Lovin’ Lately

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A couple of weeks ago my skin went crazy and turned into a dry, peeling mess (I’ll just blame the weather for this, mkaaay?). Nothing in my collection of 12857 skincare products would help.

It’s during those times that I like to browse through my Amazon shopping list, which usually consists of nothing but skincare and photography gear. Well, I remembered hearing amazing things Cosrx Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence, so I ordered it in hopes that it’d do the job.

This essence is, in short, amazing. It got rid of every single dry bit, dry patches and redness. I love the way it makes my skin feel. The only thing is… I felt a bit weird using it. It reminds of a hyaluronic acid serum but it’s a bit more… mucus-ey. Also, the fact that it’s formulated with filtered snail mucin… I don’t know. You know that I don’t use exclusively cruelty-free products and while I follow a plant-based diet I am not vegan.

BUT I just had to do some research on the whole extraction process and came across a video where the snails were rubbed and scrapped on their underside to help release the mucin and… it did not look very pleasant or humane. I also came across an article discussing Cosrx’s methods of collecting mucin, and I was happy to learn that their method seems much “nicer” and don’t involve any external stress applied to the snails. That made me feel A LOT better because this essence is magic for dry skin guys, MAGIC, I tell you.

Good Genes– an oldie, but a goodie. Last I used this all-in-one treatment my face was covered in acne and angry, red acne scars. I definitely remember being much more impressed with this stuff when I first started using it a few years ago. That perhaps is because currently, my skin is doing much better. Still, this is probably one of my favorite high-end skincare treatments that give very quick and noticeable results. I mean, I’m talking about overnight kind of results, waking up to clear, smooth and more even-toned skin, kind of results. Totally worth the splurge, yes.

Another AHA product that I’ve been loving lately is REN’s Ready, Steady, Glow AHA Tonic.* First off, I have to mention the packaging because it’s just so incredibly convenient- a press-down well pump is great. This is probably one of the best AHA toners I’ve tried. It does give you a decent *tingle* even if you’re used to using acids, but it still gentle enough for daily use. After about a week or so of daily use, I noticed less dullness and a bit more glow and radiance to my skin. Definitely a keeper!

A bunch of my favorites here were also mentioned in my WIMMB post- like MAC’s Strobe Cream that I love to reach for during makeup-free days, Glossier’s Birthday Balm Dotcom (probably one of my favorite balm dotctom- it has juuuust a tiny bit hint of shimmer and is just as hydrating as the rest of the collection) and their Brow Boy in Brown. Another lip product I absolutely love right now is Patchology’s Lip Service Gloss to Balm Treatment.* It’s a new product formulated with hyaluronic acid, honey, and aloe and it’s pretty amazing. It doesn’t feel sticky and immediately nourishes and gets rid of any dry flakes.

Paula’s Choice Rehydrating Moisture Mask*- I have been loving using this as the last step in my evening skincare routine. For me this works best as an overnight treatment- it’s nourishing without being overly greasy or slippery. While it’s a very nice mask, I think that it does remind me a bit of my good old Cetaphil in a tub a bit too much. It’s definitely a bit more lightweight, but the results they both give are similar. Again, love the tube packaging- why can’t all face masks come in one?