♡≋ My Skincare Routine ≋♡ (Lots of Products w/ Mini Reviews + Links)

Hello everyone! I hope you're all doing well. Today I'm going to share my current skincare routine with you, as well as give you some mini reviews on the products I'm using. Just a disclaimer that I am not a dermatologist or professional skincare expert. Your experience with these products may vary from mine.  I will also be mentioning a lot of different products because I'm a bit of a skincare junky. I don't want you to feel like you need to use all of them or just as many as me to get the results you want if you're reading this while trying to build up or refine your own routine.

If you're interested in a full review of these products, please leave me a comment and let me know! The main reason I go through a lot of different products is because my skin needs/concerns change often and usually with the seasons. I won't be fully reviewing every product mentioned in this post BUT I do plan to do full reviews of favorites/holy grail items eventually. For now I'll keep my thoughts on each of these as brief as I can since this will be a lengthy post as is. 

Disclaimer #2: While I'll include links with the items from where I purchase them (mostly Olive Young or Yesstyle) this is not a sponsored post. Everything has been purchased with my own money and I will only receive discounts, commission, or credits if you use my coupon and/or referral codes. Images from google unless otherwise specified. Prices are in Canadian Dollars (CAD).

Yesstyle discount code: NASSST or referral link 

Olive Young Global referral sign up link here 

For your reference, my skin type is oily/combo and my main concerns are mild acne, hyperpigmentation, and uneven skin texture. In the winter my skin tends to be more dry and dull.

The Routine

The general routine, no matter how many steps you insert is always going to be:

1. Cleanse
2. Tone
3. Treat
4. Moisturize

Below are the products that I use for all of these steps. The amount of steps will vary by person and by skin needs so some people may only need those 4 steps, while others may need more. Speak with a skincare professional or experiment on your own to find what works best for you!

Cleansers

I try to wash my face at least twice a day; once in the morning when I shower and once at night before bed. Though with covid lockdown life, I find that I've reversed my shower time now that I don't need to have fresh hair to go outside lol 

I've used a lot of different cleanser textures/types but I find that gel and foam ones do a lot more for me than oil or cream. I would only use oil or cream cleansers as part of a double cleanse process as I feel like they're really heavy duty and I often don't need that much cleaning power even if I've worn makeup since I use micellar water.

Morning Cleansers

$16.74 on Yesstyle

I like to use the CosRX Low pH Good Morning Gel Cleanser. It feels very light and gentle on my skin. I get a good clean without my skin feeling tight or stripped afterwards. It's a pretty accessible product that you can find on Amazon/Yesstyle/etc. I like to get mine from YS for the points lol. I think this would work for most skin types as it's super gentle!

$14 from Sephora

A comparable cleanser that I've grown to really love is the Sephora Collection Clean Skin Gel - Cleanse + Tone. I feel like this is a more luxurious version of the CosRX one. It does the exact same thing but my skin feels more moisturized after in a way that's like I already put on my toner. Both really solid cleansers that I have repurchased multiple times over. Would recommend this for anyone as well.

$18.97 on Amazon/$18.73 on Yesstyle

I also like to rotate and use the Hada Labo Gojujyun Hyaluronic Acid Foam Cleanser if I'm feeling like my skin is a bit sensitive for a gel cleanser (usually when I'm like, super breaking out). It leaves my skin feeling soft, supple, and fresh for makeup application. I actually like to use this in the shower sometimes as a body wash since it's so gentle! I would especially recommend this to anyone with sensitive skin but it's a good cleanser for anyone imo.

Makeup Removers

I take my makeup off in 2 steps. I like to use an eye/lip remover then a micellar water all over so I don't need to work too hard with my cleansers: 

• Etude House Curl Fix Mascara Remover
• Really great for waterproof makeup and honestly a great sub for Lancome's Bi-Facil which is what I used previously. Only con is that it's a tiny bottle.
• Garnier SkinActive Micellar Water (for oily skin - green cap)
• I like this but it doesn't take everything off. It takes a lot off so that my cleanser afterwards can get the rest but not good if you're a full face, full coverage all the time type person imo. Does nothing to waterproof mascara btw.
• Ariul Stress Relieving Micellar Lip & Eye Remover
• In love with this rn, has the removal power of the EH curl fix but feels gentle and not greasy like the Garnier micellar water.

