Lock, Letter Opener, and Anti-Aging

I'm at that age where I'm starting to worry about aging. It's weird, because I do look way younger than I actually am, but after researching about the Korean skin care, I realized that I be preventive and take care of problems before they arrive, because once the wrinkle comes on, they're harder to take care of.

Man, why does being a woman take so much work and effort? Why can't I just be a man and wake up with no care in the world?

Of course, I'm just being generalize, my husband told me that his mother taught him to take care of his skin since a young age, and he's very diligent at it; which means not all men can just wake up, wash face with water, and go.

But still, to have the options. No lengthy skincare routine, no makeup, no hour-long hair routine, and a host of other stuffs that women has to take care of before they leave the house.

Urgh.

Anyhow, I'm 27 going 80, it seems, and despite my good genes, I thought I should prevent the problem before it started. Cue the bunch of anti-aging skin care products I received, both bought at full price and discounted price through the products for reviews thing I'm doing.

The first ones on the list is from Youth and Botanics, whose products is made in USA. I've got both their first line of products, Hyaluronic Acid Serum, and Anti-Aging Cream.

Ingredients: Organic Herbal Infusion, Organic Aloe Barbadensis Leaf (Aloe), Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel), Cassia Angustifolia Seed Polysaccharide (botanical hyaluronic acid), Kosher Vegetable Glycerin, Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM), Hydroxyethyl Cellulose, Carrageenan Gum, Organic Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba Oil), Wildcrafted Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea), Pelargonium Gravolens (Geranium Essential Oil), Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate (Vitamin C), Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E), Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Ethyl Hexyl Glycerin.

They said it's 72% organics, and I like the ingredients, they're great skin nourishing ingredients; plus, Hyaluronic Acid is a great skin moisturizer. They has so much important function in our bodies, from cartilages, to cell repair; and just like any wonderful element, our body produce less and less of it as we age, and in turn making us less invincible @__@

With my damaged skin from the Korean skin care phase, I have a great appreciation to Hyaluronic Acid for repairing my skin moisture's barrier, and giving my skin the hydration it needed, so I've been grabbing all the Hyaluronic Acid serum I can get my hands on. This is one of them.

I have high hopes for this, as the ingredients is great; however, this has not been as effective as I had hope. First thing I noticed is the smell, it is not strong, but it isn't pleasant. It smell like sour cucumber with a hint of dirt (my nose is very sensitive to smell, especially since the embankment on the road of natural skin care, and I've gotten used to/preferred the unscented products). The smell is not that strong, and it faded after I put on moisturizer, so it's not a deal breaker. However, it's not as hydrating as I thought it would be. It did the job of nourishing my skin, as my skin is so soft after using this, but for some weird reason, it left my skin feeling a little dry. As well as not spreading easily on skin, I needed to apply more of this than the Swanson Vitamins Hyaluronic Acid (which has better feel on the skin, and easier to apply/spread easily on the skin). I might have to go back to that, as this serum doesn't give me as much hydration, despite having use more of the Youth & Botanics serum. Which brings me to the next product.

Ingredients:

Purified Water, Organic Barbadensis Leaf Juice (Aloe), Organic Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower Oil), Cassia Angustifolia Seed Polysaccharide (botanical hyaluronic acid), Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel), Glycolic Acid, Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM), Glyceryl Stearate, Kosher Vegetable Glycerin, Squalane, Lactic Acid, Isopropyl Palmitate (Palm Oil), Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Octyl Palmitate, Organic Cocos Nucifera (Coconut Oil), Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa Butter), Cetyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Glucoside, Stearyl Alcohol, Potassium Stearate, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate (Vitamin C), Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Crithmum Maritimum Extract (Sea Fennel Wax), Matrixyl 3000, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber Hydrosol), Carbomer, (2s)-2-Amino-5-guanidinopentanoic Acid, Organic Beeswax, Organic Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba Oil), Calophyllum Inophyllum (Tamanu Oil), Wildcrafted Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea), R Lipoic Acid, Arctostaphylos Uva Ursi Leaf Extract (Bearberry Extract), Vaccinium Angustifolium (Blueberry Extract), Organic Vaccinium Macrocarpon (Cranberry), Rubus Idaeus (Raspberry Seed Oil), Wildcrafted Mahonia Aquifolia (Oregon Grape), Organic Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice), Wildcrafted Euphrasia Officinalis (Eyebright), Helichrysum Italicum (Helichrysum Essential Oil), Camellia Oil, Persea Gratissima (Avocado Oil), Pelargonium Gravolens (Geranium Essential Oil), Organic Borago Officinalis (Borage Oil), Organic Linum Usitatissimum (Flax Seed Oil), Organic Oenothera Biennis (Evening Primrose Oil), Organic Rosa Canina (Rose Hip Oil), Sodium Hydroxide, Ubiquinone (Coenzyme Q10), Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E Acetate), Phytic Acid, Phospholipids, Tocopheryl (Antioxidant), Lecithin, Pyrus Malus (Apple), Citrus Medica Limonum (Lemon), Saccharum Officinarum (Sugar Cane), Dipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate (peptides), Cymbopogon Schoenanthus (Lemongrass), Ascorbyl Palmitate (Vitamin C Palmitate), Acetyl Hexapeptide-3, Sclerotium Gum, Potassium Sorbate, Panthenol (Vitamin B5), Wildcrafted Arnica Montana (Arnica), Organic Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender), Organic Calendula Officinalis (Calendula), Organic Anthemis Nobilis (Chamomile), Vitis Vinifera (Grapeseed Oil), Macadamia Integrifolia (Macadamia Nut Oil), Sodium Carbomer, Xanthan Gum, Phenoxyethanol, Ethyl Hexyl Glycerin, Benzyl Alcohol.

