into my laundry when I’m doing a load with everything else to make sure they are extra clean.

Give Your Face A Break

Even while in quarantine, I was doing 50% – 75% full face of makeup. Getting ready helped me to wake up, have a routine, and start my day even if I was headed to my couch for work. During my “maskne” breakout, I wanted to give my face a chance to breathe. Since it was a holiday week, I knew it wouldn’t be meeting heavy for me which meant minimal face time on Google Meet. It was the perfect time to have a fresh face with only moisturizer. Not only did this cut down on getting ready time, but I just felt better overall.

You can also explore the face oil range that acts as a moisture sealant. Light oils can also help with clogged pores and are beneficial for sensitive skin. Best face oil can enhance your skincare regime to give you soft, silky, smooth, and acne-free skin.

However, before applying the oil to your face, make sure that your face is cleansed properly. You can use your regular face wash or just plain water. Well, in case you prefer just water, distilled water would prove to be a better choice than tap water. Distilled water tends to help unclog pores and also removes impurities. Besides, it doesn’t leave any calcium or other residue on the face, unlike hard water. When your skin is clean and pores are open, the oil or any cream you apply would penetrate better. To explore its other benefits, you could buy distilled water and experiment yourself!

But You Still Have To Wash Your Face

This is a habit we’ll be practicing for the rest of our lives! Just because you aren’t putting as much gunk on your face doesn’t mean you skip the wash before bed. Now that I’m dealing with the “maskne,” I’m washing my face before bed and following a strict routine. In the morning, I use another cleanser on my face for the shower. Some may say that it’s overkill, but I also believe that so much build up is created during the day and even a bit overnight.

The Best Time For Experimenting

Since we’re in quarantine anyways, I’m using this extra time to take advantage of the samples I always said I would get around to using it. The pro is that if you find something you like in a sample, you can order it online and get it shipped to your door. On the other hand, the con is that if it backfires on you and your skin reacts negatively, at least you can recover at home. I’ve collected so many samples just in the last six months or whenever it was that we were last shopping. My goal for quarantine is to always minimize and cut down on my belongings so this feels like a good place to start.

Pro-Tip:

If you’re going out anyways, all you have to do is apply make up to the top half of your face. Why bother getting your mask dirty when you likely aren’t going to be taking it off?

05 Jul 2020

Korea and Their Impossible Beauty Standards

Diving further into Korean culture, I’ve reached the point of fascination for the country’s beauty standards. As important as it is here in America, Korea is on another level. Labeled the “cosmetic surgery capital of the world,” South Korea performs 24% of the world’s total cosmetic surgeries that tend to use advanced aesthetic devices such as Secret Duo Scar Remodelling and Skin Improvement technologies, among many others. Individuals aspiring to be a part of the K-Pop world endure rigorous training camps known for being cut-throat and competitive. After seeing a 15-second snippet of 2018 Miss Korea Kim Soo-Min’s story on TikTok, I had to find the full version. She was deemed the controversial pageant queen, but I didn’t understand why.

Looking at Soo-Min, I saw nothing wrong with her appearance. I wouldn’t question her role as Miss Korea for a second. However, after being given this title, she was constantly scrutinized for her weight of being 130lbs and being “ugly.” What I loved about Soo-Min’s pageant story was that she had no background in pageantry. Having not been an aspiring actress, model, or pop singer, she wanted the title to build her resume. Young women in America spend years preparing for competitions like this, but she decided in about a year. Many women rely on cosmetic surgery, such as a nose job (for more info, check Uppal Plastic Surgery) or something similar, to achieve the beauty requirements of these pageant competitions.

By Korea’s standards, she wasn’t supposed to be Miss Korea, but she prevailed. Now she paves the way for women who can earn this title that may come from all body types. When it comes to the artsy side of Korean culture, music, television, food, etc. it was easy for me to find the positives. Learning about this downside showed me a new perspective. I can’t imagine the pressure that Soo-Min had to live with during what was supposed to be an exciting time in her life. I look forward to seeing how her experience will impact young women in the future.

02 Jul 2020

Blog Roundup

  • How to Strengthen Your Immune System By Eating Better [GQ]
  • Racism Doesn’t Blink [The Cut]
  • iPhone User Creates Shortcut to Record Police Encounters [Hypebae]
  • 22 Awkward Situations You Might Experience During COVID-19 and How to Deal [The Thirty]
  • Why This Font Is Everywhere [Vox]
  • K-Pop Fans and TikTok Teens Successfully Sabotage Trump’s Tulsa Rally [High Snobiety]
  • Me, My Father, and Russell Wilson [Slate]
  • Nomadic Couple Transforms Ordinary School Bus Into Chic Tiny Home on Wheels [My Modern Met]
  • See How All 50 States Are Reopening (And Closing Again) [New York Times]
  • Microsoft to Permanently Close All Retail Stores [Hypebeast]
  • How to Clean Your Face Mask and Protect Your Skin [Vogue]