$11.17 on Yesstyle

$6.99 on Amazon

$12 USD on Olive Young Global

The Ariul micellar water is actually a new addition to my routine since I got it on sale in my last skincare haul and I had run out of the Garnier one. It's a happy medium and mix of both the Garnier micellar water and Etude House remover so I'll be replacing both of those products with just this one. I do like and recommend all of them though!

Night Cleansers

Right now I have 2 cleansers on rotation. I like to use these with a little facial cleansing pad for some gentle exfoliation and to make sure I get off any stubborn makeup I might've missed. These are a life changer if you want to find a way to get some physical exfoliation into your skincare routine.

You can get these at Amazon/Daiso/etc for like $2-5?

The cleansers I have on rotation right now are:

• Shiseido Senka Perfect Whip Cleanser
• Rich and luxurious; a little goes a long way. Takes EVERYTHING off.
• ROUNDA'ROUND Green Tea Pure Cleansing Foam
• Lighter, gel-like texture in comparison to the Shiseido one. Slightly acidic and mild/hypoallergenic formula. Great for acne or irritated skin as it contains 7% green tea water.

$15 on Amazon

$20 USD on Olive Young Global

Both of these do a good job of cleaning up any remaining makeup without stripping my skin of its moisture or making it feel tight. I find myself gravitating towards the green tea cleanser these days as the foam one feels a lot more heavy duty (as in it takes a long time to wash it all off) and I generally don't need that much cleansing power unless my whole face was covered in waterproof makeup that day. I would highly recommend it if you want a cheap, effective, no frills cleanser!

Toners

I used to use a lot of drugstore toners that felt pretty much like tap water on my face. I didn't understand the role of this step in the skincare routine so I basically neglected to find a quality toner for years. After discovering the Korean x-step* skincare regime I've come to really appreciate this step in my routine a lot more.

*(the amount of steps in your routine may vary so I put an x instead of a defined number, but you can find info on this if you put 7 or 10-step as that is a common number of steps people usually use)

Morning Toners

After cleansing, I reach for the CosRX One Step Original Clear Pad. This product is a container of pre-soaked toner cotton pads that you can just grab and use which is super handy for if you are traveling or in a hurry. It does a good job of hydrating my skin while also getting rid of any leftover cleanser/dead skin/etc that may be left on my face.

$17.21 USD on Olive Young Global / $29.04 on Yesstyle

Night Toners

I've been really liking the CosRX Full Fit Propolis Synergy Toner. This toner is a tiny bit more viscous than others that I've used, which usually feel more like water. This one feels very rich and sumptuous on my skin and it leaves me feeling fresh and glowy! Fair warning will leave a bit of a tacky feel on your skin after it sinks in so I don't recommend it if you're not a fan of that.

$23.20 USD on Olive Young Global

If I have a bit of uneven texture going on I will use the CosRX AHA 7 Whitehead Power Liquid first. This is a chemical exfoliant which will remove the dead skin cells on my face and reveal a more even and pore-less complexion in the morning. Be careful not to use this on broken skin or it will burn like the white hot intensity of a thousand suns and please make sure you use sunscreen the next day or you'll risk skin damage.

$15.75 USD on Olive Young Global / $25.19 on Yesstyle

Serums, Ampoules & Essences

I rotate between a few different products here depending on my skin's needs so I will list them by the purpose I use them for. I don't use them all at once but sometimes I will use a combination of these and they all play nice with each other in my experience.

Fading Acne Scars

I don't get a lot of acne (or scarring as a result) these days because I no longer have massive breakouts and therefore I'm not constantly picking at my face. For the occasional angry zit here and there I like to use the isoi Bulgarian Rose Bleish Care Serum II to help fade the spot after the spot dissipates (with the help of pimple patches). This has a rose fragrance so I don't recommend it if you are sensitive to things like that.

