SkinCareBoutique

During the past week, I have used the  Quality 1st All In One Sheet Mask - Moisture .  Quality 1st is a Japanese sheet mask brand available in many drugstores throughout Japan.  They have a variety of different sheet masks including, Moisture, Premium, White, and many others. I picked up the Moisture sheet masks while in Japan (they are also available on Amazon.com).  They are so affordable - there are 7 masks in one resealable pouch for only 330 yen.  Considering their price, these masks are amazing!  Upon first opening the package, these masks are made of a thick cotton material - definitely thicker and more sturdy than the LuLuLun sheet masks.  While they are not the softest masks, they do adhere well to your skin.  I could still do things around my home without this mask slipping off.  These masks have a light citrus/herbal scent - very refreshing when used in the morning.  This mask has great, natural ingredients including silk protein, sodium hyaluronate, soybean extract, ch

Washing your face - this is something that we all do every morning and evening.  It seems very simple, but here are a few tips to ensure that you're getting the most out of each time you wash your face. First of all, water temperature is important - try to use lukewarm water.  Lukewarm water helps to open the pores and remove the dirt from our skin.  But hotter is not better!  If the water temperature is too hot, this can lead to dilation of your skin's delicate blood vessels, cause breakage of tissue, and dehydrate your skin. Oftentimes people wash their faces too quickly!  Especially in the mornings, we are all in a rush to get ready and head out the door to work, but your face cleanser can only remove dirt from your skin if you allow it the time to do so.  It takes about 30 seconds to wash your face effectively.  Use your fingertips to gently massage your cleanser into your skin in circular motions, focusing on your T-zone or areas that you are particularly oily - harsh

Green tea, which is derived from Camellia sinensis , is one of the most discussed "superfoods" as it is filled with antioxidants and nutrients and has numerous health benefits for both inside our bodies and out.  Scientific studies have demonstrated that the antioxidants in green tea, including polyphenols such as Epigallocatechin gallate or EGCG, can help to protect your skin from UV rays and pollutants, as well as reduce the free radicals that contribute to cell aging.   Epigallocatechin gallate or EGCG is a type of polyphenol antioxidant (also known as a catechin), which is very abundant in teas with green tea having the highest concentration of EGCG in comparison to black tea and white tea.  In addition to its anti-aging skin benefits for firming and tightening the skin, studies have shown EGCG is also effective against acne by modulating pathways and suppressing the NF-kB pathway, which contributes to inflammation.  Green tea also contains tannins, which are respons

Here is my review of the M-61 by Bluemercury Hydraboost Eye Serum .  As I am in my mid-thirties, I have noticed gradual, unfortunately undesirable, changes in my under-eye area - the skin has become drier and more prone to the development of fine lines.  I was first introduced to the M-61 Hydraboost Eye Serum when I received one as a deluxe sample in one of my Bluemercury orders. M-61 Powerful Skincare is a brand created by the co-founder of Bluemercury and prides itself on combining powerful skincare ingredients without incorporating any parabens, sulfates, or phthalates. As described on the Bluemercury website, this eye serum "combines a trio of multi-action peptides to help improve the appearance of the eye area and reduce the appearance of fine lines, under-eye circles, and puffiness."  It contains aloe and centella asiatica for calming, licorice for brightening, and Vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid) and hyaluronic acid for moisturizing. Hyaluronic acid is a glycosa

AHAs and BHAs, which are Alpha Hydroxy Acids and Beta Hydroxy Acids respectively, are very effective chemical exfoliants for your skin.  AHAs and BHAs help to smooth skin texture, brighten dull skin, and reduce the appearance of dark spots and fine lines. Thinking back to chemistry class, AHAs and BHAs are structurally distinct at the molecular level - the hydroxyl -group is attached to the carboxylic acid at the alpha -position in Alpha Hydroxy Acids and at the beta -position in Beta Hydroxy Acids.  AHAs are predominantly water soluble and thus work on the surface of the skin, essentially weakening the bonds between our skin and its dead skin cells, allowing them to be removed.  AHAs include glycolic acid, lactic acid, and my favorite, the more gentle mandelic acid.  BHAs are oil-soluble and work on both the surface of the skin and within the pores to remove dead skin cells, as well as dirt and oils.  In the realm of skin care, BHAs exclusively refer to salicylic acid. M

Here are two of the sheet masks that I used this week! LuLuLun Kyoto Premium Geisha Mask  ~ If you have travelled to Japan and gone into a beauty section of a drug store, you likely have seen one of the many LuLuLun sheet masks.  There are many different kinds of LuLuLun sheet masks, which are, for the most part, distinguished by the color of their packaging - from the original pink, silver, and blue varieties, to their Precious Anti-Aging red and gold masks, and more recently their Regional Series masks.  In the Regional Series, the sheet masks incorporate local ingredients from a specific area and have been made to feature locations such as Okinawa, Hokkaido, and Kyoto.  During my last trip to Kyoto, I picked up the Kyoto Premium Geisha Mask. ~ Geisha (also called Geiko in the Kyoto dialect) are professional entertainers that are trained to perform for guests often during meals and special occasions.  While they are often recognized for their distinctive make-up, geisha are