THE GUIDE TO NOW

I’m back!

Salutations beautiful people!

Gonna be getting into this lovely product by NEOGEN, how it’s working for me and what two other people had to say after using it. Let’s get started!

This cleanser’s top ingredient is fermented green tea extract and can brighten, calm, and hydrate your skin. The foam cleanser works to remove impurities like sweat and dirt effectively without stripping your skin of its natural oils. 

I’ve been undergoing a long process to clearer skin for almost a year now; while crediting my esthetician for helping me achieve good, healthy skin, there’s work you have to do yourself at home. What I found was Korean beauty, It really is so much different than Western cosmetics brands. One of my favorite K-beauty brands is NEOGEN, their products really aim to please and tackle the issue... now, I’m not saying products like this are going to solve all your skin related problems, however, it can help. As was the case in this specific product by NEOGEN.

This is said to reduce excess sebum production while imparting sheer hydration for oily and acne-prone skin (das me folks). This formula is paraben free, calms irritation and redness with herbal extracts ‘ tightening’ pores, while also being GREAT for sensitive skin types! whoop whoop!

TOP THREE INGREDIENTS 

Witch Hazel Leaf Extract

Breakdown dead skin

Cleans pores

Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract (Green Tea)

Reduce Inflammation

Slow down aging 

Reduce oiliness

Reduce blackheads and acne 

Grapefruit Extract.

Rich in antioxidants 

Reduce aging

Even skin tone

Promotes collagen production

Great for oily and acne prone skin

Increases the pH of skin

TEXTURE 

Gel/watery... and what do I mean by that? Well, it comes out looking more like a gel-like consistency, than as you pat it into your skin, you realize it’s more of a watery consistency and just gives off the appearance of gel.

GOOD FOR

Sensitive skin

Refining pores

Purifies skin condition 

Controls excess sebum  

PRICING

Sokoglam is definitely my goto when it comes to NEOGEN... but they do have a list of retailers on their site. 

Sokoglam 

Sephora Exclusives 

HSN

Selfridges

Douglas (European) 

And the pricing ranges depending on the product but the price for the Pore-aid serum is $37.00 on SOKO. For now, that is the only site selling the serum and provided as a place of purchase by NEOGEN. 

THOUGHTS & EXPERIENCE

During the time from when I started using the product and even just a few days after, there is a noticeable difference in my pores... I had rather large pores on my cheeks and nose (like most) HONEY LET ME TELL YOU... I can totally see a dramatic difference in my pores size. Sadly wasn’t able to get a decent before and after photos of my pores because none of my cameras capture it accurately (sigh) 

I have tried other pore serums before, I remember this one that kinda didn’t react well with my skin... I actually ended up breaking out. But this works so great and is so good for sensitive skin, I highly, highly recommend it and definitely repurchase worthy. 

Really hope you liked this post. As always, thank you for taking the time to read my review. 

Lots of love to you!

Day three went great! And you wanna know why? Cause it was my last day!! 

Those were the longest three days of my life in all honesty. Going from eating amazing, hardy and well-rounded food, to just eating an apple, sweet potato and a protein shake in a day is shock therapy for your body. I didn’t feel the weight of this diet until later in the first day as I said, every hour really felt like my body was slowly getting weaker and weaker, by midday I was drained and in need of a nap. When it came time to actually getting to bed, it was hard cause of the hunger pain I was feeling. I said in day twos post that it had felt as if my stomach was eating itself, which really is the best way for me to describe how I felt during these three days. 

Now, did I lose weight? Heck yeah! Was it worth it? Not really. Unless you’re crammed for time and really need to lose a pound or two quick, this is definitely the diet... however! This is most certainly not a healthy choice in dieting, nor would I ever encourage anyone to do this insane diet. *I can definitely see why IU is so incredibly slim. But a diet like this can really do some damage to your health if kept for a long period of time, even a short 5-14 days can put major stress on your bodies health. Yeah, you lose weight but at the cost of your health. I became so emotional and a little moody during the last two days, It was annoying and unnecessary and I always tried to snap out of it.