*As of writing this post the price went up a little bit on this product. It comes in a 2 pack that I usually get for like ~$50 USD but now it's $71 USD and I'm Crying.

$71 USD on Olive Young Global for 2 pack

Brightening & Uneven Skin Texture

A powerhouse favorite product of mine that does a great job of brightening and exfoliating my skin is the dear, klairs Freshly Juiced Vitamin Drop. I use this once a day in my nighttime routine. Same rules as the AHA toner above - use sunscreen the next day please. Also please store away from direct sunlight and use quickly (within 6 months of opening) as oxidization will cause the product to lose effectiveness over time.

$24.29 on Yesstyle / $23 USD on Wishtrend

Uneven Skin Texture

An alternative to the dear, klairs serum that I usually reach for (especially in the winter) is The Ordinary's 100% Organic Cold-Pressed Rose Hip Seed Oil. It's really moisturizing and good for anti-aging, reducing and reversing sun damage, reducing wrinkles, and treating mild to moderate acne. This might be a bit too much for people with sensitive skin.

$9.90 at Sephora & The Ordinary/Deciem

Hydration Boost

For a refreshing hydration boost I like to use both the Torriden Dive-In Serum and the Torriden Dive-In Skin Booster. These have low molecular hyaluronic acide and D-panthenol, ceramide and malachite extract which are all good ingredients for soothing, refreshing, and hydrating your skin. I recommend this for all skin types!

$24 USD on Olive Young Global (available in value packs)

$17.10 USD on Olive Young Global

Moisturizers

Unfortunately my HG day moisturizer has been discontinued so I'm on the hunt for a new one rn 😭 I have a few backups that I'm working through and a couple of new creams I stocked up on that I'll try when I finish up the ones I currently have open so I apologize I don't have any good recs for this category.

For night time, especially wintertime, I really like using the Pyunkang Yul Moisture Cream. It's super rich and hydrating but doesn't make you feel greasy. The consistency is definitely a bit thicker so I would recommend this for fall/winter. It's suitable for all skin types!

$29.41 on Yesstyle

For an extra hydration boost I sometimes like to layer the Round Lab 1025 Dokdo Lotion in between my serum steps (or use it as my main moisturizer on hot days). It's a gentle and lightweight moisturizer that's great for sensitive and oily skin as it contains awesome ingredients like:

• hyaluronic acid
• centella asiatica extract
• chamomile flower extract
• squalane

$23 USD on Olive Young Global

Sunscreen

I'm still experimenting in this category to find the best product for me so I don't feel too comfortable about listing any products here just yet. They're good but I'm not in love with them!

If I had to pick a favorite so far it would be the Shiseido Senka Mineral Water UV Protector SPF 50 PA+++ but it seems to be out of stock everywhere I look or really overpriced so I'm just slowly working through my backups 😭

Was $9.95 on Yesstyle

That's it! Thank you so much for reading. I hope this was helpful for you and that you discovered some new items to pad your cart with the next time you're shopping for skincare 🥰

❌ 5 Newbie Gyaru Mistakes & How to Avoid Them 🙅‍♀️

Hello! I was thinking about my last post on tips that every gyaru newbie should know and came up with the idea of making a post around the most common mistakes that I've seen from newbies nowadays that might bar them from making progress or really deep diving into gyaru.

Today we'll take a look at a few common mistakes that most newbies experience and how to avoid them so that you can have a more enjoyable gyaru journey! I tried my best to not ramble here because a lot of these are really frustrating topics but even so, this post ended up a bit long so fair warning on that.

