Geek in Heels - Page 13

Sep 24, 2014 • In Beauty, Korean, Personal, Reviews, Shopping

My Korean Skincare Routine: An Update

It’s been almost 3 months since I ventured into the wonderful world of Korean skincare products. (Not sure what I’m talking about? See here and here.) And because I have tried a few new products since my last post on the subject, I wanted to give you guys an update. 🙂

First things first: how is my skin holding up? I think I’ve mentioned before that in the past, after about a month or so of using a new product, my skin seems to adjust and adapt, somehow making the product less effective.

This hasn’t been the case with my Korean skincare routine at all! My skin remains softer, smoother, and more supple than I can ever remember. In fact, my skin probably hasn’t been this nice since before puberty.

I am now more confident than ever in exposing my bare, makeup-less skin — freckles, age spots, and other discolorations be damned!

I’ve only JUST started using sunscreen on a daily basis. 🙁 When I think about
all the discoloration and spots I could have prevented by doing this earlier, I
can’t help but cringe!

Now, on to the products!

I have mentioned the double-cleanse method before and how I was interested in trying the Face Shop Rice Water Bright Cleansing Light Oil as a result. But right before I was about to buy a bottle, I read about the Banila Co Clean It Zero line of sherbet cleansers.

Can I just say that this stuff ROCKS? No messy oils running down your arms. A sherbet texture that immediately melts onto the skin — and although it is an oil cleanser, no slimy or icky feeling.

The original Clean It Zero proved so popular in Korea that other formulations soon followed: Clean It Zero Purity for sensitive skin (does not contain mineral oil), Clean It Zero Radiance for those seeking a glow, and Clean It Zero Resveratrol for whitening and anti-aging effects.

They’ve even released a large, 180ml (vs the regular 100ml) tub of the original formula, which is what I plan on getting next when my current one runs out. 😀

As for the second step in the double cleanse method, I waited ’til I ran out of my tube of regular foaming cleanser, and then tried the exact product mentioned in SokoGlam’s blog: the Skinfood Egg White Pore Foam. (And why not? This cleanser is less than half the price of what I used before!)

Some people do not like their cleansers to leave a squeaky-clean feeling, but I do…and hence I love this cleanser! It foams up wonderfully and tightens up my pores considerably.

The next two new products I’ve tried are from the same brand and line of products: the Benton Snail Bee High Content Skin, and the Benton Snail Bee High Content Mask Pack.

To be completely honest, I am a bit disappointed in these products. This isn’t to say that they were bad; rather, I had such high expectations for them because of all the rave reviews I had read online! I think that the Benton Snail Bee line would work better on those with sensitive, acne-prone skin. Since I have neither of those concerns, they didn’t do much for me — that is, they weren’t any better than other skins/toners or sheet masks I’ve tried.

I continue to use them, but will not repurchase when I run out.

I think I have finally settled into a good regimen — a slightly pared-down version of the Korean skincare routine:

morning:
1. Cleanse with the Skinfood Egg White Pore Foam
2. Apply the Benton Snail Bee High Content Skin (will stop using when I run out)
3. Apply the Missha Time Revolution the First Treatment Essence
4. Apply the Nature Republic Super Aqua Max Fresh Watery Cream (will switch to the Combination Watery Cream in the cooler months)
5. Apply the Missha All-Around Safe Block Mild Essence Sun Milk SPF45 PA+++

night:
1. Double-cleanse with Banila Co Clean It Zero and Skinfood Egg White Pore Foam
2. Apply the Benton Snail Bee High Content Skin (will stop using when I run out)
3. Apply the Missha Time Revolution the First Treatment Essence
4. Use a sheet mask (only once or twice a week, and the type depending on how my skin feels)
5. Apply the Laneige Water Sleeping Pack_EX
6. Apply the Innisfree Eco Science Eye Cream

Before, I used to view skincare as a chore. (And I’ve gone to sleep without washing my face more than I care to admit. 😳 ) But now, I actually look forward to my skincare regimen! And contrary to what I’d feared, the new routine does not require too much time, and despite the fact that I’m using more products, is cheaper than what I used in the past.

