skincare

MY BEST SKINCARE AND MAKEUP PRODUCTS OF 2021

March 6, 2022 by Little Miss Honey

It is already March and I know writing this piece is kind-of late in the game but I am writing this anyway. I been seeing this type of content in Youtube and I have enjoyed it a lot. Content creators would share their favourite skincare and makeup finds for 2021. I could identify that skincare and makeup favourites can vary year after year though there will be products that will be stuck as the ultimate favourite or as we call it – Holy Grail.

I am so happy with my 2021 favourite skincare and makeup finds because I have finally found products that worked for me here in Oman. I arrived here in mid of 2019 and I have been struggling with acne, ezcema, hyperpigmentation and dryness due to harsh extreme weather and maybe adjusting to the new lifestyle. It was hard for me to find the products that work for me because most of the products I used in Singapore are not available here in Oman. It took numerous trial & error and my skin took a heavy beating from all that until I found products that worked for me.

So here they are, the best skincare and makeup products of 2021 according to Little Miss Honey:

BEST CLEANSER: Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser

For years I been using harsh, strong cleanser with salicylic acids or those with microbeads which kind-of worked for me before. I also learned that I am sensitive for micellar water. So any products that has micellar water can cause a bad reaction to my face. I decided to try again Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser which has helped me before when I also had a horrible acne breakout during my Family Medicine residency days. I love that it is mild and it didn’t aggravate skin at all. I realised I been using to many harsh ingredients in my face so I should keep a mild cleanser but still able to do the job.

BEST FACIAL EXFOLIANT: Sae Skincare 2% Exfoliator Salicylic Acid Lotion

Sae Skincare have been such a skin saver and such an amazing discovery for me. I am so happy I found this skincare line here in Oman online. I used to use Paula Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant. It is really my Holy Grail product. Unfortunately, it is hard to find Paula Choice here in Oman. I was so glad I found Sae Skincare Salicylic Acid. I managed my expectations when I tried it because I have used so many products already and my skin was at its worst. But I was so happy that in a month, I saw my skin gradually was improving. My cleared after two months and I am so grateful for this product. They also have a Salicylic Acid Peel.

BEST FACIAL OIL: Sae Skincare Intense Repare Skin-Perfecting Night Oil with Argan

I love facial oils! In Singapore, I used to buy a big bottle of jojoba oil and instill drops of essential oils in it. My skin love it! When I transferred here in Oman, I searched for good facial oils and even tried using the regular EVOO to my skin. Nothing works. Until I found this product from Sae Skincare and I am hooked! I love recommending this to friends because I love it so much. I apply this at night after duty.

BEST EYEBROW PENCIL: Faceshop Designing Eyebrow Pencil

I love eyebrow pencil from Korean cosmetic companies. Here in Oman, Faceshop cannot be found in most malls. Unlike in Singapore where there are numerous Korean cosmetic shop available. I am glad Faceshop has an eyebrow pencil similar to the one I buy in Singapore. I love the angle-shaped tip of the pencil and comes with a spoole. I use the Grey Brown colour. They are quite cheap too.

BEST FACE POWDER: Mac Studio Radiance Face & Body Sheer Radiance Foundation

Finding a perfect foundation can be so tricky and damn hard. There are so many variables that needed to work: the perfect shade for you, the perfect texture, the coverage, the wearability, if your skin reacts to it causing pimples and if it applies well to your skin. My favourite foundations were RMK and Lancome Teint Idole 24 Hr. There is no RMK here. There is a Lancome products here unfortunately, there are lack of shades available here. For sheer daily wear face base, I used to use Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer or Laneige Pore Control Cushion Foundation. There is a Laura Mercier booth in Oman and I did buy their newly formulated Tinted Moisturizer Skin Perfector. Though it works fine, the weather here is so hot that it doesn’t stay in place. The wear is too sheer that it doesn’t cover well skin imperfections and applying to much face powder on top makes my skin so cakey after few hours. Laniege, unfortunately, is not available here in Oman.