BTW these points are in no particular order. IMO they're all really common but each one is just as crippling as the next. All images are from google unless otherwise specified 💖

1. Not having a solid grasp on the fundamentals
I would say this is the #1 barrier for most people coming into gyaru because this covers a lot more than just makeup. When I say fundamentals I mean this in 2 ways:

• The fundamentals of doing makeup, hair, and fashion:
• knowing how to do your makeup so that it works for the features you have
• knowing how to take care of your hair so that it can hold styles and be healthy
• knowing how to put together outfits that flatter your body, how to work with different prints & patterns, understanding cuts and silhouettes, etc
• The fundamentals of gyaru:
• understanding what gyaru is and how it differs from other jfashion styles
• knowing what elements are key to pulling off your desired look

✨ Tips:

• Learn to apply makeup in a way that is flattering to your features
• It's going to be difficult for you to achieve a snatched gyaru look if you don't understand how to apply makeup onto your own face. Makeup is not a one size fits all experience. You're going to need to learn what works and what doesn't so you have a baseline to work off of. With this, you can understand where you can exaggerate things and where things need to stay closer to your baseline.
• Do your research. 
• A lot of us older gals didn't have the luxury of youtube, instagram, etc. We had to scour the internet for people who owned physical magazines and hope to god they were kind enough to scan them and post them online for our reference. We also didn't really have a way to follow models outside of their Japanese blogs and we sure as hell didn't have the convenience of online shopping to the extent that we do today. Use all of these resources to your advantage! 
• A lot of you guys out there don't know what "research" means. This isn't simply looking up images and saving them on a pinterest board. You have to study these pics. Look at the clothes and makeup carefully. Really examine what elements are being focused on and what the key points of the look you're researching are. Take note and try to apply these to yourself the next time you doll up.

• Learn to dress yourself
• I don't mean this in an insulting way, I mean that a lot of people don't understand the basics of putting an outfit together. There's more to it than just throwing all your brand on our loading up on accessories. Take some time to read up on color theory, how to wear prints & patterns, how different fabrics and textures work together, which cuts of clothing work for your body and which don't, etc. Having a basic understanding of these things will make it so much easier to pull together flattering and aesthetically pleasing outfits.

📌 Additional Resources:

• How to mix patterns: 25 outfit examples
• Style Tips: How to Mix Clothes of Different Fabrics for Great Effects!
• How to Create Outifts by Mixing and Matching Clothing Textures
• How to Match Clothes Using the Color Wheel

2. Over-valuing or over-investing in Japanese branded items
I think a lot of people come into gyaru because they saw a photo of a gal that they really liked or they fell in love with a brand's pieces and aesthetics. That's fine and all but because of this a ton of newbies want to dive in right away with building their dream MA*RS/D.I.A/Alba Rosa/etc closet right away. Which I don't have to tell you is an insane of money to have to throw down, especially when you're first starting out.

I've heard from so many different people that they feel gal is "pay to play" or that they're too poor to get into gal. This is 1000% not true. I think a lot of this stems from the fixation on brand pieces to make an outfit gal. 

Gyaru is probably the most accessible jfashion you can get into. Yes there are brands with very unique pieces that lots of popular gals in Japan swear by, but that doesn't mean you need to shell out for scalper and reseller prices to build your wardrobe up like this. You can definitely use things you find in local stores or webstores available to you. The key here is understanding what elements are needed in the look you're trying to create to make it undeniably gal (aka point 1). 

Unless you're doing a really extreme style like Hime (and even then it can be done without brand), you can probably get away with having almost 0 brand in your closet. Don't get me wrong, it's definitely nice to have but please stop feeling like it's absolutely necessary.

With this in mind, I think the opposite is also true. Just because you're decked head to toe in brand doesn't make the outfit more gal. If it's not coordinated properly, it can look equally silly so the takeaway here is to not lean on either side of these extremes.