Again, why didn’t I do this sooner?!??

Thoroughly Depressing Comics About Our Relationship to Facebook

FACEBOOK TO BEGIN CHARGING USERS $2.99/MO STARTING NOVEMBER 1ST, the headline read.

A friend — who is very active on Facebook with over 1,000 friends and numerous subscribers — had shared the article to her timeline. The response was swift and immediate.

Grief. Denial. Rage. Threats to move to other social networks.

Only then did an astute commenter point out that the article was a hoax; there was no need to panic.

I couldn’t help but be reminded of this incident when I came across these clever and powerful comics yesterday.

The truth hurts, doesn’t it? 😉

A Comprehensive Chronology Chart of Disney Movies

Ever wonder where exactly in known history (or future) your favorite Disney movie takes place? Or how they compare chronologically to other Disney films? Now, you can, with this handy chart from Disney’s New Groove.

Aish, the creator of the timeline, explains:

Disney movies in order of historical setting. (Excludes most of the package films. Some films, eg The Lion King, are impossible to pin down exactly and some, like Aladdin and Treasure Planet, are anachronistic, so these are estimations. A few have been split into 2 if there is more than one time period in the movie, and sequels have been put together.)

Via Geeks Are Sexy.

Chalazion

A couple of months ago, we noticed a small lump under Aerin’s left lower eyelid. (You can kinda see it in the first picture from this post about summer camp.) It wasn’t painful and it didn’t seem to bother her, so we took the “wait and see” approach.

But over the weeks, the lump grew larger and redder. We took Aerin to the pediatrician who suspected the lump to be a sty and — because it hadn’t gone away on its own — prescribed an antibacterial ointment. In addition to the ointment, we were to give her warm compresses, and hopefully the sty would go away on its own.

When Aerin’s eye didn’t get any better after 10 days, we visited the pediatrician’s office again. This time, we saw another doctor from the practice who prescribed an oral antibiotic. His recommendation was the same: medication and warm compresses. If it didn’t get better within a week, we were to call and get an referral for a pediatric ophthalmologist.

As you can probably guess, it didn’t get any better. And when we finally saw the ophthalmologist, he told us that the lump wasn’t a sty, but a chalazion. (A sty is a bacterial infection, while a chalazion is caused by a blocked oil gland.) Chalazia do not respond to medication, so the antibiotics we had been giving her were for naught.

The good news was that because the blockage was external and not internal, and because Aerin’s vision was not affected, she would not need surgery. He told us to continue to apply warm compresses to the area, and that the chalazion would eventually pop on its own.

And a few days ago, it did pop. While Aerin was in the bath. And you guys, there was SO. MUCH. BLOOD. (It probably looked worse because we were in water, but still.) And she cried SO. MUCH. 😥 When the bleeding finally slowed, I applied some petroleum jelly to the area and covered it with gauze, then covered that with a large bandage.

I considered taking her to the ER that night because a thin layer of skin had actually peeled down, exposing about ⅓” of raw, bleeding skin. J told me that I was overreacting — as you can see from the picture above, Aerin was in considerably better spirits after we dressed the wound — and told me that the doctor could wait until the next day.

Aerin woke up a couple of times that night from discomfort, and at 5am she shook me awake to hand me the bloody bandage she had ripped off. I quickly examined the wound to see that it was scabbed over, and decided to leave it alone and let it air out for a few hours.

Aerin’s eye the next morning

I called the ophthalmologist’s office as soon as it opened, and they were able to fit us in for a quick examination. The doctor told me that the chalazion looked good, but because the wound was larger than what he usually sees, he prescribed an antibiotic ointment to apply to the area for the next couple of days.

He told me that the wound may continue to open/pop, ooze, and scab over for the next couple of months (!), but there is no need for concern unless it gets larger, or shows signs of infection.

And that’s what’s been happening for the past few days. Aerin’s chalazion continues to open, then scab over, and open, over and over again. All we can do is keep the area clean and try to keep her from picking at the scabs.