Would I do this again?

Honestly, three days of this was enough for me. I mean I just didn’t feel good about myself. Yeah, I was slimming down and losing fat in areas I have trouble with, but I felt unhealthy and basically starving myself felt stupid to achieve a goal. Now that I can eat again, I feel bad about it, which I think isn’t the best outcome of this so-called diet. If I were eating healthy and nutritious meals as a way of “dieting” (but that’s really just a healthy lifestyle. To which I prefer) that’s a whole other story of guilt over eating. Now I feel as if whatever I do eat, I’ll end up regaining what I lost. I’m glad that I don’t look too slim for my height and the weight I lost actually doesn't look horrible on me. But still, I wouldn’t suggest this form of dieting to anyone. I was lucky enough to not get any headaches during this whole process.

Could I have gone longer than 3 days?

I feel like I could go longer. But, I just don’t want to find out what toll that will take on my mind and body. If I feel like this right now, I can’t even imagine what kind of moods, pain, exhaustion, and hunger will come with holding the diet for any longer than I have.

Conclusion: 

I am really glad it’s over... but, I am going to have to get myself mentally okay eating meals instead of a single piece of food. All day I had to tell myself it was okay to eat now cause the diet was over. I mean it’s not crazy hard, it’s not like I was living on this diet for weeks... just three days. I don’t regret doing the diet though, I learned a lot and I am going to be making changes to my day to day lifestyle when it comes to how I eat.

Waist: was 26 now 25

Thighs: was 22 now 21

UP NEXT

NEOGEN Pore Serum!

As always, Lots of love!

You’re beautifully and wonderfully made! Do what makes you happy! LOVE YOURSELF!!! 

Day two of this madness, honestly, was not as bad as the first day. Not that it wasn’t bad... I felt like my stomach was eating itself. Once the initial hunger pain subsided, It wasn’t so bad, but I don’t get to fill my tank, so I still feel hungry (sigh). I really felt so ridiculous the second day and was so moody, waiting for that sweet potato to cook was one of the most mood activating moments, seemed like an all-day event... and in the end, it was still pretty hard at the center. 

So, I went shopping for everything I’d need for this diet on Friday. And when I say ‘evrything’ I really mean 3 apples, one for each morning I’m on the diet, 3 Japanese sweet potatoes for lunch and whey protein powder for my dinners.

I’ll be drinking water, of course, normally I would be exercising, but instead, I’ll be just dieting to see how much 3 days of just that alone will achieve and at what cost. I do take multivitamins daily, so I’ll continue taking those during the 3 days.

Breakfast

Apple for my breakfast

How I’m feeling:

Feeling pretty good actually, I don't normally have breakfast other than coffee with milk and sometimes toast and eggs. Just a cup a jo will do for me on the reg though. I haven’t felt tired yet like I thought I might and waiting for lunch has been fine.

Lunch

One Japanese sweet potato

How I’m feeling:

Okay, I’m still feeling good, just was getting a bit on the hungry side and waiting for the potato to finish on the grill seemed like forever. But wasn’t terrible or unbearable. We’ll see how the rest of the day fairs.

Dinner

Whey Protein Shake 

How I’m feeling

I’m okay. I had my protein shake, I’m hungry for a full meal though.

Overall, now that I've made it past all three “meals” I do feel a little unpleasant, I am actually pretty hungry, not having a solid meal all day. I’ve noticed now that it’s close to the end of the day, I’m feeling a bit out of sorts and everything is catching up to me. doesn't help that we had a barbeque today and all I had was a sweet potato. I’m really curious to see how I’ll hold up tomorrow or even day three. I went the entire day thinking this was going to be a piece of cake and realized while writing how slightly uncomfortable I feel right now. 

