Keeping cool in summer whites

Teva Hurricane sandals // Kiehl's Dermatologist Solutions Super Fluid UV Mineral Defense Broad Spectrum SPF 50+ // Choke ME Jewelry transparent O ring choker

What are your summer essentials?

Kiehl's Nightly Refining Micro-Peel Concentrate

 This is the serum of your dreams. I don't know how else to say it, but it will change your life. I've been using Kiehl's skincare products faithfully for at least a year now, and this Nightly Refining Micro-Peel Concentrate is by far my favorite product. I've been using it for about 2 weeks, and my complexion has improved considerably. I haven't gotten a single pimple or the annoying small bumps around my chin that I usually get since I've started using it. I have a sprinkle of acne scars and hyperpigmentation, so my bare skin is a reddish-pink. After a few days, I already noticed a brighter complexion that I haven't seen on myself in years. I applied a few drops every night after my toner (Iris Extract Activating Treatment Essence), and sealed it with the Kiehl's Super Multi-Corrective Cream. The cool thing about this concentrate is the active ingredient is quinoa husk. You can purchase it online here at Kiehl's. 

これは夢のセラムです。他にどう言えばいいか分からない、でも、大げさに言うと人生を変えます。キールズのスキンケア商品を１年以上使っていますが、このマイクロピールコンセントレートは一番気に入っています。2週間ぐらい使ってから、肌のコンディションがすごく良くなりました！ニキビもできなくなったし、あごに普段できてしまう小さいぶつぶつが全然できなくなりました。ニキビ跡があるせいか、スッピンだと肌が結構赤くなりがちです。数日経ったら、肌がだいぶ明るくなり、赤みも減っていました！キールズのエッセンスローションのあと、コンセントレートを２〜３滴肌になじませて、最後にキールズクリームSPを使っています。このコンセントレートには、キヌアの殻を使用しているんですよ！日本では来月発売なので、皆さんも是非お試しください♪

Kiehl's Japan Press Conference

Kiehl's will be releasing a brand new product this year, and tonight the blogger press conference was held at Ebisu Act Square. The "Nightly Refining Micro-Peel Concentrate"made with the husk of quinoa (!!) is said to be revolutionary in skincare, and I have yet to find out how it fares with my skin. I'm sure most of you know by now that I'm a huge Kiehl's fan and I can't wait to try this concentrate. Stay tuned for an update on this product later on! 

キールズは今年新しい商品を発売します。そこで、今夜はそのリリースに向けての新商品発表会に出席しました。キヌアの殻を使ったこのミクロピールコンセントレート美容液はスキンケアでのイノベーションということで、とても興味が湧きました。私はここ数年キールズを愛用しているので、使ってみるのがとても楽しみです。またこの商品についてブログ記事をあっぷするので、またチェックして下さい！

My evening skincare routine

A couple weeks ago, I went into detail about my morning skincare routine with Kiehl's, so this time I will go through my evening skincare step by step. If you are someone that wants to finish your skincare in 5-10 minutes, then this isn't the routine for you. My whole process takes about an hour each evening ( I know, crazy, but I know others who spend longer than that every night!). So without further ado...

