Saher's Skincare Series: The Best Makeup Cleanser You'll Ever Use

I’m sure you have all heard about the 10-step Korean skincare routine. If you are not familiar with it, let me give you a little rundown. The 10-step Korean skincare involves 10 different steps and types of products that each serve a different and special purpose to healthier and younger skin. They are to be performed in a particular order to prepare and provide your skin with the best nutrients. The 10-step routine involves:

1. Make-up remover and oil cleanser,

2. Water-based cleanser,

3. Exfoliator

4. Toner

5. Essence

6.. Treatments

7. Sheet Masks

8. Eye Cream

9. Moisturizer

10. Sun Protection.

At this point, I’m sure you are all thinking, “You can’t expect me to do this every day!” And you don’t have to. You don’t have to run through the entire routine every single day but there are parts of the routine that should be incorporated into your daily routine. And the first and most essential step is a cleanser! I really cannot emphasize how important it is to cleanse your skin first. Any treatments, masks, serums that you put on your face will not be fully effective unless your skin and pore are clean.

As you can see above, there are two types of cleansers: oil cleanser and water cleanser. They are two separate components and each serves a different use but they are both equally important. The oil-based cleanser is very effective in breaking down make-up and debris on your skin that have accumulated during the day. The Clean It Zero Cleansing Balm from Banila Co is a cult-favorite oil-based cleanser! And for very good reason too!

It has a very creamy, sorbet-like texture that melts instantaneously between your hands as you massage it into you skin. You use a penny-sized portion on dry skin and it immediately begins to dissolve away make-up. This has been hands-down, the most effective make-up cleanser I’ve ever used! It was absolutely magical how quickly and easily my make-up started clearing off while I massaged it gently on my skin. It is super effective even on eyeliners and water-proof mascaras. It usually takes about 30 seconds to completely clear away all the make-up. And then you only need to gently rinse your face with lukewarm water.

The Clean It Zero Cleansing Balm has immediately climbed to the top of my favorite skincare products of all time! It is so gentle and soothing, while being extremely effective. I highly recommend trying this product if you haven’t already. My only regret is not using it sooner! Let me know what you think!

Stay tuned loves for the next in Saher’s Skincare Series

Love,

SS

Saher's Skincare Series: The Best Overnight Acne Patches

Let’s talk about clear skin struggles! Even if you never really struggled with acne, especially during those over-dramatic teenage years, we all still deal with keeping our skin clear. We all know the challenges of that stubborn monthly pimple...that will be bright red...pop up the night before your best friend’s wedding...on the tip of your nose...giving you a very unflattering resemblance to a certain Christmas reindeer :( oh the struggle!

No matter how many acne-free skin cleansers I use, this is like a monthly rerun of skincare nightmare. In these situations, I just want to make this pimple go away as cleanly and quickly as possible, especially when there are special events coming up. So I heavily rely on acne spot patches. I have been using them for so many years and have experimented with a few different ones. And so I thought I would save you the trouble and give my run-down on some of the common and easily available acne patches on the market.

1. Clearasil Ultra Overnight Spot Patches

This is the first one I started using many years ago. I will say that, I think it was more readily available before. I could easily find it at almost at every large grocery and department store such as Walmart. However, recently, it has been a little more difficult to get my hands on it. But it’s still available at places like Target and CVS. You can also purchase it online at Amazon. It costs between $8-$15, depending on where you purchase it.

Even after trying a few different brands, this one has been my favorite! It has been the most reliable and most effective one for me. The patches are all the same size and you get 18 patches in a packet. You simply stick a patch on top of the pimple and leave it on overnight for about 6-8 hrs. Please ensure that you wash and clean your face before putting on a patch to clear the skin of dirt and debris before you try to heal this area.

These patches work by hydrocolloid technology, helping to seal the area of the pimple and prevent dirt and bacteria from getting in. It also reduces redness and inflammation and absorbs secretions without drying out your skin. It also results in minimal scarring which makes it an ideal choice for me!

2.   Cosrx Acne Pimple Patch

These are so popular and becoming so much more easily available! And as a K-beauty addict, I had to give it a try! I purchased my first packet on my own and then received a second one as a sample gift with my other Korean beauty products.

These are available at Ulta, Walmart, Soko Glam, and of course on Amazon as well. They are a little less expensive, about $5 a packet. One packet contains 24 patches and they come in different sizes, which is a plus!

Similar to the Clearasil patches, make sure you wash your face before placing a patch on and leave it on overnight. The patch turns white when it absorbs the secretions letting you know that it’s time to change the patch. These work with the similar hydrocolloid technology creating a seal.

Just like the Clearasil patches, these also did a great job of decreasing redness, swelling, and inflammation. However, I felt that they were a little slower to heal compared to the Clearasil ones. Also, when peeling it off, I felt that it was a little more prone to leaving a scar.

However, overall, I felt that these were very similar to the Clearasil ones and if the Clearasil ones aren’t doing the job for you, your skin may just respond better to these!

3. Hanhoo Blemish Patches  

I had just picked these up at Walmart on a whim and they are so cheap, only $2.50 for a packet containing 36 patches! These also come in different sizes which is very convenient!

They have a similar mechanism of action by creating a seal via hydrocolloid technology.

Process is the same as well. You apply a single patch over the pimple on clean skin and leave it on for 6-8 hrs

To be honest, I didn’t feel like these worked as well. I was having to use a patch every single day for multiple days without much change.

Although these got you the most patches for the price, and I really wanted them to work, I was a little disappointed.

Since I still have some left, I will probably try them again and give it another shot

And there you go! I hope you are now more prepared for these random pimples. I would recommend just keeping a packet in the drawer so you’re ready to tackle that pimple as soon as it pops up and you can look your gorgeous self everyday!

With love <3

SS