My thoughts and a little warning:

I do feel this is extremely unhealthy and not something you should do or should even want to do. I really was fine most of the day, however, it really hit me how crazy this was and is after my “dinner”. If you’re interested in another gals experience with the IU diet I’ll leave her link here if you like what you see, please subscribe ^^ she makes a lot of valid points as to why this diet doesn’t work long-term and why it isn't a healthy option. After only one day, I really do have to agree with her on how unnecessary and difficulty this diet is. I mean kudos to IU for being able to hold the diet for long periods of time and all the girls that attempt the 14-day challenge. I don’t know how I’ll handle the next 2 days of this is I’m being honest.

Thanks for taking interest in this crazy IU diet challenge I’m doing. I’ll be back with an update at the end of day TWO! 

Till next time! Lot’s of love!

Reference photos and measurements from start date

Waist: 26 inches

Right and left thigh: 23 inches

So, to start, I’ll give you some insights and backstory. 

My skin type is mostly oily, but depending on the time of the year it can become combination. I noticed last year I tend to get tiny blackheads around my hairline around April-July, and I say 'tend to' because it happened again this year. They went away around Aug-Sep but after some research and digging on the reason behind the outbreak that would occur during this time after they resurfaced, I found confirmation to what I already knew was the cause. Around the more humid and hot months, my already high oil production goes into overdrive apparently, so recently I went on the hunt for more products to help tackle my oily skin. I hit up SokoGlam of course and went shopping under their Skin Type: Oily. *If you're unsure of what category you fall under and what products might work best for you head over to their Skin Quiz and find out; it's quick and easy, you'll also get a selection of their top articles relating to your skin from their sister site TheKlog along with suggested products. All very good and helpful stuff here. 

On to the true purpose of this post! 

I know I said in my last post I was gonna try and have a blog about my routine out for y'all this week. Something important came up, but I will have it up next Friday for sure! Thanks for understand!!

I was seeing this a lot on my Instagram feed for a while, and after some research on it, I went over to SOKOGLAM and purchased this bad boy.

Safe to say after one use, I most certainly noticed a difference. I use this regularly in the evening before going in with a toner and following with the rest of my routine. *BTW I'll be posting my FULL routine sometime next week hopefully.

What are the claims of this product? Well, simple; it claims to calm and soothe irritated skin, redness, and inflammation. The fresh herbs gently whisk away dead skin cells and debris as you massage the herbs and clay into the skin. It's formulated for sensitive skin, free of mineral oil, sorbic acid, animal ingredients, surfactants, parabens and propylene glycol. ALSO, IT'S CRUELTY-FREE CERTIFIED!

Some fun and loveable ingredients!

Kaolin: Kaolin's gentle absorptive properties do not over dry or give that tight skin feeling during use (like bentonite clay) yet still gentle and effective for pulling impurities to the surface and gently stimulating circulation to the area of application. Kaolin clay can also be used to gently exfoliate your skin as you rinse away. Your skin is left feeling cleansed and wonderful. Perfect for sensitive skin.

Benefits of Kaolin

Calming

Doesn't over dry your skin

Removes dead skin cells

Has disinfectant properties which help in healing existing blemishes while also preventing new ones from forming.

Removes impurities from pores

Stimulates circulation which improves healing and nourishment for the skin.

Calendula: It has great anti-inflammatory and vulnerary action, making it helpful with stubborn wounds, acne, ulcers, bed sores, varicose veins, rashes, eczema and related conditions. It also helps soothe sore, inflamed and itchy skin.

