1.8.14

I am alive!

Hello friends!  I am still alive.  It is already August.  Where have the summer gone?  My parents are still with us and all we do is shop.  It is true.  My mother can shop like no one else.  The girls and I just tag along and hold her bags.  It is fun to be able to walk into stores that I would never have the budget to even window shop.  Now every time someone says I like fine things in life, I can say blame my mother.  One of the things both my mother and I love is skincare.  I think as a culture, Asian women are obsessed with having beautiful skin.  I had my first facial at twelve years old.  I was already doing the three step skin care process before I knew what a bra was.  I was told to wear sunscreen everyday and not use any products with alcohol. 

 My mother always said, "treat your face like silk. You only get one for the rest of your life."  Through out the years, my skin care routine has changed and I have tried pretty much every type of skin care product out there. Because I wanted to understand the science behind skin care, I went to an esthetics school.  I worked as an esthetician for years before I decided to be a stay at home mom for Bella. My skin care ritual is more than just a routine.  It is my time to relax and pamper myself.  We all need a little bit of that, don't you think?  Here are my must have products.  

I don't always wash my face in the morning.  I think most people over cleanse their faces and in term, they are stripping their skin of its natural oils that keep it healthy.  I usually wipe my face with an alcohol free toner to prep my skin.  My first step is to use an antioxidant treatment.  I have been using Skinceuticals C E Ferulic since I was 20.  Nothing in my routine ever stay the same except this.  The serum has 15% L-ascoebic acid which essentially is Vitamin C.  It protects against the free radicals induced by the sun.  All I know is this product keeps the sun spots away.  I don't buy any more shoes or bags because of this serum.  It totally worth every cent.


As long as I have been using C E Ferulic, I have been using this Hydrating B5 serum.  It keeps my skin hydrated and plumped.  It is wonderful during cold harsh winter time.  


Both of these bottles last me for a year.  Now my most important step of the morning routine is my sunscreen.  I have tried every brand of sun screen out there.  This is the BEST mineral sunscreen I have ever used.  It applies like silk and doesn't leave any white residue.  It doesn't leave my skin a greasy mess either. I will use this product forever and ever.  


I used to wear foundation almost everyday.  Since I have been following this routine, I only use foundation on special occasion.  On daily basic, I use Sunday Riley's Tinted Primer.  It is sheer and gives my skin just a bit of color.  A little bit of concealer over the primer and I am good to go.


That is it for my morning routine.  I know this is probably a lot more than most people but I love it!  During the morning, I usually have the girls sitting on the bathroom vanity staring at what I am doing and waiting for their turn.  It actually is a funny sight.  The three of us all lined up in front of the bathroom mirror with our turbans on.   Night time is my time.  The house is quiet and the day is almost over.  I don't have to fight for the counter space.  I start my night ritual with a cleanser.  I don't have a favorite cleanser.  I am always in search of the perfect cleanser.  So far no luck.  Right now I am using Shiseido extra creamy cleanser.  It does the job.  It works really well with my Clarisonic face brush.  Oh if you don't have a Clarisonic brush, please get one.  I promise it will be the best investment.  It is like getting a mini facial everyday.  Imagine that.



I follow that by toner.  I love rose toners.  I just imagine bouquets of roses on my face.  The next step is new for me.  It is called essence.  It is very important step for most women in Asia.  It affects skin on the cellular level and helps speed up your cell turnover rate.  It leaves your skin smooth and glowing.  I used to use SK-II Facial Treatment Essence.  It was ridiculously expensive and dry out my skin.  Now I am using this Korean brand called MISSHA Time Revolution First Treatment Essence.  It is amazing.  



Follow that by the best thing ever made since Annie Sloan chalk paint.  My beloved Sunday Riley Good Genes Serum.  It has even out my skin tone and make it glow like no other.  It smells beautifully fresh. I finish off my routine with Sunday Riley Start Over eye cream and Bionic night cream.  I am not crazy about the eye cream but the night cream is my downfall.  I love it sooo much but I don't know if I can afford it again.  If you ever see me disappear for a month from the blog, it probably is because I run out of one of my skin care products and I can't afford to do any project. : ) Sacrifices.



I realized I use a lot of Sunday Riley products.  This isn't even a sponsor post.  I just love her products so much.  Once or twice a week, I use Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta Peel for exfoliation.



