♥♥♥DIY Asian BB Cream!♥♥♥

 Hello lovelies! So, I'm sure you've all noticed what a big trend BB creams are becoming. Originally invented by German surgeons to help laser surgery patient's skin heal, this product quickly spread to Korea where skincare is a major priority. Popularized by the actresses who used them, awareness over this makeup/skincare hybrid began to grow exponentially and stretch across the globe to Japan, the Philippines, Canada, the UK, and the USA.

 Now, every person and their mother has at least one and every company has released one. From the drugstore brands like Rimmel London and L'Oreal Paris to the high-end counters like Bobby Brown and Dior. Unfortunately not all of the drugstore BBs live up to their claims and we can't all afford to splurge on a $56 tube of Hydra Life(for less than two ounces!). So today I will show you how to make a cheaper alternative that you can make from products you probably already have lying around the house. Let's get right into it!

 These are the things that a BB cream should do which set it apart from it's relative(the tinted moisturizer): Hydrate, Moisturize, Smooth, Brighten, Tone, Prime, Cover, and Protect from the Sun. This is what we will be achieving in our recipe today. This product turns out much like an Asian BB cream only it doesn't have the grey cast that some of those can contain.

 Here's what you'll need:

1. A small container to store it in.
2. Rubbing alcohol(to sanitize)
3. Sunscreen with at least SPF 45
4. A face lotion, gel, or cream(depending on your skin-type)
5. A face primer
6. An eyelid primer
7. A facial toner
8. A liquid concealer
9. A liquid foundation 1-2 shades darker than your skin
10. (optional)A liquid highlighter/luminizer
11. (optional)Loose mineral powder
12. A spatula(a toothpick or cotton swab works too)for mixing

 Here's what you do:

 First, take your rubbing alcohol and sanitize the spatula and container on your choosing. This will keep bacteria from growing in your product. I put mine in a little pink spray bottle to make the process easier. Allow the alcohol to dry off.

Next, take your moisturizer and sunscreen and put 1/2 tsp of each in your container. Use your spatula to help scrape out the contents of your measuring spoon to ensure accurate amounts. This will prevent wrinkles, discoloration, and sunspots by protecting your skin from harmful rays while keeping it moisturized to lock in hydration.

Now, take 1/2 tsp of your foundation of choice and add that to the container as well. I prefer to use a long-wearing foundation for this step to add longevity to the BB cream. The reason we are using a slightly darker shade of foundation is because the sunscreen has a tendency to lighten up the color just a touch. So selecting a deeper shade will compensate for this.

Next, Squeeze out 1/8 tsp liquid concealer of your choosing and add it to the mix. I prefer to use a high coverage concealer to add to the end result.

Add 1/2 tsp toner to thin out the consistency and hydrate the skin. I like using this rosewater and glycerin one. The rosewater fades scars and brightens the complexion and the glycerin holds in moisture while attracting it from the air.

Squeeze 1/8 tsp face primer and one drop eyelid primer into your container. This will help the product to fill in your pores nicely without settling into fine lines and creases.

Now carefully pierce a vitamin E gel capsule and squeeze the contents into your mixture. Vitamin E is a strong anti-oxidant that helps prevent signs of aging and free radical damage. It has been found to plump the skin by boosting collagen production, encouraging new cell growth, and speeding up cell regeneration.

You can stop here if you like and mix your ingredients all together to make the perfect, skin loving BB cream on a budget!

 Or, if you like you can go on and mix in a few drops of luminizer for added glow or sprinkle in some mineral powder for added coverage. As my skin is oily through the T-zone I chose to skip the luminizer but since I have some hyper-pigmentation on my cheeks I decided to add a bit of mineral powder to amp up the coverage.

 Just give it one final stir and you're done! Pop the lid on and add a cute sticker or label if you like. Make one for your mom. Treat your friends to your homemade BB cream. Try using different products to achieve different results. Add in a hyaluronic acid serum or a vitamin C serum for more skin benefits. Have fun with it and experiment. Let me know if you find out a really good mix you're loving!

 Here is my finished BB cream:

 I really like this cute little jar. I got a two pack at Walmart for 99¢ and they come in a variety of colors.

The color is the perfect match and it smells really nice and fresh.

It feels cool and refreshing as you apply it and blends like a dream. It's really slippery and smooth at first but then it sinks in and sets.

