Monthly Favorites: August
I’ve been trying out different combination of skin care products and I think I have finally found some staples to include in my routine. Hooray! I want to share with you what products have been working for me, then I thought “Why stop at skin care?”. So I’m starting a new monthly post where I highlight some of my favorite products. It’ll be everything from skin care, beauty, apps, books, and more!
Let’s get started!
SKIN CARE
There was a period where my face broke out in tiny red bumps whenever I removed my makeup or washed my face. It was concerning because I hadn’t changed my skin care products. Sometimes my face would get red and splotchy, even a little itchy as if I was having an allergic reaction to something. The funny thing is this would happen after I took off my makeup, and I’ve been using the same products for a while. I couldn’t figure out what it was… whether it was an allergic reaction, stress, or something else. I decided to switch some products around and a month later, the bumps and itchy splotches are gone. Here’s a list of products I’ve been using.
As a disclaimer, the products that works for me may not work for you. Please use discretion when using any of the products mentioned.
Tony Moly Peach Punch Sherbet Cleansing Balm $26
I’ve been a fan of Tony Moly products for a long time. Their products work well for me, and the packaging is always super cute. As a part of my skin care routine, I do double cleansing. Previously, I used a cleansing oil. As you may know, cleansing oil is great to get make up off, but the bottles can get messy and greasy. This was the case for me, even if I tried to wipe down the bottle after each use. When I saw the Peach Punch Sherbet Cleansing Balm, I knew it was the perfect one to try out. Basically, the cute packaging got me.
Well I’m glad I tried it because I’m in love with it. Cleansing balm is essentially like cleansing oil, but solid. It glides over your face and as you add water, it emulsify and removes your makeup. A little goes a long way with this cleansing balm. It even takes off my waterproof mascara. The peach scent is not very strong and it’s very gentle on my face.
I’m almost near empty on my first container and have already purchased a second.
St. Clare Pure Washing Cream & Intensive Hydrating Toner
I picked up the St. Clare x Star Wars tin from my trip to Taiwan. It came with a deluxe trial size of Pure Washing Cream and Intensive Hydrating Toner, and 2 sheet masks. I bought them from the Kaohsiung Dream Mall and unfortunately, I can’t remember the price. Chalked it up to my love of Star Wars and beauty products, this purchase was a no brainer. I hadn’t heard of St. Clare before this, but I saw a lot of the shoppers purchasing this and figured I couldn’t go wrong with something seemingly popular.
The Pure Washing Cream is foamy and gentle. I could feel how clean my face was afterwards but it didn’t have that dry, tight feeling that you sometimes get with certain face wash. It was when I started to use this face wash I noticed an improvement on the red bumps and itchiness.
I follow up with the Intensive Hydrating Toner and then moisturize with essence and night cream.
I believe the combination of the Pure Washing Cream and Intensive Hydrating Toner is what helped with my skin issues. Which makes me so sad because I’ve completely run out of the Pure Washing Cream, and the Intensive Hydrating Toner is almost finished. It looks like it’s mainly sold in Taiwan and I haven’t tried to order from the main website yet. Can you imaging the shipping cost? If you happen to see this on your travel to Taiwan, give it a try!
Innisfree Hydrating Cleansing Foam with Green Tea
Image via Innisfree
I knew I had to find a replacement for the Pure Washing Cream eventually. Lucky for me, an Innisfree store had opened up near me. I’m obsessed with their cushion foundation and a couple of other products so I figured I couldn’t go wrong with a face wash. I’ve tried their green tea sleeping mask and hydrating serum and really liked it. The texture of the Hydrating Cleansing Foam reminds me a lot of the St. Clare Pure Washing Cream. It foams up a lot so a little can go a long way. I’ve been using this for about 2 weeks so far and am really liking it. There’s no strong fragrance and it leaves my face soft and clean.
BEAUTY
Innisfree Cushion Foundation
Image via Innisfree
Continuing my obsession with Innisfree, I’ve been loving their cushion foundation. What’s really cool about their cushion foundation system is that the compact is customizable. You start by choosing your shade and which finish you’d like - matte full cover or aqua fit. I’m currently using aqua fit because I prefer a more natural, sheer coverage. Once you choose your shade and finish, you can pick what kind of puff you want - from an airbrush finish to full coverage. I opted for the air magic puff. Finally, you pick your compact. There are so many colors and designs you can pick. I choose the black one because it looked sophisticated and sleek. Once your cushion foundation runs out, you can just purchase the refill shade (and maybe a new puff) because the cushion foundation refill just pops into your compact.
The foundation feels light and has a dewy finish. Because it’s cushion make-up, retouch is a breeze.
FASHION
Po-Zu Star Wars shoes
Po-Zu are creators of sustainable and ethically sourced shoes. You may have seen their popular Rey-inspired boots. A while back they were running a sale on select styles and I decided to snatch 2 pairs of Star Wars shows - a pair of Porgs low cut sneakers and the Rebel Red high tops.
I’ve only heard good things about Po-Zu, from using sustainable material to being comfortable. I’m happy to report that these shoes are indeed extremely comfortable. I wore the Rebel Red high tops to Galaxy’s Edge, brand new out of the box and felt like I was walking on air. No blisters, no discomfort. The Porgs low-cut sneakers are just as comfortable and of course, adorable.
I recommend grabbing a pair of Po-Zu sneakers and see for yourself.
ENTERTAINMENT
Terrace House
Ever since co-hosts Emma Fyffe and Kim Horcher turned me onto Netflix’s Terrace House, I’ve been hooked. I started with “Boys And Girls In The City”, and even though I’m still on that season I’m already a fan and can’t wait to binge all the seasons.
Terrace House is a Japanese unscripted show, where 6 strangers (3 guys and 3 girls) live in a house. There’s no script involved. It’s really refreshing to watch an unscripted show and have it truly be unscripted. You see the cast members most honest moments, how they react to conflicts in the house, and of course, all the food.
I also love the panel of commentators for the show and usually am laughing out loud during their segment.
This concludes the monthly favorites for August. What are some of your monthly favorites? Comment below and let me know! And check back at the end of September for my September favorites list.