Benefits of Calendula

Lessen Inflammation 

Provide moisture to dry skin

Soothe irritated skin

Melissa:  Anti-bacterial properties present in Melissa Oil are known to treat and inhibit bacterial infections, not only in skincare but other health areas as well (Link)

Benefits of Melissa

Eczema 

Anti-inflammatory 

Anti-bacterial 

Calming

Soothing

Healing

Tightening

Stimulate circulation

Full List of Ingredients : Water, Kaolin, Butylene Glycol, Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Glyceryl Stearate SE, Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate, Stearic Acid, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Behenyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Alcohol, 1,2-Hexadiol, Artemisia Annua Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Symphytum Officinale Leaf Extract, Helichrysum Arenarium Extract, Azadirachta Indica Leaf Extract, Glycerin, Zanthoxylum Piperitum Fruit Extract, Pulsatilla Koreana Extract, Usnea Barbata (Lichen) Extract, Melissa Officinalis Flower/Leaf/Stem Water, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Water, Calendula Officinalis Flower Water, Rosa Damascena Flower Water, Triticum Spelta Seed Water, Calendula Officinalis Flower, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Powder, Disodium EDTA, Xanthan Gum, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Tromethamine, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Safflower Yellow, Gardenia Red, Fragrance.

The texture on this is creamy and smooth, application is simple and easy. Almost like applying moisturizer and after 5-10 minutes just rinse away with lukewarm water to reveal comfortable, soothed, calmed and brighter skin. It also smells heavenly, fresh with a subtle hint of chamomile, which is really lovely.

Now, having used this for almost three weeks now; like I said, it has worked very well for me. My scars have been reduced by a great deal, a lot of my inflammation went down after the first use. I'm used to clay masks leaving my skin with a tight and slightly dry feeling; however, with the Bio Fresh Mask, leaving my skin clean, nourished and fresher it’s definitely a new found favorite right now. This is recommended for Sensitive and Dry skin types *although I have oily skin, I do find that it works well with for me and doesn't strip away essential oils, but does help in clearing out my pores.

Overall this clay mask is definitely top shelf and a great addition to anyone's collection. 

Here are some links!

RE:P Bio Fresh Mask

My Twitter 

My Instagram 

Sokoglam Twitter 

Sokoglam Instagram 

Let’s talk peels!

I’ve received about four PCA Skin Chemical Peels now; one light, one mild, and now two heavy peels. With the first heavy peel, I didn’t experience much peeling, but that was my fault; (refer to prior PCA review) incredibly stupid. Anyways, things have moved forward, and my skin is looking so much better! I still have some minor scarring, but nothing too crazy. My second experience with the heavy peel went much smoother, while there was a lot that was exfoliated.

The Light Peel was the first I received, evening out some minor discoloration.

The Moderate Peel helped in removing some scars and minor discoloration I had.

The Deep Peel is what made a difference in my skin. Removing about a layer or so of the surface, this peel reveals fresh new skin and promotes cell renewal.

WHAT IS A CHEMICAL PEEL?

Well, according to PCA SKIN, their CHEMICAL PEELS are said to be formulated with unique ingredient blends that work with your skin to allow for comfortable treatments, without sacrificing efficacy. The result is increased cell turnover, and fresh, healthy skin is revealed.

WHAT DO PEELS TREAT?

Chemical peels can treat, improve, and prevent a variety of skin concerns. This includes but is not limited to: discoloration, aging, reduced fine lines, and wrinkles. Chemical peels can even help treat rosacea and acne.

(source: PCA Skin)

LEVELS OF PEELS AND HOW THEY WORK

Lunchtime Peel: Alpha-hydroxy acid or another mild acid is used to penetrate only the outer first layer of skin for gentle exfoliation. The treatment improves the appearance of slight discoloration and rough skin, while also refreshing the face, neck, chest, and hands. The full healing process is said to be around a 1-7 day period.

Moderate Peeling: Glycidic or trichloroacetic acid is applied to penetrate the middle and outer layers of the skin to remove damaged cells. The treatment is used to improve age spots, fine lines, wrinkles, freckles, and moderate skin discoloration. It also can be used to smooth rough skin and treat some precancerous skin growths, I.E., actinic keratosis. Full healing for this peel is around 7-12 days.