I've been using this combination of serum and cream, and yet I wasn't getting enough hydration in my skin, even though the two was easily absorbed into my skin. It is so weird. I've even mix and match these two with different serum/face cream, yet the result is still the same, my skin is soft and feel good, but dry at the same time. I stop using these and returned to my basic skin care, and my skin feel hydrated again. I don't think I'll be using these again. Not to mention, the cream has a very unpleasant scent to it. It smell like cinnamon, boiled bean sprout and holy basil. Not a very nice combination of scents. It's not that strong, just unpleasant, and doesn't linger at all after putting it on. Blah. Oh well, I'll just find other products XD

Another product I got a letter opener. I've been meaning to get one for a while now, but was too lazy, haha. Fortunately, I get offered one in email, saving me the effort of having to look. I quite like it, and it's useful, especially with how I open my mails.

Looks like a toddler has opened it, didn't it?

My mom has been nagging me about it, since I'm usually the one open letters, and it looks like it's been opened by someone who doesn't care. And I don't xD I just wanted to get to the content, but I have to admit for a neat freak, it just doesn't look right. So I finally got a letter opener :)

It is so cute! I'm not a girly girl, but this satisfy my aesthetic senses xD I love the Greek column, and it reminded me of Sailor Moon's staff. Cutesy, no frill, and looks like it's something I can stab something else with XD I'm sold on all aspect :) Plus, the rotating mirror-like heart is pretty neat! I could spend lotsa time just flicking it, if there's nothing else to do XD

Though, I did notice a flaw, right under the column, where the top and the blade connected, I discovered it isn't one whole piece, but two different part glued together. It's sturdy though, and stay put even when I tried pulling it apart (what can I say, I wanted to make sure it wouldn't accidentally fly away when I open my mail too enthusiastically - and I tend to open my mail with great enthusiasm). It's a great letter opener, and it's meant to be! Mwhahahahaha xD

Lastly, I also got a TSA lock, to replaced one I've lost during my transit from California. I am still annoyed because of that.

What happen is that in the airport, luggages get inspected randomly, and I guess I had never been through that experience, so my first one is a little traumatic that I expected. I don't usually lock my bags when I fly, but there was an occasion when I have a lot of stuffs in one luggage, and I have to lock it in case it spills. Murphy's law came into effect, and when I went to retrieve my bags and found out the bag I locked was the one that TSA inspected. I'm ok with inspections, but I had thought they would use special keys to open locks.

Nope, what they did was tore the lock from my luggage, leaving the zipper broken and unable to hold my stuffs. I didn't see this when I pick up my bags, but when I tried taking the locked bag, everything came spilling out. Wasn't a pleasant experience running after pill bottles and stuffing my undergarments back into the bag. Also, since the zipper broke, it rendered the luggage broken, and I have to threw that one away and get a new one when I got home. I was angry and irritated. Anyhow, the one I got was basic combination lock.

Easy to open, easy to set the combination :)

 I don't think I would ever lock my luggages again, but I'd want locks just in case. Maybe leave it unlocked so TSA would stop destroying luggages. Urgh.

