Tony Moly Banana Cream Foam Cleanser: Review

Packaging:

Comes in a yellow plastic squeeze bottle

Contains 150 ml of product

Retails for $10-$15 (depending on where purchased)

ULTA currently has them for $11.60 

Formulation:

Banana cleansers are very popular in Asian skincare and has only begun to touch the surface here in the states. Banana extract has properties that help eliminate dirt and other wastes from the skin's surface. Think of it as a natural exfoliate without the harsh beads that most exfoliates have these days. This cleanser also contains honey which not only moisturizes your skin but also contains anti-bacteria properties to keep your skin nice and clean. While this cleanser does contain natural ingredients such as banana and honey, it is not 100% natural. It has your typical skin cleanser ingredients that you would see almost everywhere these days.

The texture is a cross between a cream and a gel like consistency. It feels very smooth on the skin and foams up pretty nicely. I was surprised at how much I liked this stuff. It cleanses the skin very well even on days where I am wearing heavy makeup. It does feel a little drying right afterwards but not to the point where I feel my skin is cracking. It works well with steam in the shower, opening up any pores and also works with cold water in the morning to help wake you up. 

I have very sensitive acne prone skin and after using this for about 2 weeks, not only my skin has cleared up I haven't had any breakouts. I would say that this cleanser would work on a lot of different types of skin. Remember everyone's skin is different, what works for one person may not necessarily work for another. When it comes to skincare it is all about trial and error.

The cleanser has a very potent scent which reminded me of banana popsicles I used to eat as a child. It also has an acetone scent to it when applied on the skin. I personally didn't mind the scent but for those of you out there who hate or can't handle strong scents I don't recommend this cleanser for you.

Overall

4.8/5

  

Mini Forever 21 + Sephora Haul

I have been super stressed lately with work and school so I decided to treat myself to a little retail therapy. Here are the goodies I picked up... All of these items are either new or basic items so you should still be able to get them both in stores and online! (I apologize for not having the exact names of the clothing items) #retailtherapy #feelingspendy 

FOREVER 21

Black and White Checkered Flannel $17.90 (In-stores now and other variations/styles online)

Casual Button Down Dress $15.90

Basic Charcoal Cardigan $12.80 (This sweater is super soft and comes in a variety of colors)

Super Skinny Dark Wash Jeans $7.90 (BEST DEAL EVER!!!)

And a little something from SEPHORA...

Left: Bare Minerals Complexion Rescue Gel Foundation $29 (I am in the color Natural 5 neutral) 

Right: First Aid Beauty Facial Cleanser (Beauty Insider Points=FREE) 

Morning Skincare Routine- BLOGTOBER OCTOBER 12, 2014

MORNING SKINCARE ROUTINE: FALL/WINTER EDITION

Welcome to my fall/winter skincare routine 2014 edition. I change my skin care  every 2 seasons or depending on how my skin is acting. This is my current skincare for the morning. I am by no means a skin expert nor I pretend to be this is just what works for me.Please always consult a professional if needed.All of these products can be purchased at your local drugstores or Targets/Wal-Marts with the exception of a few.

(I have super dry, sensitive, acne prone skin.)

Far Left: Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Wash Pink Grapefruit Facial Cleanser
Front Left: Hawaiian Tropic Silk Hydration Face Suncreen SPF 30
Far Right: Neutrogena Alcohol- Free Toner
Front Right: Mario Badescu Ceramide Herbal Eye Cream (Top) & Mario Badescu Ginseng Moist Cream (Bottom)
Front: White Cloud Cotton Rounds

Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Wash Pink Grapefruit Facial Cleanser $7 
Waking up can be a hassle especially if you are not a morning person like me. So the first thing I like to do in the morning to wake myself up a bit is to wash my face. I always tend to get breakouts during the colder season so I like to use an anti-acne facial cleanser. This particular one by Neutrogena is gentle enough to use everyday and contains 2% Salicylic Acid to help keep my breakouts at bay. It also has an AMAZING grapefruit scent that helps you wake up.