✨ Tips:

• Shop directly from jp brand stores when possible. This will save you from reseller/scalper prices.
• Compare prices between different reseller sites. Sometimes you'll be able to find a better price on the pieces you want this way.
• A lot of jp stores will sell fukubukuro (lucky bags) during the new year so try to take advantage of these if you can. 
• These are grab bags filled with a random assortment of items and are a great way to dive into a brand if you're able to get your hands on one. You might be able to snag a clothing item or two that you've been wanting and if you end up not getting anything you want, you can always trade or resell to others!
• Learn to sew/DIY. 
• This will save you a lot of money on accessories and custom designed clothes (things with chains, studs, etc) as you can just find a base piece that fits you well (ex: shorts) and then just gal-ify it as you see fit! Plus if any of your items end up damaged from wear or wash, you can repair them yourself.
• Study outfits from magazines/your favorite models and break them down for ease of recreation.
• When you see an outfit you absolutely adore, try to boil it down to the most basic elements. I'll use the image below as an example:

There's a lot of really iconic pieces here so you may think it's impossible recreate without the brand pieces but it could be a bit easier than you think! First you have to break down the outfit by highlighting the key points. Here we have: 

• a statement top with gold buttons 

• a thicker belt with chains and gold hardware that matches the top 

• denim shorts 

• long boots 

When you list out all the key elements, you make it easier to find alternative options for the fit but still preserve the same feel (if that makes sense). For this example, let's substitute the top for something else. Here are some examples of things that might fit well, keeping in mind the points of the top are the print and gold hardware. These items don't have the built in gold buttons but because they are so plain you can substitute that with more gold jewelry like a chunky necklace or even layered necklaces (as seen in the first two pictures):

These are all from SheIn since that seems to be a popular site rn. Links to the items x x x x

• The look won't be the same when you substitute items but the key here is to recreate the same vibe with items you have access to. Play around with this and try this substitution exercise with your favorite outfits! They may be more accessible than you think.
  

3. Buying cheap contact lenses
This isn't just a gal specific thing but I see it very often in this community. Please for the love of god never cheap out on anything that can directly impact your physical health. It's important to invest in good quality contacts so that you don't damage your eyes. I wrote a post about circle lenses a long time ago which I'm thinking about updating but the general message still applies so please check it out here.

Go see your eye doctor before purchasing lenses online. They can give you more information on the dangers of improper fitting lenses or poor quality materials. You will also need to do this to get your eye measurements (yes, just like body measurements) to ensure that the lenses you buy will fit you correctly and not cause any damage.

✨ Tips:

• Look for stores that are credible, have lots of reviews, and are authorized vendors of the lenses. 
• Read the lens description so you know what it's made of, the measurements of the lens, and the disposable period.
• Stay away from lenses that have a yearly disposable limit on them. 
• If you insist on purchasing these please don't wear them for a whole year before throwing them out. Just think about it, you're wearing the same piece of plastic on your eyeball for x hours each day for x many days. Even with proper cleaning that sounds disgusting to me so toss them at 3-6 months at most, depending on the frequency of wear. Your eyes deserve to be treated well.
• Avoid lenses that are too large for your eyes. 
• Enlarging lenses are really popular, but just be careful with these because if they're too big for your eye they will slide around and that can scratch your eyes which can lead to permanent damage.

📌 Additional Resources:

• Circle Lenses & You
• Lenses & Eyecare: How to Not Destroy Your Eyes for Fashion
• Are Circle Lenses & Colored Contacts Safe?
• Vox article on colored contacts and influencers

4. Not using references
A lot of people would agree with me and say that makeup is an artform, which makes anyone who applies it an artist. With that in mind, every good artist will know that using a reference is the best way to improve your skills and provide you with a good foundation for creating your art.

I can't tell you how many times I've seen a newbie ask a question or post a pic of their look asking for concrit and it's just so off the mark that you KNOW this person has never used google in their life.

"Does this look (insert substyle here)?"

"Would this (clothing item/outfit) work for (insert substyle here)?"

"Can I do (insert substyle here) with (insert feature, clothing item, etc here)?"

Please before you ask any of these, look up photo references of the look you're going for and do a side by side. I promise that if you've at the very least done this step you will save everyone a lot of time and save yourself from becoming "that newbie" in the comm.