Free Amazon stuffs in exchange for reviews

I've been a devout worshipper of Amazon since 2011, buying random things I thought I can't live without, haha. Then I became a Prime member and fell in love with their shipping, and how they grow over the years. I had heard of them Vine program (where you get free/discounted items in exchange for reviews about the products), and wanted to be a member, but that program is invitation only, and I was not exactly keeping up-to-date with the reviews, as I usually just buy it and forget about it XD

As it happened, I was doing some research about that, and came upon two website listing other websites that you can sign up to get free/discounted items in exchange for reviews xD I love how things work out. The two sites I visited was Vonbeau and ReviewerCollective

Those two are the sites that have the most listed websites you can registered, and they are either browse-able, or get emails send to you, as well as invitations to try products (like Tomo). I'm still working on my review writing skill, and this helps a lot. I had so much fun browsing and picking items that I forgot what I had looked at, so much items. They are not cheap or bad items, either, but multitude of home goods, beauty products, decorations, hardware, supplements, etc., etc.. I've ordered a bunch of them with little cost to me, and awaiting new shipments.

I'm going to try aiming to get better with writing about products that fits with my picky personality, and with my honest opinions of it - then again, I'm opinionated about everything.

Like the Vitamin C serum from New York Biology, I do not like it nor recommended it.

I love how they have the natural D-alpha vitamin E, as it is better for your skin/body than synthetic vitamin E, and your body need less of natural vitamin E versus synthetic vitamin E. Except for Phenoxyphenol, and the Polysorbate 20, the rest of the ingredients is great, and I'd love to be able to use this, but the PEG 20 is a big turnoff. I didn't see it when I check it the first time, and used it; my skin reacted to it, and that was annoying. I'm not going to use it again, and it's sad for such a great combination of ingredients to go to waste, if only they didn't have to use the PEG =/ I don't like giving bad reviews unless I need to, and in this case, I do need to @____@ Stay away from PEG!! GRAWWWRRR!

The worst culprit

With my skin not liking anything at all, I remembered that I have a slight allergic to metal (which is why I cannot wear any of them adorable but fake and cheap jewelry, sad, because I can't afford real jewelry, and can't wear those cute rings and earrings at the stores), so I decided to check my sink's water supply.

Funny thing about the water supply, we used to have a water softener, but for some reason, my brother in law, who used to live with us for a time, took it away and never replaced it, and I had no knowledge of that until recently, and I have no idea where the water softener suppose to go so I can't replace it. So our water is not exactly good for my sensitive skin, though I do have a shower head filter, so I don't usually have problem. And now, I find out that the problem is in the sink faucet itself.

Disgusting, right? It's the faucet that was installed when the bought the house in 2006, and has not been replace. Since I'm a little bit allergic to metal, the rusted copper did not help one bit. I wish I have know this when I moved back here. I took this off an apologized to my skin @_____@

I had a hard time finding a good faucet that doesn't have copper insert, and came across Delta one that promises no lead/metal poisoning.

The connectors are made of enforced plastic, and the claim is that once the water enter connectors, it does not touch metal at all, something I desperately needed. After changing the faucet, my skin stopped its tantrum, and returned to hydrated, plum, soft skin. I was extremely happy! Found the worst culprit that was hurting my skin.

I'm happy with no more weird skin reactions, but I'd still stay away from Korean skin care products, and anything that has PEG in it.

Though, after my skin returned to normal, I did receive some skin care products to try out, New York Biology Vitamin C serum, and I didn't noticed the PEG in there when I applied it to my skin. I used it in the morning, and the whole day, my skin had dry patches and was itchy. I wasn't sure what happened to it, then I remembered using the serum, and check it for ingredients once again when I got home. I checked it before, but I missed the PEG 20 ingredients in it. Bad bad bad serum. Reminds me to check things when I'm completely awake next time. I'm totally not a morning person at all, despite living in a household with early birds. Or maybe because of it. Hmmm.

Lesson learn, haha.