The picture above was taken right after the wound had opened again, so it looks a lot worse than it actually is. The swelling has gone down considerably and Aerin continues to be in good spirits. I know it could’ve been a lot worse and we should consider ourselves lucky, but it just sucks to see an injury on your child whenever you look at her face, you know? Here’s to hoping the chalazion will heal quickly and without any further complications…

Fascinating Ways in Which ‘Based on a True Story’ Movies Differ from Real Life

I think most of us are smart enough to know that Hollywood takes a lot of liberties in making its films more marketable to audiences. Even if a movie is “based on a true story,” it can be safe to assume that many changes were made to the original narrative in order to make it more likable, entertaining, and relatable.

Still, I was shocked to read some of the actualities revealed in 24 Movies Based On a True Story (That Are Full of Shit). I’ve picked 10 of my favorites below — did you know about these?

Amazing 200-Year-Old Desk with Insane Hidden Drawers and Compartments

Isn’t it funny how the littlest things can bring back long-forgotten stories from memories past? Because the first thing that crossed my mind upon seeing this secretary cabinet was not “Holy crap, that’s SO COOL!” (that was my second thought), but a recollection of a beloved, long out-of-print book from my childhood: Midnight in the Dollhouse.

(Has anyone else read that book? I was never into dolls as a kid, but I loved the idea of the dolls coming alive at night when the humans weren’t looking. Kinda like Toy Story, but set in the 1800s.)

Anyways, I know that not everyone likes watching online videos, so here’s an animated GIF of this incredible, 200-year-old, handmade wooden desk to whet the appetite:

I mean, what respectable geek doesn’t like hidden compartments? 😆

The original video is only 2 minutes and 20 seconds long, so don’t be afraid to witness this working marvel in its full splendor:

As for Midnight in the Dollhouse, you can be sure that I’ve added it to my list of “books I must get for my children because I enjoyed them so much as a child and dammit, they will love them too!” 😛

Via Geekologie.

Dogs of the World, Grouped by Location [Cute Illustrations]

Los Angeles-based designer Lili Chin has created a charming series of illustrations that groups popular dog breeds of the world by their geographic location. Titled “Dogs of the World,” these colorful drawings are sure to tickle every canine lover’s fancy.

In All Seriousness…

I dislike talking politics. I also tend to avoid hot-button issues of the international nature, because there are just so many damn perspectives to consider, and someone always gets screwed somehow. (Trust me, I know. I majored in International Studies at one of the top programs in the country.)

But ISIS. Sigh. It’s an issue that cannot be ignored.

And the first step in possibly making a change — no matter how small — is education.

So I’d like to share with you an article by Wait But Why: a crash course on Iraq, ISIS, Sunnis, and Shias. It is incredibly well researched and explained. It adds history, perspective, and even humor to a matter that grows increasingly terrifying by the day.

It’ll be well worth 20 minutes of your day. I promise.

So go on. Sneak a peek, devour its contents, or save for later. Just read the damn thing.

From Muhammad to ISIS: Iraq’s Full Story

Slacking Off [An Update in Facebook Posts]

As you can probably tell from the title of this post, this will be a short compilation of stories and pictures I’ve already shared on my personal Facebook account. So if you’ve seen this already, I apologize…but my kids are so stinkin’ cute that the stories are guaranteed to put a smile on your face this weary Monday morning! 🙂

Cuteness Overload #1:

A couple of weeks ago, Aerin bit Claire’s arm — hard enough to leave red indentations which inevitably transformed into teeth-shaped bruises. 🙁 To be fair, Claire had been taunting Aerin by holding out her arms and telling her to chomp down, only to pull away at the last second…but this time, she wasn’t fast enough.

Needless to say, Claire started bawling uncontrollably from the pain, and Aerin — who almost always cries when she sees that her big sister is upset — followed suit. I made Aerin apologize (“Sowee, unnie.”) and I explained to Claire that her sister is still too little to understand potentially dangerous games like that.