Neutrogena Alcohol- Free Toner $6
After cleansing my face, I like to go over my skin with a toner. The toner not only gets rid of gunk that may have not washed off but also refreshes your skin. I like to use this one in the morning because not only it's refreshing it doesn't dry out my skin thanks to no alcohol. 

Mario Badescu Ginseng Moist Cream & Ceramide Eye Cream Both $18 each (Available @Ulta (online and in-store) or Mario Badescu online)
It is super important to always moisturizer your skin no matter what!!! This Ginseng Cream by Mario Badescu is super moisturizing but not heavy at all! Ginseng has anti wrinkle properties as well as helps heal and calm irritated skin.

The Ceramide Eye Cream is also pretty amazing (I did a separate review on this). It is super thick but like the moisturizer it is not heavy and can works either alone or under makeup (makes applying concealer effortlessly). I also use this eye cream @night. 

Left: Ginseng Moist Cream
Right: Ceramide Eye Cream

Hawaiian Tropic Silk Hydration Face Suncreen SPF 30 $10
And of course you can never forget your SPF. I can't stress enough how essential it is to include some type of SPF in your skincare routine. It not only protects you from UVA/UVB rays which can cause skin cancer but it also helps prevent premature aging, sagging, sun spots and more. This one has a nice coconut scent to it and is actually very moisturizing on its own. I like to put this on top my moisturizer.

White Cloud Cotton Pads $5 for 300 (100 per pack 3 packs total)
I like to use this for my toners as well as removing makeup. You can get this at Wal-Mart for $5 for a pack of 300.

Summer Skincare Routine

Morning Routine:

Cleanser: Clean & Clear Morning Burst Hydrating Facial Cleanser

This stuff is awesome! I been using this particular line for years and it is one of those products I always come back to. There are tiny beads that burst once it hits water and cleans deep not to mention also waking you up in process!

Moisturizer: Simple Protecting SPF 15

Just like the name, this is a simple moisturizer that contains SPF. It is very light weight yet gives just enough moisture to last you throughout the day.

Evening Routine: 

Cleanser: La Roche Posay Brightening Facial Cleanser

A lightweight cleanser that takes off all your makeup and dirt collected throughout the day. It leaves your skin soft and bright. It also has exfoliating properties without the beads like most exfoliators have, so this is great for those of you who have sensitive skin (GREAT FOR AGES).

Moisturizer: Olay Anti- Aging Evening Facial moisturizer

This is actually a product that I stole from my mom and just complete fell in love with it. It is a great evening moisturizer that is light weight yet super nourishing. It also has a nice perfumy scent that lingers so if you are not a fan of scents I wouldn't recommend this. You are also never too young to start using anti-aging products. The secret is prevention. By using products like these at a young age you are slowing down your skin's aging process and who can complain about that?

Eye Cream: L'Oreal Revitalift 

Eye cream is one of those products we tend to take granted and also tend to leave out in our skincare routine. No matter what season it is, it is extremely crucial to use eye cream. It helps with discoloration, under eye bags and circles. The skin under your eye is very fragile and sensitive and one of the first places that can give away a person's age. This particular eye cream is very light on the skin and feels very nice however I haven't noticed too much of a difference so this is one that I would not highly recommend.

Hope you guys enjoyed this post and took away something from it. All the products mentioned above can be purchased from drugstores nationwide! 

Best of the best 2013: Beauty Edition FACE PRODUCTS

The year has finally come to an end. Welcome to the Best of the best of 2013. These are the best of the best products I have used during the 2013 year. First up FACE PRODUCTS. 

MAKEUP

Face Primer- 

High End: Benefit Porefessional

Drugstore: NYX HD Primer

Foundation- 

High End: Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua

Drugstore: CoverGirl 3 in 1 Outlast Foundation

Tinted Moisturizer-

High End: Clinique Moisture Surge

Drugstore: Physician's Formula Healthy Wear

Powder- 

High End: Makeup Forever Microfinish HD

Drugstore: Maybelline Fit Me

Concealer-

High End: Benefit Fake Up

Drugstore: Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser

Bronzer- 

High End: Tarte Mineral Bronzer in Park Princess Ave

Drugstore: NYC Sunny Matte

Blush-

High End: The Balm InStain

Drugstore: Physician's Formula Mineral Wear Talc Free Airbrushing Blush

Highlighter- 

High End: Tie between MAC MSF in Soft and Gentle & The Balm Mary Lou-Manizer

Drugstore: Revlon Highlighting Palette

TOOLS/BRUSHES

Beauty Blender Sponge

Real Techniques Stippling Brush

Exfoliating cotton rounds

SKINCARE 

Face Wash-

High End: Tie between Kiehls Ultra Facial Oil Free Face Wash & Mario Badescu Glycolic Facial Cleanser