Culprit #3

Things have been so hectic here that I haven't been able to update the blog. Between looking for apartment, packing, and looking for a job, I barely have time to breath. I haven't been sleeping good, and my raven black hair is spotting white hair here and there, at age 27. Urgh. q0s1x1t5

Anyhow, I was doing some inventory of the things my skin didn't like, and read up on the ingredients one by one, but didn't get to post them before now. Below are the products I used in my Korean skin care routine (not all at once, but here and there interchangeably, and switching them to try to find a way to calm my picky skin down):

Honeybunny Propolis Ingredients: Water, Propolis Extract (15%), Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Alcohol, Honey, 1,2-Hexanediol, Centella Asiatica Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract, Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Punica Granatum Fruit Extract, Ficus Carica (Fig) Fruit Extract, Codonopsis Lanceolata Root Extract, Polyquaternium-51, Sciadopitys Verticillata Root Extract, Ubiquinone, Althaea Rosea Flower Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Allantoin, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Carbomer, Triethanolamine, Fragrance, Human Oligopeptide-1, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Adenosine, Hydrolyzed Collagen.

Snail Bee Steam Cream Ingredients: Snail Secretion Filtrate, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Niacinamide, Stearic Acid, Behenyl Alcohol, Phytosqualene, Human Ogliopeptide-1, Bee Venom, Arbutin, Adenosine, Helianthus Annus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Carthamus Tinctorius (Safflower) Seed Oil, Argania Spinosa Kernal Oil, Glyceryl Stearate, Arginine, Carbomer, Urea, Tocopher Leaf Extract, Salix Alba (Willow Bark) Extract, Ulmus Campestris (Elm) Extract, Pentylene Glycol, Zanthoxylum Piperitum Fruit Extract, Pilsatilla Koreana Extract, Usnea Barbata (Lichen) Extrac.

Olive Cleansing Oil  Ingredients: Olive Oil, Jojoba Seed Oil, Avocado Oil, Argan Oil, Tea Tree Oil, Sunflower Seed Oil, PEG-20 Glyceryl Tristearate, Squalene, Olive Oil PEG-7 Esters, BHT.

AHA/BHA Clarifying Toner  Ingredients: Mineral Water, Salix Alba (Willow) Bark Water, Pyrus Malus (Apple) Fruit Water, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Lactate, Glycolic Acid, Water, Betaine Salicylate, Allantoin, Panthenol, Ethyl Hexanediol.

Shara Shara Aqua Bomb  Ingredients: Purified Water, Butylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Betaine, Mushroom Extract, Burdock Root Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract,Licorice Extract, Peony Extract, Cnidium Extract, Tea Tree Leaf Extract, Indian Melia Azedarach Leaf Extract, Lime Tree Blossom Extract, Sugarcane Extract, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Edelweiss Extract, Jasmine Extract, Cypress Leaf Extract , Eggplant Extract, Aloe Vera Flower Extract, Basil Leaf Extract, Turmeric Extract, True Coralline Extract, Bamboo Leaf Extract, Honeysuckle Extract, Suited Castor Oil, Water Soluble Collagen, The Position Can Hazel, Aloe Vera Leaf Extract, Sodium Hyaluronidase, Birch Sap, Lemon Oil, Basil Oil, Geranium Oil, Clove Leaf Oil, Damask Rose Flower Oil, Rosemary Leaf Oil, Ylang-Ylang Flower Oil, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sparkling Water, Sea Water, Xanthan Gum, Adenosine, Ethanol, Methyl Diisopropyl Propionamide, Trehalose, D-Panthenol,Ceramide, Phenoxyethanol.

Shara Shara Berry Bomb  Ingredients: Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Panthenol, Glycereth-26, Diglycerin, Betaine, PEG/PPG-17/6 Copolymer, Phellinus Linteus Extract, Arctium Lappa Root Extract, Piper Methysticum Leaf/Root/Stem Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Pueraria Thumberganaa Root Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract, Paeonia Lacifotora Root Extract, Cnidium Officinale Root Extract, Euterpe Oblecena Fruit Extract, Rubus Chamaemorus Seed Extract, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Fruit Extract, Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract, Eclipta Prostrata Extract, Rubus Idaeus (Raspberry) Fruit Extract, Vaccinium Angustifolium (Blueberry) Fruit Extract, Morus Alba Root Extract, Fragaria Vesca (Strawberry) Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Solanum Melongena (Eggplant) Fruit Extract, Aloe Barbadensis FLower Extract, Serenoa Serrulata Fruit Extract, Prunus Armeniaca (Apricot) Fruit Extract, Curcuma Longa (Turmeric) Root Extract, Corallina Officinalis Extract, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Soluble Collagen, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Sodium Hyaluronate, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Peel Oil, Hydrogenated Lecithin, 1,2,-Hexanediol, Glyceryl Polymethcrylate, Ammonium Acrolyldimethylaurate/VP Copolymer, Ethyxyglycerin, Polyquaternium-51, Adenosine, Disodium EDTA, Folic Acid, Ceramide 3, Cholesterol, Raffinose, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Phenoxyethanol.