This is my chin before the BB cream is applied. You can see that I have some enlarged pores and redness and it looks a bit dull overall.

Here is my skin after the BB cream. It definitely covered the redness, brightened my skin, and filled in my pores. It has a nice almost satin finish. It's just slightly dewy but it does set so that it doesn't transfer so no worries there. I am loving this at the moment and will definitely be using it more in the future. I hope you guys try this out and have great results. Leave me a comment below and let me know what kind of posts you would like to see more of. Have a lovely day!

 

Review/Demo: Skin79 Crystal Peeling Gel

 Hello again everybody! Today we'll be taking an in depth look at an Asian skincare product. The Skin79 Crystal Peeling Gel! Here is the what the tube looks like and the box that it came in:

 I got mine off of Ebay for $13.99 with free shipping and it came with 3 free samples of popular Korean BB creams. Here are the samples that I got:

 I bought it from a seller in the USA because otherwise(being that it is a Korean product)it would have taken nearly a month to arrive. First off I will say that if you are unfamiliar with how to use this it may be a little confusing as the writing on the box is mostly in Korean. There are, however, directions on the back of the tube in English that(poorly translated though they may be)are easy enough to understand.

 Right off the bat I love that it is in a squeeze tube instead of a jar because it makes it much more hygienic. You don't have to worry about cross contaminating it and it is easy to control how much product comes out. It's a nice clean white package with easy to see black letters(I hate it when the writing is barely one shade different than the background). Plus, it is a pretty generous size that seems like it will last a long time since you need so little per use. You get 100mls which is a little over 3ozs. Now, on to the finer details!

What's it for?

•  Skin79 Crystal Peeling Gel is a gommage-type exfoliator. It is meant to be used 2-3 times a week(depending on your skin type)to improve cell turnover by gently removing the dead skin cells to reveal a younger, fresher layer of skin. It may be used to brighten the skin, fade post-acne hyper-pigmentation, and remove flaky dry patches. It is generally preferred to physical exfoliators(like the St. Ives Apricot scrub which has crushed up walnut shells in it)as these can cause micro scratches and irritate or even damage the skin leaving it prone to infection and sun damage.

What's it like?

• True to the product name it has a gel texture. It is translucent and somewhat gritty with very few sand-like particles mixed in which I suppose comprise the "Crystal" part of the name. But, there are hardly enough for it to be considered a physical exfoliator. There is a light lotion fragrance to it that lingers slightly after you wash it off but nothing obnoxious. However, because of this if you have skin that is sensitive to frangrance you may choose to skip this one. It feels a bit cool upon application but the sensation fades quickly when you begin rubbing. I don't find it sticky but it does definitely thicken up during use. This is what it looks like when you squeeze a little out:

How does it work?

•  A gommage-type of exfoliator typically uses fruit enzymes and/or plant cellulose to gently break down the dead skin cells which then easily roll up into little balls that can be rinsed off. This particular one contains Trehalose and Hyaluronic acid to hydrate the skin as well. Despite this it does make my skin feel a bit tight afterwards like it's been stripped. Here are the claims it makes:

How do you use it?

• What you do is apply a thin layer of it to the area you're using it on(evenly distributing it)and allow it to sit for 10-20 seconds before you begin to lightly rub in circular motions:

• After a few second you will feel it thickening and start seeing it balling up and rolling around:

• Continue rubbing until no more balls are forming and rinse with luke warm water. It leaves a brightened effect after being rinsed off. Here is the final result:

See how bright and even the skin appears?

  What's nice about this type of product is that the plant cellulose will only bind to dead skin cells so it is virtually impossible to over-exfoliate. Here are the directions on the tube:

So, what do I think about it?

Pros:

• Effectively removes dead skin
• Gentle
• Pleasant light scent
• Affordable
• Hygienic
• Easily found online
• Brightens

Cons:

• Leaves skin a bit tight feeling
• Fragrance not good for sensitive skin
• Ingredients not listed in English
• Instructions and description poorly translated
• Twist off cap

My final thoughts:

 It smells nice, does a good job of exfoliating, and doesn't irritate my skin. I do wish it had a flip top because it's kind of awkward twisting the cap back on when you have already dispensed some product. I will let you guys know if I see any dramatic improvements in pores, blackheads, or pigmentation.Give it a try if you've never gone the gommage route before. Talk to you guys next time! Bye!