Pre-Asian Skincare List

Below was a picture of my pre-Asian skincare/make-up products.

This was taken around April to May 2015.

• PETER THOMAS ROTH Max All Night Repair Youth Restoring Intensive Concentrate
• PETER THOMAS ROTH Un-Wrinkle Crème Cleanser
• boscia Restorative Eye Treatment For Under-Eye Bags
• OBSESSIVE COMPULSIVE COSMETICS OCC Tint: Tinted Moisturizer (R2)
• SOAP & GLORY Make Yourself Youthful 6-in-1 Super Serum
• NUDE Skincare Radiant Day Moisturiser
• PHILOSOPHY Full Of Promise™ Dual-Action Restoring Cream
• TARTE Collector's Edition Maracuja C-Brighter™ Eye Treatment
• SEPHORA COLLECTION Liquid Moisturizing Skin Concentrate
• Lancôme Bienfait Multi-Vital SPF 30 Daily Moisturizing 
• Clarisonic Sweet 15 Mia2™ Skin Cleansing System Set
• Peter Thomas Roth FIRMx™ Peeling Gel
• Ole Henriksen Invigorating Night Treatment™
• Soap & Glory Clear Here™ T-Zone Oil-Control Daily Moisture Lotion
• boscia Clear Complexion Willow Bark Spot Treatment
• SEPHORA COLLECTION Waterproof Eye Makeup Remover
• SEPHORA COLLECTION Colorful Shadow & Liner (15) Purple
• Urban Decay SUPERCURL Curling Mascara - mascara recourbant
• Maybelline INSTANT AGE REWIND® ERASER TREATMENT Makeup (150) Classic Ivory
• Maybelline EYE STUDIO® COLOR TATTOO® 24HR CREAM GEL SHADOW  (15) Audacious Asphalt
• Revlon Luxurious Color Smoky Crayon #006 Black Smoke Eyeliner Pencil & Shadow

Missha Super Aqua Cell Renew Snail Cream

Step 9 - Moisturize! - Missha Super Aqua Cell Renew Snail Cream


I ordered this 47 ml product from Soko Glam for $36; this wasn't bad compared to the past prices of creams that I have been purchasing from Sephora. I wanted to know what the whole ordeal about snail cream was about. This was the product that got me sold on Korean skincare and this monstrous 10 step skincare routine. My uneven skin tones and inflammation has gone done, so I'm happy. However, the only problem is that after applying it to my neck for two weeks, that I got a rash and itchy neck, so I stop applying it to my neck area and just remain using the cream on my face. My only suggestion is to not be in a moist area/room when you apply it otherwise this cream will not absorb into your skin because you will sweat it out. I went through this container quite fast, taking me about 1 month and a half but then I was using it on for day and night moisturizer because I loved the result. 

After the product is finished, I have already brought another brand of snail cream to replace this one. I'm not saying that this product is bad, I'm just saying that there are numerous amounts of different brands of snail creams and I want to be able to try them all. I will write a review about my next snail cream towards the end of the summer.

• Overpriced? No
• Anti-wrinkle anything? After a month's use, your skin does tightening a little.
• Moisturizing? Yes.
• Gentle? Yes
• Suitable for sensitive and breakout prone skin? Yes.
• Suitable for oily skin? Just put a little dap on your skin
• Suitable for dry skin? Very moist!!!!!
• Day or night? I use it both day and night.
• Works under makeup? Wait about 5-10 minutes before applying make-up.

Spring (March/April/May) 2015 10-step skincare routine

I went from an easy, low-maintenance to trying the famous 10 (or 12)-step skincare routine . 

I wanted to get products from a broad number of brands, I didn't just want to stick with one brand, I shopped around and compared all. 

This is just a list of products that I just on "my skincare routine" since I just got into this routine this month, more to come next month. 

Step 1: Pre-cleansing Oil/Wipes- Peter Thomas Roth Cleanser Un-wrinkle Creme Cleanser

"Rich, creamy and nourishing gentle crème cleanser with Jojoba, Shea Butter, Vitamins A, C and E and Pro Vitamin B5. Fragrance-free. For all skin types."

This is a very light watery cleanser. I didn't like it at first because I was using it as a cleanser, but when I found out about the 10-step routine, I decided to use this as my pre-cleanser usage. I have been slowly moving from Sephora (VIB member cause I got all my skincare from Sephora beforehand) to venturing out into the Asian world of skincare routine. 

Step 2: Cleanser -  True Blue Spa Citrus Exhilarating & Exfoliating Face Scrub by Bath and Body Works

This product is discontinued and will be my last cleanser before I start to use Asian cleansers. More next month. This product help me alot with my combination skin and blackheads.

Step 3: EXFOLIATE -  Origins Clear Improvement™ Active Charcoal Mask To Clear Pores
Hyaluronic Acid became a term that I paid attention to because I wanted to find a product that can get rid of blackheads. I'm not sure if this product contain hyaluronic acid, but it was raved about throughout Asian skincare bloggers, and I wanted to give it a try. I've only used the origins pore clay mask once or twice a year, it does make your skin feel smooth and clean right after. FYI, I do this step usually one a week usually on Saturdays.

Step 4: Refresher/Toner - Clinique Clarifying Lotion 2

I was never a fan of toners, but when I heard about the benefits of a toner and that it can lift the remaining residue that you might have from your cleanser and mask, I decided to try it. I got the (2) because I have combination skin. Does the job, but it burns a little once in a while, so I don't use it daily.

Step 5: Essence - SEPHORA COLLECTION LIQUID MOISTURIZING SKIN CONCENTRATE

I wouldn't call this product a essence, but it's also not a toner. It's refreshing, but I think it is time that I tried some Asian products. 