After a long day of work, it is so crucial for me to get rid of all my makeup, 100%. Clinique take the day off cleansing balm does exactly that. I've used cleansing waters and oils, but I believe cleansing balms are the best at cleansing your skin of all the makeup and dirt that accumulates during the day (I do use a makeup remover for my eye makeup first though!). Then, I use an exfoliator. I'm currently trying out a pumpkin enzyme mask, and so far it's proving to be a fantastic exfoliator. I'll probably do a separate post for this. After exfoliating, I apply my first mask of the night while I'm taking a bath. Kiehl's Rare Earth Pore Cleansing Masque is a must every single night for me - the air in Tokyo is so dirty that I need something strong enough to get rid of all the dirt and debris from my skin, and clay masks always do the trick. Sometimes I alternate with Caudalie Instant Detox Mask, which is also a great clay mask for instant purification. After washing off the clay mask and stepping out of my bath, it's time to moisturize, moisturize, and then moisturize. As in my morning skincare routine, I spray my face with Avene Thermal Water, then with a cotton pad, apply Kiehl's Iris Extract Activating Treatment Essence, the best toner for even sensitive skin like mine. It preps the skin well for application of serums and moisturizers to come after. At this point, I apply yet another mask, this time a moisturizing sheet mask. I was using Korean sheet masks for a while, but Lululun sheet masks are affordable and also do the job well. Sheet masks are so necessary during the drier seasons to prevent flaky, dry skin. After leaving that on for 20-30 minutes, I apply my serums and moisturizers. First, the Kiehl's Powerful-Strength Line-Reducing Concentrate, a powerful serum with continuous delivery of 10.5% pure vitamin C. I've also been using face oils recently, and they seem to be working well. I'll either use Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate or Josie Maran's Argan Oil. When using a face oil, make sure you only take a few drops, rub it between the palms of your hands to warm it, then apply until it sinks into your skin. Last but not least, moisturizer and/or creams. I use an eye cream by Dr. Andrew Weil for Origins Mega-Bright Dark Circle Minimizer to, of course, get rid of the dark circles and puffiness underneath my eyes. My final step is face cream. My favorite right now is Kiehl's Super Multi-Corrective Cream, which is one of the best creams I've ever used. By the time I've finished with this last step, my skin is feeling very soft, supple and clean. 

This might be a handful for some, but was this helpful for any of you? Do you use any of these brands or products in your routine? Let me know in the comments!

Kiehl's Sakura 1000 Project Launch Party

Tonight was the Kiehl's Sakura 1000 Project Launch Party in Omotesando. The sakura version of the Rare Earth Deep Pore Cleansing Masque is a collaboration item with illustrator Buggy, and all proceeds for the masque go to the children living in the Tohoku area, which was devastated by the tsunami. There was also a wall where party guests were able to put sakura and sakura petal stickers to promote the charity event. This is the perfect charity event because I use this Rare Earth Masque religiously, and there's even more reason to buy it now if all proceeds are going to help the dear children. Also, I spy my big sis Marie in the introduction video that was displayed throughout the party :) Way to go, Marie!!

今夜は、Kiehl's Sakura 1000 Project Launch Party！レアアースディープポアクレンジングマスクのコラボバージョンが登場。この桜バージョンは、東北地方の子供達のために作られたものです。売上純益１００％が寄付されるそうです。私は、この泥マスクを愛用しているので、これは本当に嬉しいです。毎日使うスキンケアアイテムを購入すれば、東北地方の子供達のためになる。素敵です。しかも、大好きなマリーがチャリティーの動画に出てました！流石マリー♪

Deep-cleansing with Kiehl's Rare Earth Deep Pore cleansing series

As a model, one of my daily priorities is taking care of my skin. When I was still living in southern California, I didn't have any major problems with my face (I did have the occasional breakout though). But after moving to Japan, my skin did a 180 on me, and at first I had no idea how to fix the problem. It took me a while to figure out what was good or bad for my skin, and I still experiment with different skincare products. Recently, I've realized cleansing is one of the most important steps in skincare - if you don't completely cleanse all the makeup, dirt and toxins of the day, the rest of your skincare routine is meaningless. Living and working in a crowded city really requires me to make sure everything is off at the end of the day. So, here are two of my current favorites that get the job done.

Kiehl's Rare Earth Deep Pore Daily Cleanser & Rare Earth Deep Pore Cleansing Masque

Both of these are made with Amazonian white clay, with exfoliating and detoxifying properties.
I actually started using the masque first, because I was looking for something that would remove all the dirt and debris from my face after a long day. It's very easy to use - just apply a thin layer on damp skin, and leave it on for about 10 minutes or until it is almost completely dry. My skin feels so smooth and clean after I wash it off, and my blemishes look significantly smaller after use (not kidding!).

I recently read an article on Into the Gloss about the benefits of clay, which explains that "because clay is formed in the river and is left out in the sunlight, wind, and rain for thousands of years, it absorbs all of those properties of nature. It takes on the energy, so when you look at it as a substance, you can say that it's the sum of the pull of nature's energy." Clay truly absorbs all the dirt and toxins from deep within, and using both the masque and the cleanser has seriously improved the texture of my skin. Since I don't want to use the masque everyday, I use the cleanser the other days as a cleanser/ exfoliator.

I'm experimenting with other Kiehl's products so I might post about those later. Hope this helped!