After hearing so many good reviews of Mac Studio Radiance Face & Body Sheer Radiance Foundation, I decided to try it and I love it! I love that it gives you this glowy sheer and the coverage is buildable. I am so happy that I found the perfect shade too. Because sometimes, you find a good foundation but the problem is there are no shades for me. I always have trouble finding a perfect shade for me. I am glad there is shade in Mac Radiance Face & Body that suit me. I use the C3 shade.

BEST LIPTINT: Faceshop Water Fit Lip Tint

When I discovered lip tint, I almost turned away from lipsticks. I used to use EtudeHouse Lip Tint. Too bad there is no EtudeHouse shops here in Oman. But good thing, I found a good lip tint in Faceshop. I use the Water Fit Lip Tint in colour 05 Cherry Kiss.

BEST CONCEALER: Maybelline Fit Me Concealer

I have always preferred creamy concealer in pots like the Cinema Secrets or Benefit Boeing Industrial Strength concealer. There are Mac stores here so I thought I could go back to the Mac Studio Fix Concealer that are in black pots. I used to use that before and I would even go to Manila to buy that concealer specifically until I discovered Cinema Secrets. I used to use the shade 35 but it is always or even never available in Mac stores. So I looked for another option. I tried the Maybelline Fit Me in shade 25 and I love it!

BEST HIGHLIGHTER: Faceshop Hydro Cushion Highlighter

I love a glow on the skin. I usually apply highlighter on some pints of my skin for that healthy glow. i use to apply this face base cushion from Etude House which crates a natural glow on skin. I tried Mac Strobe cream but it didn’t work for me. Im glad I found this in Faceshop. I apply it on the bridge of my nose, high points of my cheeks, above eyebrows and inner corners of eyes.

Hope you enjoyed me sharing my favourite skincare and makeup products of 2021. Can you share your 2021 favourites too?

HOW I CLEARED MY ACNE USING SAE SKINCARE

June 7, 2021 by Little Miss Honey

I noted that whenever I moved to another country, one of the things that is majorly reacting and adjusting to the move is my skin! I remember when I started my expat life in Singapore after being offered a job there, in a few months of settling in, my face broke up so badly, I didn’t even want to leave the house to meet up with my friends. It was not just mild to moderate acne breakouts. Some will even think I got some skin disease because it was really bad. My family visited me 4 months after my move to Singapore during Christmas break and they were so surprised at how I looked. My face was really horrible. I was already panicking because five months after December of that year, I will have my wedding in the Philippines and I wanted to have a clear skin on my wedding day. Thankfully, I managed to have my acne-free skin before my wedding with the help of Dr. Z and Dr. Aivee Teo with a weekly treatment at their Aivee Clinic at Paragon Orchard. If you want me to share how I cleared my acne in Singapore, let me know and I will blog about it.

Now, in my move to Oman in 2019, my skin started acting up again. It didn’t help that the regular skincare and makeup products I usually use in Singapore are not available in Oman. Plus the weather here is really harsh to the skin. When I arrived in April, it was started to get very hot. I even have chapped lips and lots of flakiness in my skin like I have never had my skin experienced such dryness before. The environment was also very dusty and without a proper cleansing products, my skin was started to get clogged. Also since I cannot hardly find any of the face products I previously are using and being based far from the city, I kept experimenting with new skincare and makeup products that I will replace my previous skincare and makeup products. With all that experimentation lead to worsening of my skin condition. My skin was so confused if it was dry or oily or dehydrated or sensitive or all of the above. On top of acne, I was having eczema flares too. The winter weather starting at November and December didn’t help at all too. Gosh, my skin seems to more sensitive with the change of geographical location than the actual person moving to a new country!

One of my holy grail skincare products is Paula Choice Skin-Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant. I can’t seem to find that here and shipping products here can be so inconvenient especially I was transferred residences several times in my first year here. But after months of scouring through the internet for good skincare products and trying out different acne treatments in a bottle (and resulted to more skin issues), I discovered Sae Skincare online. It looked promising and decided to order their products.

SAE SKINCARE

Sae Skincare is a family owned company with a mission to improved skin health by providing advanced skincare backed by science. The company was started in 2015 and founded by their CEO, Ms. Sarah. Their products are made in UK. They ship worldwide and I am glad that they are based in GCC.