Kiehls Ultra Facial Oil Free Wash

Mario Badescu Glycolic Facial Cleanser

Drugstore: Tie between Aveeno Positively Radiant Cleanser & Clean and Clear Morning Burst Hydrating Cleanser

Aveeno Positively Radiant Cleanser

Clean & Clear Morning Burst Hydrating Moisturizer

Exfoliator-

High End:N?A

Drugstore: Neutrogena Deep Clean Long Last Shine Control Cleanser/Mask (Can be used as a daily exfoliant)

Toner-

High End: Clinique Clarifying Lotion

Drugstore: Neutrogena Oil Free Acne Stress Control Toner

Moisturizer-

High End: Kiehls Ultra Facial Cream

Drugstore: Simple Hydrating Light Moisturizer

Best Oil for Skin: Tarte Pure Maracuja Oil

Best Face Makeup Removal-

High-end: MAC Cleanse Off Oil

Drugstore: Neutrogena Makeup Removal Wipes

Clean and Clear Morning Burst Hydrating Facial Cleanser and Gel Moisturizer

Taking care of your skin is one of the greatest gifts you can do for yourself. In the cosmetic industry a lot of people have the sense that with makeup you can just stop taking care of your skin and use makeup to just cover up any imperfection. The truth is while concealer and foundations are saviors when it comes to our bad skin days it is extremely important to take care of your skin and NOT depend on cosmetics to make yourself look better. Cosmetics should be used to enhance your already great features. And the more you take care of your skin the less makeup you need to wear. For those of you makeup lovers out there heres a tip when you take care of your skin it also makes it a lot easier to apply your makeup and makes it look a lot better than without any skin care. 

One big misconception with skincare these days is that you have to spend a lot in order to take care of your skin. Guess what not true! While some of the expensive products do work really well it is absolutely unnecessary to spend hundreds of dollars. I seen people shed out $100 and up for just a moisturizer. 

Clean and Clear recently came out with a new facial cleanser and moisturizer. Clean and Clear is known for their effective and affordable skincare. Their most popular product has to be hands down their Morning Burst Facial Cleansers. They come in many different scents and types. Their newest edition to this line is their Hydrating Facial Cleanser. The packaging is the same as the other Morning Burst cleansers with the plastic container and pump. This particular cleanser is oil free (doesn't clog pores) and boosts your skin's moisture with cucumber extracts. It doesn't add any unnecessary ingredients that interfere with your body's natural moisture producing compounds. It has little bubbles inside that burst once it hits the water that helps not only clean your skin but also wakes you up. This is great for those of you who are not morning people and need that extra kick. The smell is pretty amazing too like a packet of Starbursts Candy. This product is great for dry skin but works with oily skin (for those of you with oily skin this will clean your skin really well however it does not control oil production throughout the day).

Along with this cleanser Clean and Clear also came out with a matching moisturizer. You do not have to use these products together to get great results. This Morning Burst Hydrating Gel Moisturizer is oil free, doesn't clog pores and with its lightweight gel consistency feels amazing and light on the skin. It moisturizes really well without leaving any greasy residue behind. It is great for both dry and oily skin and like the cleanser it also smells like Starbursts. This is a great dupe to the Clinique Gel Moisturizer that is around $26 a bottle. 

Morning Burst Moisturizer (left) $6.99 available at all drugstores, Targets, and Wal- Marts nationwide

Morning Burst Facial Cleanser (right) $6.99) available at all drugstores, Targets, and Wal- Marts nationwide