Deep Peeling: Trichloroacetic acid or phenol is applied to deeply penetrate the middle layer of skin to remove damaged cells. The treatment removes moderate lines, age spots, freckles, and shallow scars. Clients will see a dramatic improvement in their skin's appearance. Full healing is estimated to be 14-21 days.

(source of information: ASDSA)

Chemical peels speed up the exfoliating process, encouraging cell turnover, which leaves the skin much more fresh and healthy as a result. For me, this process proved right. 

I’ve done Lunchtime, Moderate, and Deep peels now, and my skin has experienced different levels of peeling with varying outcomes for each peel. While the Lunchtime peel handled my smaller concerns, the Moderate and Deep peels were where I saw real improvements.

Peels are tricky, and the Deep Peels are not for the impatient; however, the results are impeccable and well worth the few days of gross peeling that come with the whole process.

The upkeep of peels depends on the level of treatment your doctor, dermatologist, or esthetician provide. For Lunchtime and Mild peels, maintenance is relatively easy by using a moisturizer. Deep peels require a bit more care and detail, however. You need to keep better track of your skincare, I.E., cleanser, toner, ampoule/serums or other products you would typically use on a daily basis. When applying moisturizer during a chemical peel, make sure it isn't full of fragrance and harsh chemicals that will affect your already sensitive skin negatively. You'll want to stay away from acne fighting cleansers and products during this process as well.

If you're still apprehensive about this form of treatment, I'd suggest going into heightened detail with a certified professional, dermatologist, or esthetician, and see if it's the right fit for you. Never just walk into a spa or clinic offering this treatment; do your homework first, there will always be risks and precautions when trying new procedures and products. Weigh out your options and see what works best for you!

I can only speak for myself on this; I'm no professional and have no real experience in medical skincare, just what I'm self-taught or learn through those in this field. As with anything, the choice is yours; I'm here to share what I've learned and experienced first-hand. Everyone reacts differently to chemicals and products, and consulting a professional is always recommended; find what sort of approach will best suit your skins current condition!

As always, lots of love to you. Hope this was helpful!

Ah, I’ve been away from the keyboard a little longer then expected... my apologies. I’ve been super busy as of late, and also testing out products over a much longer period of time- rather than just first impressions. I don't want to prolong this review any longer with my little update here... so, without further ado...

Son&Park Beauty Water! This beauty water is certainly not your normal run of the mill beauty water... no my friends, it’s so much more. 

I’m just gonna jump right in here and say, this cleanser has really made a huge difference in my skin during the two weeks I’d started using it. And heres why…

This product was referred to me by someone while I was up in N.Y.C, I literally spent about the whole day out on W 32nd street stocking up on my k-beauty supplies, as I was basically out back home. Repurchasing and finding new products during my excursion. I was on the hunt for specific ingredients and products suggested to me by Ansley (the esthetician I’d met). One of the ingredients she said would be super beneficial for my skin was Salicylic Acid and Hyaluronic Acid. Sadly I had a bad reaction to Hyaluronic Acid awhile back. I’m beginning to spot test again with it, so we’ll see how that goes. With my list made, and plenty of room for other products that weren’t on said list, I was off. 

Now back home and testing out everything with decent trial periods. This Salicylic Acid Daily Gentle Cleanser is definitely by far my favorite purchase within the new year by far. I made a lot of well worth it purchase during this trip, but the results I was seeing within the first few days of trial alone was jaw dropping. I was truly impressed.

Now, what is Salicylic Acid you may ask? 

Well, BHA that is a natural exfoliant that helps to remove dead skin cells from the face and clear pore, and is used in many acne treatments because of it- it also works to stimulate new cell formation.

Top Ingredients :

Salix Alba (willa) Bark Water, Saccharomyces ferment, Salicylic Acid, Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) Leaf Oil.