I contacted Sae Skincare through their business WhatsApp number. They will asked your skin concerns and if you are willing to send a photo of your skin so they can better assist you in finding a right product for your skin. I shared my skin concerns and they will give you advice on what products would be suitable for you. I love that the service is so personalised.

I choose to try the 8% Niacinamide Toner, 2% Peel Salicylic Acid Lotion, Intense Repair Skin Perfecting Night Oil with Argan Oil, Hydrating Gel B5 with Hyaluronic Acid and Calming Pink Clay Cleanser. I was excited when the package was delivered in my house. It was beautifully packed and the packaging of items was so lovely. I love the minimalist clean branding in their glass dropper containers. The box contains a paper of a personalised skin regimen for the buyer, wrapped in a large black ribbon with the company’s logo. I was so happy to find freebies with small glass dropper container for me to try too.

After using it for a month, I saw my skin improving. My skin became less clogged. My hyperpigmentation from acne breakouts were slowly fading. My skin became more hydrated and smooth. My skin responded well to certain products from Sae Skincare that helped cleared my acne. I purchased again and tried out the 2% Exfoliator Salicylic Acid Lotion.

After almost 6 months of usage, I am happy to say that my skin is now acne-free and all thanks to Sae Skincare. I noticed one time when my 2% Peel Salicylic Acid Lotion was finished and I haven’t repurchased yet, my skin was started to be clogged again with starting signs of milia and acne on my chin. I was glad that the products I ordered arrived in a few days so I was able to control another impending acne breakout. After months of use, here are my favorite Sae Skincare products and how I use them:

2% Exfoliator Salicylic Acid Lotion

This replaces my Paula Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant. It works perfectly. I used it every other day. The bottle advised to use it two to four times a week. My skin wasn’t sensitive to the Salicylic Acid so it works perfectly. On the early days when my skin was still in full pimple mode, I used the 2% Peel Salicylic Acid Lotion daily without causing my skin any redness or irritation. I don’t mind interchanging the 2% Exfoliator and 2% Peel, both works well for my skin though if I were to choose one, I will get the Exfoliator. I used every night after washing my face with Cetaphil Gentle Cleanser. I tried applying it before by dropping the liquid in my fingers and swipe it all over my face like what I did with Paula Choice BHA Liquid but with Sae Skincare Salicylic Acid, I realised it is best to soak the full facial pad with the dropper and wipe it allover my face

2. Intense Repair Skin Perfecting Night Oil with Argan Oil

I am in love with this facial oil! Before in Singapore I make my own facial oil. I used to buy a bulk of jojoba oil in an online shop called Singapore Soap. I would put it in amber glass dropper container and put drops of essential oils like lavender, lemon, rosemary and other essential oils that I would purchase in the same shop. I would make facial oils and body oil too. I couldn’t find a shop that sell good carrier oils in Oman. I tried a few shops here but it didn’t give me good results. I even used olive oil from supermarkets on my face and that didn’t work out well. So I am glad Sae Skin got this wonderful facial oil. Some people with acne prone are scared of using facial oils because they think it may even cause more acne but so far with jojoba oil and now with Sae Skin Intense Skin Perfecting Night Oil, it doesn’t cause me to breakout. I apply this daily at night. I put 3 small drops on my palm and massage it all over my face. I even mix it with my foundation sometimes if I am going to a party or apply a bit on my nose & cheeks after makeup for an extra glow.

3. Hydrating Gel B5 with Hyaluronic Acid

This is a great serum moisturiser to use morning and night. It is very light and doesn’t feel sticky at all. It absorbs well in my skin. It make my skin feels plump and healthy. I would interchange using this with my Cetaphil Moisturiser or I would use it before applying the Cetaphil Moisturiser if I need more hydration.

4. Calming Pink Clay Cleanser

This can be used 3 ways: cleanser, make-up remover and mask. I prefer to use it as my once-a -week mask. I would get 3 heaps of clay with its scooper and put it in my palm. Then I was add a bit of water on the clay and mix it together in both palms. I would apply allover my face. I will wait for it to dry. My face would look like a funny pale tomato face for a few minutes which my kids find so amusing when they see me. Once it hardens, I would wash it with lukewarm water and my face feels so smooth and healthy.