I think Aerin continued to feel bad about the incident, because she was extra affectionate toward Claire (sitting right next to her and tentatively following her around the house) for the rest of the afternoon, and even gave Claire’s booboo a kiss. When she saw that Claire was sulking again, she brought me the TV remote and asked, “Aww-troll?” (Paw Patrol, which is Claire’s favorite show).

PicDump:

Fun with Photo Booth

They have taken over my bed.

At the Bronx Zoo.

Cuteness Overload #2:

Aerin brings me a pair of sparkly shoes…

Aerin: “Umma! Shoe! Help me!”
Me: “Okay…sit first.”

Aerin immediately sits.

Claire: “GOOD BOY!”
Me: “No, you don’t say ‘Good boy’ to your sister or other people. You say ‘Good boy’ to dogs like Dante.”

Both girls giggle at what I say.

Claire: “Okay, umma! Ruff! I’m a dog!”

Aerin walks over to her big sister, pats her on the head, and says, “GOOD BOY!”

Moar Pix:

In the fobby PJs I got for them from Korea

More Photo Booth fun

Future geek in training

Cuteness Overload #3:

For the past month or so, C&A have NEEDED me to lie in bed with them in order to fall asleep. A typical bedtime scenario:

Girls: *whisper, whisper, giggle, whisper*
Me: “Shh! Good night!”

Silence…

Claire: “Ow! Umma, Aerin is hitting me!”
Me: “Aerin, don’t hit your sister.”

Silence. Aerin suddenly gets up and starts jumping around the bed.

Aerin: “WAKE UP! WAKE UP! WAKE UP!”
Claire: “Shh! Unnie is tired!”
Me: “Aerin, LIE DOWN and go to sleep!”

Aerin lies down and both girls stay silent for about a minute. Then I hear whispering again.

Claire: *giggles* “Aerin, you’re so silly!”
Aerin: “No, silly CLAIRE!”
Me: “You’re BOTH silly! Go to sleep!”

Another minute of silence. Then Aerin starts to softly sing, “♫Good night…♫” And Claire & I both join in. “♫Good night, good night…don’t let the frostbite bite…♫” (This is the song Kristoff sings to Sven in Frozen.)

Popular Logos with Hidden Messages

I haven’t featured anything logo-inspired in a while, so when I came across this in my Twitter feed, I knew I’d have to share it. 😉

Having worked with branding at a previous job, I can be a bit of a logo nerd; as such, I already knew most of these hidden messages nestled within the logos. But revisiting good design is always a great way to instill and inspire, not to mention the “zOmg that’s so coo!” factor behind some of these ideas!

1. Sony VAIO

If you divide the word “VAIO” in half, you can see that the first two letters represent an analog symbol, while the last two are binary. Pretty neat, huh?

2. Baskin Robbins

This one’s more common-knowledge than the rest. The part of the logo that is highlighted in pink is the number 31, which is the number of flavors the ice cream chain famously offers.

3. Northwest Airlines

This logo has two hidden messages: the first is that you can see both an N and a W within the negative space. The second is harder to spot, but it’s pretty cool when you notice it — the triangle in the circle also serves as an arrow that points northwest.

My Korean Skincare Routine: An Update

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Thoroughly Depressing Comics About Our Relationship to Facebook

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A Comprehensive Chronology Chart of Disney Movies

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Chalazion

You may also like:

Fascinating Ways in Which ‘Based on a True Story’ Movies Differ from Real Life

You may also like:

Amazing 200-Year-Old Desk with Insane Hidden Drawers and Compartments

You may also like:

Dogs of the World, Grouped by Location [Cute Illustrations]

You may also like:

In All Seriousness…

You may also like:

Slacking Off [An Update in Facebook Posts]

Cuteness Overload #1:

PicDump:

Cuteness Overload #2:

Moar Pix:

Cuteness Overload #3:

You may also like:

Popular Logos with Hidden Messages

1. Sony VAIO

2. Baskin Robbins

3. Northwest Airlines

You may also like:

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