Step 6: Ampoule/Serum/Emulsion - SKIP for now
Back then, my skincare regime consist of a cleanser, serum and moisturizer. I never heard of the word, ampoules, and the step is for your problematic spots. This step can include either one or many. Each ampoule is mainly for one thing. To me, I will skip this part for now, but I have previously used Soap & Glory Clear Here to minimized my pores-didn't do much for my skin and its discontinued.

Step 7: Sheet Mask - SK-2 Facial Treatment Mask. 
It think this step is preferable for people who have dry skin. If I use sheet mask, yes, once in a while when I'm doing a spa day to treat myself. I will stock up on many when I visit Asia at the end of the year.

Step 8: Eye cream - Tarte - Maracuja C-Brighter™ Eye Treatment
Mom always tell you that you don't have to get any product, but eye cream are a must. If you smile and laugh a lot, you are prone to eye wrinkles. See, life has pros and cons. I have stopped using heavy cream (tarte) when I noticed that I keep getting milia under my skin surface, so I have limit my use of this.

Step 9: Moisturize! - (AM) Missha Super Aqua Cell Renew Snail Cream
click here for review

Step 10: Sleeping Pack/Night Cream (PM)  - Ole Henriksen Invigorating Night Gel
Here is a problem with this product applying with the Missha Super Aqua. I have experimented with applying this product before or after the Super Aqua and I found out that the best way is to either use this product or the super Aqua because I think that both has chemicals that are incompatible when using together because I would experience pilling (where the skin cells balls up). So at nights, I just use this gel product and in the daytime, I use the Missha Super Aqua. This product absorbs VERY quick into your skin and does its magic. However, Ole Henriksen has discontinue this as a night gel and making it a night treatment which sells this product with a pump now, making it more sanitary.

Step 11: Sunscreen (AM) Biore UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence SPF 50+ PA++++ 
I'm starting to see (Asian version) freckles on my face from skin damage so trying to repair the damage I have done to my past quarter of a century skin.  But it has this dry and weird to wash off texture.

Beauteque Monthly + PROMO CODE

So I have finally subscribed to Beauteque Monthly BB Bag after doing a month's worth of research.
I subscribed to the yearly subscriptions for a total of $311 ($285+$47.7 for shipping), which becomes $25.92 per bag.

I will do reviews once I receive it in the mail.

Looking forward to the products!

Every month there could be 6-8 full-sized products in every bag which can range anything including make-up, skincare, body care, beauty tools, hair care, lifestyle products and etc. If you buy it per month or up to 3 months it is $24, $23 for 6 months or $22 for 12 months. The retail values can range between $65 to $85 in every BB bag.

I brought it for a year to try it out. 

Use promo code "ILENE" for a special something (10% OFF) at checkout at beauteque.com and/or beauteque.com/subscriptions.


A month later, I subscribed to Monthly Mask Maven Bag.

Every month there could be 9-11 masks in every bag which can range anything including sheet mask, hand mask, wash-off mask, eye mask, foot mask and etc. If you buy it per month or up to 3 months it is $15, $14 for 6 months or $13 for 12 months.

I brought it for a year to try it out.

TONYMOLY Strawberry Seed 3-Step Nose Pack - Runaway Strawberry Seeds 3-Step Nose Pack

First item from the Soko Glam Haul to be reviewed is the TONYMOLY Strawberry Seed 3-Step Nose Pack - Runaway Strawberry Seeds 3-Step Nose Pack. Why did I buy this? Because I never tried a nose strip before. I thought this was a nose strip, but this isn't anything close to the generic Biore blackhead remover nose strip, plus I can't read Korean so I decided to try this "3-step thing" out.

So the description on the website claimed that : 

"This 3-step blackhead-removing strip sloughs out deeply blocked follicles, leaving pores clean and smooth. Perfect for maintaining blackhead-free skin at home inbetween facials." 

To be honest, this is a waste of money to me, but this is good if you are on the go.

There are instructions on how to use it on the bottom back of this package. 

• Step 1 has a sweet strawberry-like scent, which a lot of girls will like. Feels like an essence plus it has a cooling effect. Let it longer than 15 minutes, it will start to fall off.
• Step 2 has a plastic smell after you add water and stick it to your face. Let that on for 15 minutes. So this is the process when you peel off the strip that the blackheads and whiteheads would come off. I think a clay mask would be an alternative.
• Step 3 is more of a moisturizer add on to your dry nose. Feels like a water sleeping pack.

This product is good if you are travelling and don't want to bring all your cosmetic products otherwise I think the regular skincare routine way (cleanser/mask->toner->essence->moisturizer) is cheaper and more effective than this 3-step.

General Haul #1 - Soko Glam Haul

Korean Skincare Newbie - 1st Order

I recently discovered that Korean Skincare technology industry is about 10 years more advantage than American markets. So I did some research checking out some bloggers and noticed that the Korean skincare industry try to use natural and organic ingredients in their products. You can hear stuff such as bee venom and snail cream, which is scary, but results are pretty good to those that have tried the skincare. I have been eyeing the cushion foundation and the snail cream and luckily, Soko Glam had some items on sale. So I decided to give it a try and ordered from SokoGlam to be safe. Below is what came in the mail via USPS Priority 2-Day Mail. Free shipping if you buy a certain amount.

1. TONYMOLY Strawberry Seed 3-Step Nose Pack - Runaway Strawberry Seeds 3-Step Nose Pack
2. MISSHA Cell Renew Snail Cream
3. IOPE Air Cushion Sunblock XP [SPF 50+/PA+++] - N23 - Natural Beige + Refill
4. The free sample was the SKINFOOD black sugar honey mask washoff.

I like the that Soko Glam gave a sample with my order because it is a way to expose you to more items out there. I will write follow up reviews as I start to use these products.