  I can't even tell you how many facial masks I own.  That will have to be on a different blog post. Of course how our skin looks and feels is all about what we eat too.  I drink two liters of water a day.  I try the best that I can to keep a peaceful mind.  My skin always look like crap when I am stressed or angry or just plain grumpy.  Our outside appearance is a window to how we feel inside.  How do I feel inside...?  My main man, William Shakespeare, wrote, “With mirth and laughter let old wrinkles come.”   Well, heck, I am in trouble.


Love,
Victoria

18 comments:

  1. You have beautiful skin! Thanks for all the tips.

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  2. You glow from the inside out! I read this post with great interest but it seems too complicated for me. Can you suggest a minimum routine ?

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    1. Thank you, Amy! So do you! I know there are way too many steps. If you could just add one product to your skin care routine, you should try Sunday Riley Good Genes serum. Just use it once a day at night before your night cream. You will see a huge difference.

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  3. I agree with Amy...your beauty glows from the inside out! Thanks for all of these great tips.
    Mary Alice

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  4. Good tips Victoria-I am so lazy about my skin and I should take some tips from you! Sunblock is about it! I think I could use some help from you!

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    1. I would love to help, Darrielle. Email me! It is all depends on what type of skin you have and what your concerns are.

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  5. I use Neutragenia's version of Clarisonic's brush and I love it, someone recommended it online. I avoid the sun or wear a hat and I have to say, good genes help a lot! My mother will be 92 and her skin looks great, as did her mothers's. The mortician even commented on my grandmother's skin being in wonderful condition and that woman grew up a poor, Sicilian peasant with no beauty routine except soap.
    I was interested to read that you don't wash your face in the morning, since I don't either. Your routine sounds like a wonderful treat but too rich for my blood, darn it!

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    1. Good Genes is everything, Suzie. My grandmother who doesn't use anything at all has the most amazing skin. Sometimes I think I like to do all of this not for my face but for my soul. It just makes me happy. lol

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  6. I have always admired Asian women's skin and now I know why! It was fun learning about your skin-care ritual and the products you use. And it is so cute that your little girls are intrigued with it as well. If they follow in your footsteps, they will surely stay as beautiful as their mama!

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    1. Thank you, Julie. The amount of girliness in our household is over the top.

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  7. You are beautiful Victoria and your skin looks amazing. Your skincare routine is certainly paying off. I too have been a fan of Skinceuticals for a long time now. I love the CE Feluric. It is an investment for sure but it works. I use the La Mer Soft Creme which keeps my skin pretty hydrated but I will check definitely check the Sunday Riley serum you suggest. Thank you for sharing your beauty routine.

    Janet

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    1. Thank you so much, Janet. I have been wanting to try La Mer eye cream for awhile now. During winter time, I use Rodin Olio Lusso Face Oil. It is amazing for dry skin. The smell is quite strong...like jasmine. I am like the oiliest person during winter time. I use coconut oil as my body moisturizer also.

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  8. Honestly, I used to take very good care of my skin, but haven't been to the cosmetic counter at a mall for over ten years, so I would be a challenge for the estheticians. I now have those laugh wrinkles on my face and Hubby says they make me all the prettier. Ha! :)

    How sweet that your little girls sit and watch and wait for their turn, wearing turbans with those big eyes watching everything you do! Adorable!

    My daughter-in-law is Japanese and has gorgeous skin as well. Granddaughter Katie is a "half" (half Caucasian and half Asian), has her Daddy's blond hair, light skin, and gorgeous brown Asian eyes. I know her mama will teach her to take care of her skin as well!

    Have a happy one and enjoy shopping with you mother!!!
    xo,
    Lin

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  9. Keeping the skin healthy is not just about applying skin care products on it regularly. Eating healthy and drinking lots of water are still the best way to keep the skin healthy, just like what you do. And I hope many will do the same. Thanks for sharing!

    Glenn Lowe @ Knight and Sanders

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  10. Hi, can I use Sunday Riley juno oil or Luna oil? What do you recommend? Should I use a gentle toner like the fresh roses one? Thanks! My skin is combination.

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    1. Hello! So right now I use Luna oil at night. It has retinoic acid so it helps with smoothing the skin and also fight lines. I have to say I like it a lot better than Juno oil. I have a combo skin too but drier during winter months and I put a night cream over my Luna oil.

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