I am so glad I found Sae Skincare here in Oman. It is such a life-saver, a face-saver! Goodbye Acne! Hello Happy Skin!

If you want to order and check out their prices, head over to their website: Sae Skincare

You can also check their Instagram page or contact them at message them in WhatsApp #+968 9770 7019

5 GREENERY-INSPIRED KOREAN BEAUTY PRODUCTS WORTH TRYING

April 26, 2018 by Little Miss Honey 1,622 Comments

Greenery may be a bit difficult to pair with other hues and tones, but this doesn’t mean that you can’t include it in your daily routine. You may not be able to wear the color or eat leafy vegetables every day, but you can definitely include these 5 Greenery-inspired top Korean beauty products in your daily skincare or beauty regimen:

COSRX Aloe Soothing Sun Cream SPF50 PA+++

Planning to spend the summer on the beach? If so, don’t forget to pack the COSRX Aloe Soothing Sun Cream with SPF50 PA +++ in your tote. Due to the amazing skin benefits of aloe leaf extracts, this soothing, cool cream will keep your skin hydrated and supple even when you’ve been under the sun for hours. Also, the cream’s high SPF and PA ratings ensure that you’re protected from both UVA and UVB. What’s more, the COSRX Aloe Soothing Sun Cream’s formula does not cause breakouts or skin irritation. Thus, even people with sensitive skin won’t have any problem applying it.

Innisfree Kale Anti-Oxidant Skin

Looking for a handy anti-aging toner you can whip out at any moment? Then the Kale Anti-Oxidant Skin by Innisfree is going to be your new best friend. This product’s star ingredient is kale, the superfood. Kale is one of the few vegetables that have earned oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) rating; meaning it can destroy free radicals that cause premature aging. Thanks to the vegetable’s high antioxidant content, which is packed with vitamin C, beta-carotene, quercetin, and other free radical scavengers, this product slows down aging and reduces facial lines. Plus, the toner is rich in sodium hyalorunate so your skin will stay moisturized and soft all day long.

Tony Moly Chaoreum Fermentation Broccoli Foam Cleanser

Need a cleanser that can handle your sensitive skin and leave it smooth and supple? If so, Tony Moly’s Chaoreum Fermentation Broccoli Foam Cleanser is for you! This product’s fermented broccoli foam extract is the reason why you should be celebrating. The foam has vitamins and minerals like vitamin C, bioflavonoids, and carotene, which is produced by fermentation. But more than that, it also fights signs of aging and is suitable for sensitive and irritated skin. Additionally, sulforphane – an important component of broccoli – stimulates the production of protective proteins in the skin, which gives the product UV protection properties as well. The Tony Moly Chaoreum Fermentation Broccoli Foam Cleanser can also be used to remove your makeup. Its hypoallergenic formula penetrates deep into your pores, effectively removing dirt and makeup residue.

Skinfood Avocado & Honey Lip Serum

Missed your chance under the mistletoe last holiday? Make sure you’re prepared for every opportunity to get close to your crush by using Avocado & Honey Lip Serum by Skinfood. This serum’s major ingredients include shea butter, avocado oil, and honey extract, which give your lips that soft, kissable feeling. Applying this product daily moisturizes your lips. Additionally, the product’s hyaluronic acid and ceramide components give the serum a long-lasting and non-sticky application experience.

A’PIEU Cucumber Slice Sheet Mask

If you’re having difficulty in exploring the world of Korean beauty products this year, you can start with something simple like the Cucumber Slice Sheet Mask by A’PIEU. Sheet masks are popular products loved by many because they are easy and simple to apply. Just spread the mask on your face, leave it on for a few minutes, and then remove it to reveal your soft, moisturized, and rejuvenated skin. Though there are a lot of sheet masks to choose from, A’PIEU’s Cucumber Slice Sheet Mask is quite special. This product uses a hypoallergenic sheet that contains hyaluronic acid, cactus extracts, and cucumber 10000 ppm. It is a great mask that all skin types can benefit from, and gets the job done fast!

Not all of these products have the color greenery on their packaging. Regardless, using these will ensure that your skin will get a natural glow that will leave you feeling refreshed every day.