Salix Albs (willow) Bark Water: It works to minimize the appearance of pores. It draws out skin impurities such as excess sebum and regulates the skin’s oil production. There are tannins found in willow bark, which are high in antioxidants that have astringent properties that help to tone and calm inflammation.

Saccharomyces Ferment: Fermented yeast extract helps diminish the signs of aging by improving collagen synthesis. In addition to easier and quicker absorption, fermentation also works to increase the nutrient density, making the product's natural ingredients more powerful. It’s a fermented ingredient that works to encourage cell turnover, leading to brighter, more even and hydrated skin.

Salicylic Acid: Salicylic Acid is a beta hydroxy acid (BHA) and one of the most common acne fighting ingredient on the market. It works as an exfoliator to increase cell turnover to shed excess dead skin cells, it also works to unclog the skin’s pores of any leftover impurities.

Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) Leaf Oil: Tea Tree has antimicrobial properties to fight against acne and the bacterias that cause it. It also works to soothe inflammation and is known to be gentler on the skin than most other acne fighting ingredients.

The Claims

Helps combat against blemishes

Remove dead skin cells

Buff away blackheads 

Remove whiteheads 

Smooth skin

Ideal for all skin types 

Gentle on even sensitive skin

Usage:

I only use this at the end of the day after oil cleans. (full routine coming soon)

After squeezing an adequate amount onto moistened palms and lathering with water. Massage the cleanser into skin using circular motions and throughly rinsing off with lukewarm water. Then following up with a toner.

Thoughts

I’ve tried so many cleansers throughout the years since discovering Korean beauty products, and this one has become my new favorite. My skin has changed a lot since I started using this specific cleanser. My pores are less noticeable, I have little to no acne and my skin is looking brighter and smoother. This is a product that follows through on its word. But you should take note, that, like always— not all products work the same for everyone. We all have different needs... even if our main concerns are the same. Our genetics are far different— so what works for your favorite beauty Youtuber may not work the same for you. So just keep that in mind when trying out new products.

All in all, for me this is a definite 5 star foam cleanser and is now up in the Holy Grail status in my k-beauty arsenal. It just worked out really well for me.

I truly hope this was helpful to you.

As always, thanks for reading!

So, incredibly excited to share with you the amazing opportunity I had this weekend!

Salutations, 

I’ll be discussing my unfortunate mishap after a chemical peel. Shall we...

Okay, so I recently went in for my latest chemical peel treatment and it went great. We moved up to a stronger peel which means sensitive skin... sigh.. so, the night of my peel was good and everything seemed normal. The following morning and early afternoon was also fine... fast forward to me arriving at home after spending Saturday afternoon and evening out, I went to wash my face and got a clear picture of myself.. my chest, shoulders, jawline, cheeks and sideburns had had an allergic reaction.My face was a little hot and a pinky red. At the time I hadn't thought it was the peel, until I realized the only affected areas were where we applied the peel to.

*please note that having a negative reaction to certain chemicals happens. I myself have semi-sensitive skin.

Continuing on... I completely forgot like an idiot, how sensitive your skin is during the peeling process, and I ended up using a cleanser that was much to strong while my skin was vulnerable. Means my skin was extremely sensitive, and would be for at least 7 day after application. Now with knowing what I do, I should have paid better attention... however, I made the mistake of using a highly affective and strong cleanser during this process. After realizing my mistake (a little too late sadly) I started using my light cleanser and only  moisturizer. 

I also forgot to mention this reaction to Mindy over the phone when it was happening... goodness so many mistakes this week. Anyway... I’ll be seeing her soon and discussing what went wrong. Please, please please know I have never had any problems with any of the products used by Mindy, and this wasn't due to the peel, but my negligence. 

But you should know that with trying any product, there can be risks. *kinda why we have discussions during consultations and personally when I schedule my next appointment(s).

Don’t be discouraged with the little hiccups life has, those won't last forever. Don't let it stop you from moving forward!

Lots of love to you always!