Cucumber Gel  Ingredients: Aqua, Cucumber Extract, Hyaluronic Acid, Aloe Vera Leaf Extract, Birch Tree Extract, Glycerin, Fragrance.

Slowganic Adlay  Ingredients: Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea) Leaf Water, Sodium Glutamate Laurate, Glycerol, Trehalose, Water, Betaine, Triethanolamine, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Peppermint Leaf Oil, Lime oil, Lemon peel oil, Basil oil, Orange oil , Ylang-ylang flower oil, Geranium flower oil, Job's tears seed extract, Green tea seed oil, Evening primrose oil, Camellia oil, Macadamia seed oil, Barley seed oil, Brazil nut seed oil, Sweet almond oil, Argan tree kernel oil, Olive oil, Sunflower seed oil, Jojoba seed oil, Rosemary leaf water, Matricaria flower water, Grapefruit peel oil, Horse chestnut seed extract, Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate, PEG-6 Caprylic/Capric triglyceride, Ethylhexylglycerin, Ethanol, Carbomer, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben, Benzyl alcohol, Dehydroacetic acid, Caramel.

Refined Clear Foam  Ingredients: Aloe leaf, Peony, Centella extract, licorice raspberry, and blueberry extract.

(And desperately to try and put some water back into my burning, irritated, parched skin) Climax Water Pool Cleanser Ingredients: Soap grass extract, muhwanja extract, yam root extract and wheat germ extract.

I finally gave up and admitted that I failed in using Korean products, despite being born and raised in a neighbor country. Even my skin had been Americanized beyond recognition, it seems. The more I persist in trying Korean products, the more my skin rebelled. I gave up the products, but I didn't give up the steps, at least, though it's narrowed down to 1) Eye makeup remove, 2) Makeup remove, 3) Toner, 4) Serum, 5) Moisturizer. That's still something, right? The whole thing took me about 4 - 5 minutes. It's less than the Korean 10 steps, but more than my previous rinse then moisturize, and according to Geisha skin care routine, less is more :)

My skin is doing better. Much much better. It had returned to its original state, before I move back to Indiana, and only acted up in light dry patches when I'm too stressed (once or twice occurrences since last update.)

I had try to figure out what was it about the Korean skin care products that my skin doesn't like, and I noticed that my skin reacted the most with PEG; of course, there were a couple of products that my skin was reacted to that was totally innocent (?), but my skin behave worse with PEG than without, and the cause of other reaction had been found out and fix, and will be show and tell next post, but I want to bring attention to PEG in this one.

You'll see lots of things that has PEG-6/20/60/80/100 Stearate, and they're all bad. Polyethylene Glycol Stearate "is made by combining natural oils (oftentimes palm or coconut) with Stearic Acid to form a water-soluble ester, and the numerical value of each PEG Stearate corresponds to the average number of ethylene oxide monomers in the polyethylene chain, from 2 - 150" (taken from Truth In Aging), and it is not harmful in itself, but what it can be contaminated with. Polyethylene glycol is produced by the interaction of ethylene oxide with water, ethylene glycol, or ethylene glycol oligomers (Wikipedia), and usually, the contaminant are processed out, but might be missed, allowing ethylene oxide monomers to remain. They are in the low number, but ethylene oxide are carcinogenic, and have the rating of 10. And of course, PEG will usually be process by intact skin so it doesn't get into the blood line, but, well, it's bad for broken skin.

It doesn't apply to everyone, of course, as millions of products with PEG was used by millions of people with no problem. I'm just one of the few that has too sensitive skin, and didn't like it much. I mean, just look at the thousands of people that uses and love Korean skin care products that I tried, and they didn't have any problem. I'd still advise precautions (because I'm a paranoid hippie XD).

In any case, that was the bad news, as I will not be using Korean skin care products any time soon, and I'm not sure if I would be interested in any other Asian skin care products. I don't want to fight my Americanized skin any more, and just use Western products from now on. However, I wish you all luck in succeeding with Korean skin care, or Japanese, Chinese, Taiwanese, Indian, etc. - any skin care that you fancy (without bad skin reaction, of course).

Cheers for the skin, they tell us so much :)