This doesn't mean don't ask for help if you're genuinely stumped, but it just really shows if you're someone who is invested and needs assistance growing and refining your look or if you're someone half-assing an aesthetic for internet clout. This also doesn't mean that you can't be original, but when you're first starting out you really need to have a handle on  your shit before you start putting your own spin on things. Take it slow and work on your look little by little. I promise you will be more satisfied with your look this way when it finally comes together.

I'm using one of my favorite gaijin gals, Emiriichu, as an example here because I think she has a lot of great practices as someone who started their gal journey relatively recently (I think she started like 3-4 years ago? Someone correct me if I'm wrong).

Screenshot from her blog post

She doesn't ask for crit but this would be a great example to follow if you were to ask imo. A pic of what you did versus what you're trying to go for. It's so much easier to show you where to improve or things you did well on if we knew what you wanted. Concrit can be so vague without reference as it would usually be given to fit into the general gal aesthetic as opposed to if you had a very specific look you wanted to emulate and this is especially true for more extreme styles like manba/banba/etc.

✨ Tips:

• Find photo references and copy them exactly as you see them.
• Don't fixate on technique or application skills. Just try to copy the look as closely and precisely as you can. Once you get this down, refining skills and technique will be the next step.
• Take your time to experiment with your look.
• Some people are really intimidated by the whole idea of gyaru makeup and want to be toned down for work/school/every day because they're afraid of standing out too much, being judged, or looking silly. If you're thinking like this idk what to tell you bc gal is all about standing out and being OTT.
• Try different eye shapes, lash combinations, and brow shapes!
• Even if you're aiming for more wearable looks like Maami or Aisyu, go big first and tone it down as you go. 
• It's harder to start light and go bolder as you won't have the understanding of what needs to be exaggerated on your face and what needs to be toned down (ex: some people need more dramatic eye droops to recreate this kind of look just because of how their natural features are but you won't know this until you go that dramatic first)

• Don't post incomplete looks for concrit.
• Seriously, what are we supposed to do with a pic that you post for crit and you're like "oh but I don't have xyz thing for (insert whatever reason)". What am I even giving crit for, your foundation matching skills? Unless it's something really miniscule like say, you are using brown liner and not black like you wanted because you didn't have that on hand, there's no point in posting a pic that's missing lenses, lashes, and brows and asking for crit, I'm not gonna make up the rest of the look in my head to give you advice. Don't be that newbie. 

5. Literally just not making an attempt & using communities for spoon feeding
When I see questions like:

"How do I get my makeup to look more like (picture here)?"

"How do I achieve this look (picture here)?" 

"What can I do to look more like (picture here)?"

My immediate response is confusion and then physically holding myself back from becoming full Shia Lebouf.

I swear like, some of y'all are making your own lives difficult for no damn reason and it's incredible lmao. Literally if there's something you want to do, a look you want to emulate, a style you want to dress in: just fucking do it? When you ask questions like the ones above you sound like someone asking for assistance on how to put together an IKEA shelf while waving the instruction booklet around. 

✨ Tips:

• Not a whole lot of tips I can offer here other than to re-read this entire post because I've already made all the points I needed to prevent you from being that annoying low effort newbie that seasoned gals dread getting questions from.
• Use google. This is not a request.

If you've made it this far, thank you so much for reading my angry rambles. Even though some of the points I made above might sound a bit harsh or mean, remember that a lot of us are more than happy to help you. 

The main takeaway here is: don't be that bitch. Before anyone tries me, this isn't targeted or aimed at anyone in specific. I know a lot of my wording is pretty strong and angry but please understand that it's coming from a place of absolute frustration that is shared by many of the veteran and seasoned gals in the community. 

I am by no means the perfect or shining example of gal so don't come at me for for the things I said above as if it's coming from a place of superiority. I just need you guys to know that it's very tiring trying to help you when you won't meet us halfway.

I wish you the very best on your gal journey! Please let me know if you enjoyed this post and if I missed anything. I would be more than happy to make a part 2 if there's enough interest in it  💖